Volunteering in Health & Social Care

Are you looking for a fun and challenging way to gain recognisable skills, giving you the ultimate head start for a career in health or social care? Being involved with one of CSV’s hundreds of full-time projects nationwide will give you hands-on work with people who really need your help.

You will develop skills that are recognised by employers and will be invaluable as you pursue a career in social or health care. Training and support is provided for you as you work alongside professional staff allowing you to develop your knowledge and experience in the workplace and improve people’s lives.

Do you need voluntary experience in a social work or health care setting before applying for the new, three year, Social Work Degree?

CSV offers a diverse and exciting range of opportunities available to you. These may include working with adults with mental health problems, children with special needs, university students with physical disabilities, residents of homeless hostels and one-to-one support in schools.

What is full-time volunteering?

Full-time volunteering is about helping to change the lives of people in need. People from all sections of the community can volunteer for a 4-12 months in the UK . Full-time volunteers face new challenges, make new friends and develop essential personal and workplace skills.

What can I get from full-time volunteering?

Vital work experience
An opportunity to move away from home and become independent
The chance to do something really different and help to change people’s lives
A more rounded CV and workplace skills to assist UCAS and job applications

Where would I be volunteering?

You will be placed where your help, skills and enthusiasm are needed most.  You could be near the coasts of Cornwall, the buzzing atmosphere of Birmingham, the tranquil countryside of Cambridgeshire or even the excitement of Edinburgh or Cardiff. With over 500 opportunities nationwide, you could be placed anywhere in the UK.

Who would I be helping as a full-time volunteer?

All of our placements are community based supporting a wide variety of people to develop or manage their own lives. For example, you could be working alongside professional staff to help:

Adults with mental health problems
Residents of homeless hostels
University students with physical disabilities
Children with special needs
Drug and alcohol users
Young offenders
Older people
People with disabilities to access leisure and community facilities

What would I be doing as a full-time volunteer?

Be a a friend or companion
Supporting people with leisure and educational activities
Supporting people with tasks such as domestic, getting from A to B, or personal e.g. washing and dressing.
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So can anyone be a full-time volunteer?

These fantastic opportunities are open to anyone over the age of 16, provided you are willing to:

Live away from home
Commit to giving a period of 4-12 months and work up to 40 hours per week
Be placed where your help is needed most, and
You are a UK or EU national, resident in the UK*

You do not need any previous experience, specialist skills or minimum qualifications to become involved. As a volunteer you will be placed in a volunteering opportunity where your help is needed most.  However, all of our placements will present opportunities to face fresh challenges, develop skills, meet new friends and establish your independence. If you’re looking for an exciting challenge with accommodation, meals and weekly allowance provided, apply online today.

Volunteering full-time for between 4-12 months at one of CSV’s structured placements in the UK will give you hands-on experience with people who really need your help. 

During your time as a volunteer you will develop genuine skills that are recognised by employers and university staff. Working alongside professional staff you will be provided with training and support allowing you to develop your knowledge and experience in the workplace whilst improving people’s lives. These skills will be invaluable as you pursue a career in social work or health care.

CSV offers an exciting range of challenging opportunities. These may include working with adults with mental health problems, children with special needs, university students with physical disabilities, residents of homeless hostels and one-to-one support in schools.

All placements are based in social and health cares settings but are particularly useful if you are looking for experience for a career in:

Social Work
Nursing
Teaching
Police
Probation Service
Youth Work
Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy
Counselling & Advocacy
Probation Service

If you are ready to get your career or studying off to a flying start with excellent practical experience apply online today. All placements are full-time for a period of 4-12 months with accommodation, meals and a weekly allowance provided.

Where can I get more information?

For more information read our most frequently asked questions about full-time volunteering. Then, if you have any further questions,

email CSV on [email protected] or call them on Freephone 0800 374 991.