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Volunteering as motivation to learn

For many of those involved in voluntary work in their communities, this commitment is a motivation to engage in learning.

By doing appropriate courses, volunteers can fulfil their roles more effectively, carry out activities in the community, run community centres in a better way and fulfil any necessary requirements for the types of work they do. In many ways it is similar to people who are motivated to learn for a particular job - they are developing the skills they need for a specific role.

"...the courses that I've done...I've done them because I had to do them but I've done them with a view to enjoying them, and I have enjoyed them. But we have, as part of the football club we have had to take the courses, because you can't enter the league unless you take the courses."

Other people are aware that, whilst a course of learning may be useful for their voluntary work, it will also be useful for them as individuals. The following woman sits on the committees of a number of organisations and has developed a very positive attitude towards learning for her volunteering, highlighting the advantages of it:

"Well I get, as I say, free learning as a start. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s totally for yourself. 90% of it is, you know, you’ve got to go and make it to your club, your committee, your school whatever, but it is for yourself as well, or else you wouldn’t do it, I really am a big believer in you wouldn’t do it. I don’t think it’s a feather in your cap scenario, ‘cause if it is I’ve never had one, but I think you are learning and you would only do it if you wanted to learn."
 

So whilst a person's voluntary work may be the primary motivation to engage in learning, it may well not be the only one. In addition to this, learning in a voluntary setting can be an important first step back into learning and education for those who have not been involved in any learning for a number of years.

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