Volunteering and mentoring after redundancy

Not everyone who's made redundant will go back into full time work. You may also want to stay busy while you look for work.

Volunteering can be especially valuable as it offers both practical and emotional benefits during a period of transition. Here are some of the benefits of volunteering:

• Maintains routine and purpose. It gives individuals meaningful activities and goals
• Builds confidence and wellbeing. It can foster a sense of achievement and supports mental health
• Develops new skills. Volunteers often gain transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. It can also be a chance to learn new technical or sector-specific skills
• Enhances your CV and employability. Volunteering demonstrates initiative, commitment and adaptability to potential employers. It fills employment gaps and shows continued engagement in productive activities
• Expands professional networks. Meeting new people through volunteering can lead to useful contacts, references, or even job opportunities. It increases visibility within different sectors or communities.
• Offers career exploration. It allows individuals to explore new industries or roles without long-term commitment. This can help clarify career goals after redundancy.
• Provides a sense of contribution. Helping others or supporting a cause can be very rewarding, creating a positive focus during a difficult time.

How to get involved 

Community Action Norfolk (CAN) can help you use volunteering as a positive step forward if you've been made redundant. Here's how:

• Brokerage into volunteering opportunities. CAN helps match individuals with suitable volunteering roles across Norfolk. They consider interests, skills, and career goals, making it easier and quicker to find meaningful placements.
• Access to a wide network of organisations. Through their links with local charities, community groups, and social enterprises, CAN can connect people to opportunities that may not be widely advertised. This increases the chances of finding roles that build relevant experience.
• Skills development and training. CAN often promotes or delivers training (such as safeguarding, governance, community engagement). These opportunities help individuals build new skills or refresh existing ones, improving employability.
• Confidence and wellbeing support. By encouraging participation in community activities, CAN helps individuals rebuild confidence after redundancy. Feeling part of a supportive network can reduce isolation and improve mental wellbeing.
• Pathways into employment. Volunteering placements accessed through CAN can act as stepping stones to paid roles. They may also highlight local job opportunities or link individuals with employability support services.
• Advice and guidance for organisations. CAN supports voluntary organisations to offer high-quality, inclusive volunteering roles. This ensures a better experience for volunteers, with clearer expectations, supervision, and development opportunities.
• Promoting flexible and inclusive volunteering. CAN advocates for roles that are accessible and flexible. This is helpful for people balancing job searches, caring responsibilities, or confidence-building after redundancy.

Find out more about what they have to offer at Community Action Norfolk.

Our friendly team are also happy to talk to you about the challenges that you are facing. For a confidential discussion please complete the contact form and we'll come back to you.

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