We are proud to support volunteering

We value the contribution people make by volunteering across our services, as well as for local organisations and communities.  

Volunteering can

• open up career opportunities as you gain new skills 
• give you valuable experiences which can improve your CV 
• help the adjustment from work to retirement 
• bring a great sense of personal achievement and self-worth by contributing to the community

 When you are considering volunteering, it is helpful to think about

• if there is a particular cause you would like to support 
• what skills might you want to use or develop
• where you would like to volunteer 
• how much time you can offer

You need to be realistic about how much time you can commit to volunteering. You’ll have a much more positive experience if you avoid over–committing. Some volunteering roles will need a regular commitment and others may just be to cover a one-off event or over a shorter period of time, for example during school holidays.

Volunteer with Somerset Council

We are searching for volunteers of all ages for a wide variety of opportunities throughout Somerset. These include

• volunteering with young people
• being a volunteer driver
• looking after our outdoor spaces
• supporting local libraries

The full range of Somerset Council volunteer opportunities can be seen at Volunteer opportunities in Somerset.

 If you want to speak to someone from the Central Volunteer Team, please ring 01823 359200 or email volunteer@somerset.gov.uk

Finding the right opportunity

There might be several opportunities that you are interested in, or you might have some more questions about a role. Whatever the case, you can submit a question on our Register an interest form. Our team will then answer your questions and help you find the best volunteering opportunity for you.

Applying to be a volunteer

Once you have found an opportunity you can use our Register an interest form to apply, and we will do our best to respond within 5 working days.

The information needed at this stage depends on the type of role. For example, if you are applying to volunteer with children and young people you will need to provide your full employment history. To find out how we use your data, see our Volunteering Privacy Notice.  

We will discuss the role further with you. You will also need to undertake an induction, and training which will be specific to your role. For some roles you will also need to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. 

Whilst we are grateful to anyone interested in volunteering for us, it may not always be possible to find you a suitable placement, as it will depend on factors such as

• availability
• service capacity
• the needs of particular customers

In these cases we may be able to recommend or signpost you to alternative volunteer opportunities.

Other volunteering opportunities

If there isn’t currently a Somerset Council role that suits your availability or interests, you can use our Register an Interest form to join a waitlist for future opportunities. You can also find out more about other volunteering opportunities in Somerset. 

Spark Somerset runs the county-wide volunteer service and can help you find a volunteering opportunity. Visit Spark a Change to browse hundreds of opportunities according to your location, interests and availability.

If you would like to speak to a member of Spark’s volunteer team you can contact them using the following options

• phone 01458 550973
• email volunteer@sparkachange.org.uk
• use the live chat on the website

See also The Volunteer Network or call 01458 836130.

If you are a local group or organisation 

You can register with Spark Somerset, where you can benefit from

• opportunities, information, advice and support for volunteers 
• help to find volunteers
• involvement in campaigns for volunteering 

Whether you are a volunteer or a voluntary organisation, there are lots of resources on the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) that can help answer some of your questions.