Informal v Formal Volunteering

Volunteering involves offering to do something that you do not have to do, often without having been asked to do it and/or without expecting payment, often for community service. A volunteer is a person freely giving their time, skills and labour.

Volunteering can take various forms, from formal roles in conjunction with organisations to informal acts within communities. It is a selfless contribution that benefits others and helps build stronger, more compassionate communities. At the Ystradgynlais Volunteer Centre we offer both formal and informal volunteers the opportunity to make a difference. Yes, that sounds like a cliché but even a small amount of your time can mean the world. 

Take a look at We're looking for Informal Volunteers page where you can register your interest. You can ask for information by telephone or e-mail or click the link below.

Formal Volunteering

This takes the form of a more structured opportunity, generally through charities, organisations, NGO's, institutions and other officially recognised entities. Formal volunteering requires a commitment to specific roles, responsibilities and schedules. It tends to be set times and duties, great for many. People in these roles can be the backbone of an organisation such as the Lifeboat service, the RNLI. 

Formal volunteers will typically have defined roles and schedules and be affiliated to an organisation. To find out more, click the link below.

Informal Volunteering

Informal volunteering differs in its flexibility and the personal initiative of individuals or informal groups. This type of volunteering is not usually affiliated with any formal organisation, is often spontaneous or arises from the immediate needs of the community, friends, family, or even strangers. Informal volunteering encompasses a wide range of activities, including helping a neighbour with groceries, or repairs about the home, participating in local clean-up drives, or offering skills and knowledge to benefit others without any organisational backing.

Informal volunteers tend to be flexible, deciding when, where and how they will contribute. If you'd like to explore informal volunteering opportunities where you can decide when and how you volunteer take a look at We're looking for Informal Volunteers page where you can register your interest. You can ask for information by telephone or e-mail.

If formal volunteering is your thing, take a look at the list of some of the formal volunteering opportunities available locally to see if there's anything you'd like to contribute to. If you find something which you'd like to get involved in call 01639 845475 or complete and submit the online form. You can also click the Print form button to save it on your computer for later printing. 

Remember, a small amount of your time can mean the world.