Volunteer development and wellbeing

Volunteering has many benefits from improving your wellbeing to developing new skills.

Our volunteering experiences provide lots of opportunities for you to grow, develop and have fun. Whether you want to build your CV, gain confidence or get stuck into a new challenge, we have something for everyone!

More than half of our volunteers (56%) report feeling more confident since volunteering with Cancer Research UK.
61% of our volunteers say they have developed new skills thanks to volunteering.
More than half of our volunteers (56%) say their physical health and wellbeing has improved since volunteering with us, and more than half (57%) say their mental health has improved.
50% of our volunteers smile more since volunteering at Cancer Research UK.

News and updates

Meet Henry

Volunteering can be a great way to boost your wellbeing, meet new people and have fun. For Henry, joining our volunteering community and connecting with others has made a real difference to his wellbeing. Henry has volunteered at the Horsham East Street shop since 2023, bringing kindness and positivity that have made him a much-loved member of the team. Henry shared what he enjoys about volunteering:

Henry standing behind a till in a Cancer Research UK shop.

I like volunteering because of the other staff like Andy, and Oz, because he’s a good manager. I like writing labels and prices for CDs and books, and I like sorting the clothes upstairs too.

- Henry, Shop volunteer

Henry’s mum, Caroline, explained what volunteering means to him:

“He loves being with people and helping customers in the shop. He is extremely proud of his volunteering and really looks forward to it every week – especially because he can volunteer without his mum or other support staff! The team have been incredible in welcoming Henry and helping him develop his work, communication, and social skills, as well as improving his independence and confidence – and this is due to the amazing support provided by all the other volunteers and staff in the shop. We hope this can be a long-term opportunity for Henry, and by sharing his story, inspire others too.”

Remember you can speak to your staff contact about:

Learning in your role

Make sure that you have completed your induction so that you feel confident in your role and can make the most of your volunteering experience.

Tracking your progress

If you’d like to develop your skills or try something new, speak to your staff contact about how they can support you and help you monitor your progress.

Support from us

We want to help you make the most of your time with us, and your staff contact will be on hand throughout your volunteering journey to support you.

Useful links to support your wellbeing

Below are some links relating to health and wellbeing that you may find useful:

Alcohol awareness

Support to stop smoking

Enjoying the sun safely, and understanding the links between UV and cancer

Tips on and support with healthy eating

Tips on and support with physical exercise

Grief and bereavement support

Mental health and cancer

Care Concierge – free support for carers

Are you a carer? As a Cancer Research UK volunteer, you’re eligible to access free, expert advice about being a carer through Legal & General’s Care Concierge service. The service offers a variety of support, including advice on how to arrange care for a loved one, and support with understanding the costs involved.

To access the service, simply contact the Care Concierge in one of the following ways and let them know that you’re a Cancer Research UK volunteer:

Freephone: 0808 189 3195 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm)

Access the Care Concierge service, free of charge