I WAS INTERESTED IN THE PERSON FROM ZIMBABWE WHO IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTURY WORK. I SUGGEST HE/SHE GOES TO A DROP IN CENTRE FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS AND ENQUIRES WHAT IS AVAILABLE. FOR ME PERSONALLY I WAS AMAZED AT WHAT CAN BE DONE AS A VOLUNTRY WORKER. GIVING SOMETHING BACK HAS GIVEN ME MY LIFE BACK AND MADE ME VERY POSITIVE ABOUT MY LIFE. YOU JUST NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IN HELPING OTHERS. I HAVE BEEN VERY GRATEFUL TO NAHIP ORGANISATION. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP. 

Volunteering is a great way to keep yourself busy, do something worthwhile, learn new skills and make new friends. 10 years ago i started off as a volunteer in the Citizens Advice Bureau service straight after University. Five years later I was Chief Executive of a CAB! It gave me the opportunity to develop lots of transferrable skills. THE CAB service have great volunteering structures and are always looking for new volunteers. Most areas have a local CAB. There are lots of other charities that also welcome volunteers though. Getting back to your question (!), the answer rather depends which town or city you live in. Most towns/cities have local volunteer centres or voluntray action centres. These places advertise volunteering opportunities in their local areas and also have dedicated staff to help potential volunteers find the right kind of volunteering opportunity. Do a google search for volunteering in your city/town and you should come up with something.

Alternatively, you could contact one of the national charities who support the voluntary sector such as NAVCA - National Association for Voluntary and Community Action - http://www.navca.org.uk/ - it has a directory of local groups across the UK. You could also try Volunteering England, a national organisation dedicated to promoting volunteering. Their website has lots of usefiul information on volunteering , check it out at http://www.volunteering.org.uk/ - Good luck!

Mr. Housing and Hurdles Specialist ; - )