As part of National Volunteer Week, we’re participating in #TheBigShoutOut, a campaign that extends recognition to our volunteers. The campaign from June 18th to 24th offers up a chance to recognise the thousands of incredible volunteers across our country.

Around 1 million Kiwis volunteer, making a real difference in their local communities each and every day. We know that volunteering is no easy feat. Taking time out of your busy week to work selflessly, sometimes in challenging circumstances, takes real grit. And for that, we raise a toast to you.

Perhaps you also know other volunteers who deserve a shout-out, whether that’s in the form of a personal thank-you, a social media post celebrating their accomplishments, or even putting on a morning tea for the team of volunteers you work with.

The benefits of volunteering far outweigh any of the challenges of getting involve. Volunteering can help you:

• Achieve a sense of purpose: When the day-to-day grind starts to wear you down, taking a few hours to volunteer can reinvigorate you with a sense of purpose and achievement.
• Develop your social skills: If you’re new to the neighbourhood or otherwise struggle to socialise, volunteering can help you meet people with similar interests and push yourself out of your comfort zone.
• Connect to your community: It’s easy to feel disconnected from those around us in this modern, fast-paced world. Volunteering connects you to your roots, even helping you establish bonds with isolated or vulnerable members of the community.
• Develop new skills: Volunteering can offer up an opportunity to work on new skills that you can then take into your personal or professional life. This could include everything from marketing to project management, possibly even setting you up with the skills you need for a career change or progression.
• Enjoy a better work-life balance: Volunteering on a weekly, monthly or even occasional basis helps to break up your routine, get your mind off your own anxieties, and enjoy a sense of accomplishment that promotes a positive work-life balance.
• Manage stress and loneliness: Helping others is a sure-fire way to boost your mood, while working with animals or plants has also been shown to increase serotonin and oxytocin levels.

If you’re in between volunteering gigs or have never volunteered before, National Volunteer Week is the perfect time to start. You can start the search for your next volunteer opportunity on SEEK Volunteer.