Thinking about volunteering?
Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, there's a volunteering opportunity for everyone. No matter your age, background or availability, if you've got time to give, there's a way to make it count.
People volunteer for all kinds of reasons:
- To support causes they care about
- To connect with their community
- Or simply because it feels good to help
With over 22 million people volunteering each year - and 96% saying they enjoy it - why not give it a try?
Why volunteer?
Volunteering is more than just giving back, it's a chance to build confidence, learn practical skills, boost your wellbeing, and meet new people. You might even discover a hidden passion or a new career path! Coaching and support are available if you're not sure where to begin; we'll help you take that first step.
At Communities 1st, volunteers are the backbone of our work. Their time, skills and dedication enable us to make a real difference. Our member organisations who recruit volunteers say the same. Even just an hour a week can have a meaningful impact to your local community!
Volunteering FAQs
Where can I volunteer?
Our Volunteer Centre database is home to both our internal volunteering vacancies and those belonging to our members organisations, so there are opportunities throughout the county.
Our Communities 1st volunteering roles are normally based in Hertsmere, St Albans and Welwyn Hatfield.
There is also a variety of remote roles available.
What can I do?
There are all kinds of roles available. The things you can do are only limited by your preferences.
Here are a few examples of roles advertised in through our Volunteer Centre in 2025:
- Art therapist
- Barista
- Carer
- Driver
- Gardener
- Housekeeper
- Kitchen assistant
- Receptionist
- Shop assistant
- Social media administrator
- Treasurer
How much should I volunteer?
There is no set amount of time you should volunteer; as you are donating your time, you can choose how much or how little you'd like to share! Some roles may request that you volunteer for a number of hours to complete a set task, but if you can't manage to give them, don't worry - there will always be another role elsewhere.
There are different types of volunteering you may be interested in:
- Micro - bite-sized volunteering that is quick, flexible and usually done in short bursts, e.g. taking part in a community litter pick or writing a short article about an organisation.
- Short-term - opportunities that last a few hours to a few weeks, usually project-based or event-focused, e.g. volunteering during holidays or helping at a weekend fundraiser.
- Long-term - ongoing commitments that take place weekly or monthly over several months or more. More structured with regular shifts or responsibilities, e.g. helping in a charity shop or being a regular mentor.
What can I expect from volunteering?
Every role will be different. Every organisation will be different.
If you choose to volunteer with Communities 1st, you will receive:
- Confidential discussions with no pressure to make on-the-spot decisions
- A description outlining your role and responsibilities
- Initial and ongoing training and support opportunities
- Payment of expenses
- Invitations to special events, e.g. volunteer celebrations, virtual coffee mornings, and volunteer speed matching
- Signposting to Team Challenges
- Follow-up service
If you are interested in a role but would like to find out more about what to expect, get in touch with us.
Help me get started?
It's brilliant that you've decided to try volunteering! There are now several ways we can help you to find your next role:
Register your interest in volunteering
Create a Let's Give profile
Why spend hours searching for the perfect opportunity when it can find you? With Let's Give, you can create a volunteering profile and we'll do the rest! You profile should include basic information such as your location and availability, plus your skills and experience, types of roles you're interested in, why you'd like to volunteer, and what you'd like to learn.
After creating your profile, just sit back, relax and wait for us to get in touch with you when organisations make an enquiry about your profile. We never share your contact or personal details unless you are happy for us to do so.
Browse opportunities in the Volunteer Centre
Our Volunteer Centre database features volunteering roles from Communities 1st and all of our member organisations based across Hertfordshire. You can filter opportunities by:
- Interest, e.g. animal welfare, education, learning disabilities, etc.
- Role type, e.g. administration or office work, trusteeship, retail, transport, etc.
- District / location
- Organisation name
- Time of day and availability
Need extra support?
If you'd appreciate some one-to-one support to find the opportunity of your dreams, get in touch with our Able2Enable team. Email able2enable@communities1st.org.uk or call 01727 649955.
Please note, our telephone lines are open on weekdays (except bank holidays) from 9am - 4:30pm.
You can also click here to learn more about Able2Enable support.
Receive eNews updates
Sign up to our eNewsletter to receive regular updates on local volunteering opportunities.
All you need to do is scroll to the end of this page to 'Sign Up for Updates', input your email address and district, and select 'Fantastic Friday'. This is a weekly eNewsletter featuring volunteering opportunities, as well as highlights on community events, training sessions and wellbeing.
Get in touch
If you'd like to speak to us, please get in touch via volunteer@communities1st.org.uk or call 01727 649950.
Our telephone lines are open on weekdays (excluding bank holidays) from 9am - 4:30pm.