Compare and contrast the different types of voluntary work available
There are many different types of voluntary work available these include skill-based, overseas,
virtual, micro, environmental, emergency, school, corporate and community volunteering. Each one
of these has particular traits, however they do share common factors between one another such as
how long the length of the volunteering should last and similar. By using these common factors you
can compare the many different types of volunteering and see just how and how much each
different type differs.
Length of volunteering
Skill-based: normally 500 hours in long shifts, may be longer if there are conditions
Overseas: no set period of time, can be done in short shifts
Virtual: normally less than 5 hours a week in small intervals, total time may be many years
Micro: done in small 5 minute periods
Environmental: normally 500 hours in short or long shifts, can be as long as an individual wants
Emergency: normally many hours for about 3 weeks, with very long shifts
School: normally done in conjunction with school day lengths, can be for shorter periods
Corporate: normally for 500 hours, will last for a set period of time, short or long shifts
Community: no set time, contribution when possible, short or long shifts
It is clear to see that a lot of the different volunteering types have very different lengths of time
attached to them. Some are very long like skill-based, environmental or corporate volunteering but
others require next to no time at all like micro volunteering. Also some have only short shifts,
whereas others like emergency volunteering have very long shifts. It can be said therefore that the
amount of time that volunteering can take from you very much depends upon the type of
volunteering you do.
Are skills needed?
Skill-based: yes, usually being very specific skills
Overseas: no, though skilled individuals may be involved, specific skill included
Virtual: no, though many who do virtual volunteering are skilled
Micro: no
Environmental: yes, often very specific skills related to the work being done, e.g. vets, tree surgeons
Emergency: no, though many will be skilled and it’s the skilled individuals needed, e.g. doctors
School: yes, individuals needed to be skilled and know how to work in a school environment
There are many different types of voluntary work available these include skill-based, overseas,
virtual, micro, environmental, emergency, school, corporate and community volunteering. Each one
of these has particular traits, however they do share common factors between one another such as
how long the length of the volunteering should last and similar. By using these common factors you
can compare the many different types of volunteering and see just how and how much each
different type differs.
Length of volunteering
Skill-based: normally 500 hours in long shifts, may be longer if there are conditions
Overseas: no set period of time, can be done in short shifts
Virtual: normally less than 5 hours a week in small intervals, total time may be many years
Micro: done in small 5 minute periods
Environmental: normally 500 hours in short or long shifts, can be as long as an individual wants
Emergency: normally many hours for about 3 weeks, with very long shifts
School: normally done in conjunction with school day lengths, can be for shorter periods
Corporate: normally for 500 hours, will last for a set period of time, short or long shifts
Community: no set time, contribution when possible, short or long shifts
It is clear to see that a lot of the different volunteering types have very different lengths of time
attached to them. Some are very long like skill-based, environmental or corporate volunteering but
others require next to no time at all like micro volunteering. Also some have only short shifts,
whereas others like emergency volunteering have very long shifts. It can be said therefore that the
amount of time that volunteering can take from you very much depends upon the type of
volunteering you do.
Are skills needed?
Skill-based: yes, usually being very specific skills
Overseas: no, though skilled individuals may be involved, specific skill included
Virtual: no, though many who do virtual volunteering are skilled
Micro: no
Environmental: yes, often very specific skills related to the work being done, e.g. vets, tree surgeons
Emergency: no, though many will be skilled and it’s the skilled individuals needed, e.g. doctors
School: yes, individuals needed to be skilled and know how to work in a school environment
