Let's face it, most people who volunteer are passionate about helping people - but for some influencing social change is also important. Volunteering for a campaigning organisation allows volunteers to help make things happen for large charities. Find out what the grass roots activists get up to here.

All | Isabel | Helen | Rachael | Carolynn | Moira

Thursday May 11, 2006

What the hell's an internship anyway?

The way in which we volunteer is changing. People don’t necessarily associate volunteering with a sustained, regular commitment to a cause, group or (especially) political party. Instead, many volunteer for a short but very intense period: someone seeking to gain a Duke of Edinburgh award for example, or wanting to spend 6 months of a gap year teaching English or conserving obscure wildlife in a developing country. Then there is the internship. Extended work experience over a set period of time which is often structured as and must be applied for in the same way as a job. 

Practice, is what you mainly gain. Practice in being interviewed and in working in the environment and niche you see yourself in for the foreseeable future. It’s also the only way to really find out how organisations and people work and interact. You underestimate how much you garner not from being told things, but just from overhearing (or eves-dropping on!) conversations and phone calls and sitting in on meetings. 

In the press office we organise and respond to anything in the news about Shelter – from the services it provides to the issues it campaigns on to its response to government policy. This can be national headline news about changes in housing policy. It can be launching major fundraising campaigns like our recent Red Chair sit in. And it can be far less glam – making sure local papers take photos of 10 year olds who raised money for us, or responding to journalists writing articles on things like the rise in house prices.

One of the main jobs for a press officer is to dispel rumours, misconceptions and inaccuracies about the work of the organisation.  We also have to organise interviews and provide briefings of what is to be said.

So as an intern you are involved in all of this. Less of the front line at first, and far more of the sorting through press cuttings and getting to know the photocopier and all its idiosyncrasies. You’re the one who’s gonna get the nod to stuff envelopes with campaign material when no one else can be arsed. But, if my experience is anything to go buy, you are also entitled to expect a lot of friendly help and support and have the opportunity to question anyone about the work they do.

So as long as you have your wits about you and your eavesdropping ear finely tuned, you can gain a huge amount. You also find the more you read, the more emotionally involved you become, the greater your determination is to stay in the charity sector and to continue to support the organisation you work for. 

Fancy finding out more about being a volunteer or an intern? Check out

http://england.shelter.org.uk/howtohelp/howtohelp-5892.cfm?c=fullhouse for more info.

Posted by Rachael ( 3:02 PM )
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