The Benefits of Volunteering

Voluntary health organizations work to improve lives by enhancing the social, mental, emotional, physical and material well-being of Canadians. They are active in areas such as health promotion, prevention, protection and contribute directly through service delivery, public and professional education, research, policy development and public involvement. They often work with Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and other partners to identify emerging health issues and in addressing the key determinants of health.

Many organizations are active in a broad range of areas with a variety of population groups, as can be seen in the table below.

The Health Benefits of Volunteering

The voluntary sector is an important contributor to the well-being of families, communities, and individuals across the country. People may not realize, however, that volunteering can actually improve your own health. There are many indirect benefits for those who contribute time and energy through volunteering. It is a great way to make new friends, to develop new skills and abilities, attain valuable employment experience, and to broaden one's perspective. The health benefits of volunteering are described in a set of fact sheets looking at the relationships between volunteering and health. The fact sheets provide a summary of current research in the following areas:

• Volunteering as a Vehicle for Social Support and Life Satisfaction
• Volunteering and Self-Enhancement
• Volunteering and Healthy Aging
• Volunteer Participation as a Contributor to Healthy Communities

In addition, this section includes some short summaries of a selection of five key research pieces related to volunteering and health, looking at background context, findings and implications:

• "Social Capital and Health: Implications for Public Health and Epidemiology "
• "Successful Aging: A Life-Course Perspective on Women's Multiple Roles and Health"
• "Voluntary Social Participation and Health"
• "Volunteer for the Health of It"
• "Volunteering and Healthy Aging: What we Know"

Want to Volunteer?

Everyday new volunteer opportunities are listed. Search for a position that suits you. There are a lot of places you can volunteer. Visit the Volunteer Opportunities Exchange (VOE) today and see how you can connect!

Important Notices