Join the Voluntary Army!
First, find out as much as you can about your chosen profession. You may well wish to contact the professional organisation, learning body or advisory agency responsible and ask for pointers. It may also be helpful to speak to some people who have recently qualified in your chosen profession and ask them about what experience they most valued - or wish they had themselves!
Next, contact the umbrella body or voluntary agency concerned. There are a plethora of these. Some town and cities have volunteer bureaux (often found by contacting the Citizens' Advice Bureau or through local newpaper volunteer opportunity columns). In other places, it may be more appropriate to contact the charity itself, or a professional umbrella body such as the Prince's Trust.
Many voluntary agencies offer oportunities through the Internet. Most search engines will locate you a reasonable index of voluntary bodies. Many government departments have a section dealing with voluntary work. A few useful links:
www.millenniumvolunteers.gov.uk - gives details of general volunteering projects for 16-24 year olds.
www.volunteering.org.uk - the National Centre for Volunteering
www.doh.gov.uk - gives details of volunteering possibilities in healthcare
http://www.yearofthevolunteer.org/ - 2005 is the year of the volunteer
0113 254 6091 - the Department of Health's volunteer enquiry number.
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