Volunteering Ideas That Build Your CV: A Guide for Berkshire Students

If you’re 16 to 19 and haven’t had a paid job yet, volunteering is one of the fastest ways to put something real on your CV. It doesn’t pay a wage, but it gives you exactly what employers ask for anyway — evidence you can turn up reliably, work with people, and take instructions. It also counts towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, looks good on UCAS and apprenticeship applications, and often leads to a reference from someone who isn’t a teacher or a family friend.

Why volunteering counts as real experience

Employers reading a CV from a 16 to 19 year old don’t expect a work history. What they’re looking for is proof of “soft” skills — turning up on time, working in a team, dealing with the public, following health and safety rules. Volunteering gives you all of that, and because most roles are flexible around college hours, it’s often easier to get started in than a part-time job. Regular volunteering, even just an hour a week, is also exactly what the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Volunteering section asks for: at Bronze you need three or six months, Silver six or twelve, and Gold twelve or eighteen, with at least an hour a week throughout. It can’t be paid and it can’t be for a profit-making business, but a charity, community group or not-for-profit all count.

Ideas to try in Berkshire

Charity shops. Oxfam accepts volunteers from age 14, and chains including the British Heart Foundation typically take on volunteers from 16, with parental consent usually expected for under-18s. Reading, Slough, Bracknell, Newbury, Maidenhead and Wokingham all have charity shop strips on their high streets, and shop managers are generally used to fitting rotas around college timetables.

Care and befriending. Local Age UK branches and befriending schemes often welcome younger volunteers for activities, tech support sessions or simply visiting isolated older residents. This is genuinely valued experience if you’re considering care, nursing or any people-facing career.

Animals and outdoors. RSPCA branches, local animal shelters, and conservation groups running litter picks or river clean-ups along the Thames and Kennet are usually short-notice, low-commitment ways to start, which suits anyone nervous about a big commitment.

Food banks and community projects. Reading, Slough, Newbury, Windsor and Wokingham all have food banks and community larders that rely on volunteers to sort donations, pack parcels or support distribution days — useful if you’re interested in social care, logistics or just want to give back locally.

Sports coaching and youth clubs. If you play a sport, ask your club about helping coach or referee junior sessions. Many youth clubs and Scout or Guide groups also need young helpers, which is especially good experience if you’re heading towards teaching, youth work or sports science.

Museums, libraries and events. Smaller local museums and libraries across Berkshire sometimes take on young volunteers for front-of-house, cataloguing or event support, and local festivals and fun runs regularly need stewards for a day at a time — a good option if regular weekly hours don’t suit your timetable.

Digital and admin support. Small charities are often desperate for help with social media, basic design or data entry. If you’re studying digital, marketing or business, offering a few hours online is a way to build a portfolio as well as a CV line.

A few practical things to sort out first

If you’re under 18, most organisations will want written consent from a parent or guardian before you start, so it’s worth having that conversation early. If the role involves working closely with children, vulnerable adults or in a care setting, the organisation may need to arrange a DBS check — ask them directly what’s required rather than assuming you can’t do the role. Your local volunteer centre (Reading Voluntary Action, Involve Wokingham, Slough CVS and similar organisations operate across Berkshire) is a good first stop if you’re not sure where to start, as they list current opportunities from dozens of local charities in one place.

Turning it into CV lines

Keep a simple note of what you actually did and how often — “Volunteered weekly at [organisation], sorting stock donations and serving customers” is a proper CV bullet point. Where you can, note anything measurable: money raised, people helped, hours completed. And always ask if the organisation is happy to act as a reference before you list them — most are glad to, and a reference from a real supervisor carries real weight with employers.

Looking for placements, part-time roles or work experience to go alongside your volunteering? Browse current opportunities from Berkshire employers on our Find Opportunities page — it’s free for students to use.