Our work wouldn’t be possible without our volunteers, who enable us to get alongside way more people than we could in our small team which is why we think National Volunteer Week is a great celebration of the fantastic input of volunteers across the UK. Whilst the people who volunteer for Space to Breathe are a great asset to our organisation, we always love hearing back from our volunteers about the joy and life that it gives to them and there’s actually some science that backs up why volunteering is great for your mental health and wellbeing.
“People who had volunteered in the past year were more satisfied with their lives and rated their overall health as better.”
According to a study published in 2020 by the Journal for Happiness Studies ‘people who had volunteered in the past year were more satisfied with their lives and rated their overall health as better.‘ The study, which took place over 18 years, looked at volunteering habits and mental health including the everyday function and distress of those who volunteered.
Some of the reasons this paper found for the direct impact on happiness levels and better mental health were:
Volunteering is intrinsically rewarding; when you help others it gives you a boost or something researchers call the ‘warm glow’
It boosts your social connection, which is important for good mental health
It can help to build professional skills and try out leadership opportunities
Becky, our volunteer who shared her story yesterday, talked about volunteering giving her a space to ‘explore some of my skills as a student social worker to support service user's conditions and goals’. It’s been a way for her to get some real-life practice of skills she is learning about.
Are you a volunteer? Why did you choose to do it?
As you have supported and impacted others, have you noticed the impact it has had on you?
Pop a comment below and let us know what volunteering means to you.
If you’re thinking about volunteering and this article has inspired you to take the plunge, you can find volunteering opportunities in Sheffield here.
