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Voluntary work

There are many benefits of volunteering. It is a great way of getting into a working environment which could help you:

Work Together – help to volunteer

If you are getting benefits and are keen to volunteer, you can get help to find opportunities from Jobcentre Plus, through ‘Work Together’.

Work Together can help you find out more about volunteering as well as information on where to find opportunities.

If you want to know more about Work Together talk to your Jobcentre Plus adviser at your next appointment.

• How to contact Jobcentre Plus

• More information about Work Together

Search online for voluntary work

There are around 914,000 volunteering opportunities available online in England (as of 30 July 2023). Many more are available throughout the United Kingdom by using the links below.

You can search for volunteering opportunities by entering your postcode or location. You can also add how far you are willing to travel. To help refine your search you can enter keywords, for example the name of a charity or a specific area of interest.

• Search for voluntary work in England Opens new window

• Search for voluntary work in Scotland Opens new window

• Search for voluntary work in Wales Opens new window

Volunteering while on benefits

Volunteering shouldn’t affect your right to benefits, as long as the only money you receive is to cover your volunteering expenses. This could be for things like the cost of travelling from home to the volunteering location.

There are no limits on the amount of time you can volunteer for, nor any restrictions on the types of organisation you can volunteer for. The only requirement is that you continue to meet the conditions of the benefit or tax credit you are receiving.

Use the following link for more information on volunteering while on benefits.

• Volunteering while on benefits (home and community section)

More useful links

• Work experience and volunteering (young people section)

• Voluntary work abroad (Britons living abroad section)