Volunteering & Benefits
If you are receiving benefits, you can usually still volunteer.
Volunteering is encouraged because it can help you gain skills, improve confidence, and move towards employment.
Key things to know:
- You should inform your work coach or relevant contact (e.g. Job Centre)
- You must not receive payment for volunteering (however, expenses such as travel or meals are usually allowed).
- Volunteering should not prevent you from being available for work if required.
Right to Try (Universal Credit and PIP)
In April of this year, the government passed the ‘Right to Try’ legislation in the UK; but what does that mean and who will it affect?
People affected by Right to Try will include anyone who receives Universal Credit, anyone who receives Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to assist with living costs while struggling with a disability, or people receiving a New Style Employment and Support Allowance to support them while they are too sick to work. It is also designed to help those with a low or limited capability for work and work-related activity.
It will not affect the existing rules regarding work arrangements, earning limits, or requirements to report changes in circumstance. It will, however, make it so that undertaking work volunteering will not lead to automatic reassessment of current benefits.
The idea behind this is to make sure people are able to test their ability to work in a safe and regulated way. It will not stop reassessments from happening as part of the normal review process, or if there is suspicion of fraud/a change in condition, it simply strengthens the protections for people with long term health issues to attempt to begin work again – without jeopardising their financial supports.
If you are unsure about what this means or how it affects you, it is best to contact your Universal Credit Case worker (or ESA or PIP equivalent) and check with them directly how it may or may not affect you.
For more information see Right to Try: summary – GOV.UK
Volunteering for Experience & References
Volunteering is an excellent way to build experience, especially if you:
- Are entering the workforce for the first time
- Are changing careers
- Have gaps in your CV
Through volunteering, you can:
- Develop new skills (communication, teamwork, organisation)
- Gain confidence in a workplace setting
- Build a track record of reliability
Getting a Reference
Many organisations are happy to provide references for volunteers.
To improve your chances:
- Attend regularly and be on time
- Communicate clearly and professionally
- Show commitment and a willingness to learn
A reference is more likely if you volunteer consistently over a period of time.
*Please have a chat with us if you are volunteering to gain references, we can advise on the most suitable roles that provide these.*
Volunteering as a Refugee or Migrant
Volunteering is open to people from all backgrounds and can be a great way to settle into a new community.
It can help you:
- Practice English in a supportive environment
- Meet new people and make connections
- Gain experience in the UK
- Build confidence and independence
You do not usually need UK work experience to start volunteering, and many roles welcome beginners.
Everyone has something valuable to offer, and volunteering is a great place to start.
Volunteering while Job Seeking
Volunteering can play an important role in finding paid work.
It helps you:
- Show motivation and commitment to employers
- Keep active while job searching
- Build skills that employers are looking for
- Gain recent experience to include on your CV
Many employers value volunteering in the same way as work experience.
