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Charity Sector Resources Please?!

Hi,

I'm a BSc Psychology graduate looking for any resources to learn more about charity sector / third sector employment. As I understand volunteering is the most valuable experience for employment in a charity, I am currently saving to do this, although obviously this takes time! I'm also aware of the CharityWorks internship and would very much like to apply, once I have done some volunteering, but for now would like to broaden my understanding of the sector as a whole.

Any books / resources would be greatly appreciated, as well as hearing from anyone who currently works or has worked for a charity, and any advice on applying for graduate roles.
At the moment I'm trying to understand further my reasons for wanting to get into charity work, beyond the obvious 'wanting to make a difference'.

Thanks!

Reply 1

est2002

There's something called charity jobs
You might find 80,000 hours quite interesting and you could look into effective altruism, in particular the bike doing good better

Reply 2

Surnia

Life & Style Forum Helper

Hello there.

I have done, and still do, volunteering outside of working hours for a charity with which I am now in full-time employment. Give me a bit of time and I'll come back to you with some more info.

I'm a graduate, but got my degree as it was required for my previous career in engineering; I don't need it for my current charity role. In what kind of volunteering are you interested and what job are you wanting to do ultimately?

Reply 3

Surnia

Life & Style Forum Helper

Me: I was unemployed and job-hunting when someone mentioned that a local Hospice charity were looking for helpers for a Beer Festival which would be donating part of the profits to the Hospice. I went along to help, met some great people and continued to help at fundraising events; these were bucket collections, publicising events and sign-ups, marshalling at sponsored walks/runs/bike rides, assisting with entry ticket sales, selling raffle tickets, running a stall, assisting with car parking - just whatever was needed, usually at weekends and from spring to Christmas.

Then covid hit, events were stopped and eventually an email came out asking if any of the fundraising volunteers could help at the Donation Centre; this is where people drop off their clothes, ornaments, kitchenware, electrical, toys, books and media etc to be sorted and sold on, where possible.

Donations could still be taken and were being sold online as the physical charity shops were closed. I went along and ended up as a full-time volunteer in the eCommerce department; no experience, but quickly learnt how to sort clothes and bric-a-brac, as we term hard goods, and list online. When shops reopened one of the Donation Centre paid staff got a job as a shop manager and I was asked to apply for the vacancy in the Centre as the manager there was impressed by my work ethic.

Got the job and now meet customers, accept donations, promote Gift Aid, sort clothes (mainly) and bric-a-brac (occasionally), have developed a good eye for antique and valuable itens, supervise and train volunteers, do cash-handling and help with building management and general Health and Safety. And still volunteer at fundraising events, where possible.