Volunteer Ireland have listed a number of the main reasons why people volunteer and they are as follows:

• Give something back to your community or society
• Gain valuable training and experience which may lead to paid employment
• Make use of special interests and talents
• Learn new skills and/or develop new interests
• Meet new people with similar interests
• Find out more about an area of work you are considering as a career
• Have a chance to take some responsibility and make decisions
• Be an active citizen
• Make a difference