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CV & Careers · CourseToJob

Volunteer CV example

What to include in a volunteer cv: relevant evidence, skills, sample achievement structures and template suggestions.

A useful starting point

Treat volunteering like work: organisation, dates, caseload or hours, result. One page unless you also have a professional history to keep. Skip listing every bake sale. Skip this page if volunteering is a one-line extra on a two-page professional CV.

These examples illustrate structure, not a real applicant’s history. Replace every sample detail with your own evidence. Follow the employer’s instructions on qualifications, registration, document length and file format.

Evidence to consider

  • Organisation name
  • Hours or caseload
  • DBS status if the role required it
  • A named outcome

Illustrative achievement bullets

  • Weekly four-hour shift on a community advice desk for 11 months
  • Logged 30 visitor enquiries a session into a shared spreadsheet
  • Trained 3 new volunteers on the welcome script
  • Helped run a fundraising stall that took £1,200 in one day

Relevant skills to substantiate

Safeguarding awareness · Record keeping · Welcome desk · Team rota · Cash handling · Confidentiality

What to leave out

  • Vague “helped out”
  • Photos
  • Unrelated school history once you have years of volunteering

Choose a layout

Explore the compact template or use it in the CV builder. This is a suggested layout; follow the vacancy’s requirements.

Related roles

Frequently asked questions

Does volunteering count as experience?

Yes when you write it with scope and dates. No when it is a hobby list.

Should I include a DBS number?

Say you hold a current DBS if the new role needs one. Do not publish the certificate number on a CV you email widely.

One page or two?

One unless you also have a full paid career to show.