Why do I volunteer? What are the benefits?

I’m often asked why I give up so much of my free time (probably the equivalent of several working days a week) to my St John Ambulance volunteering, without receiving any financial reward. I often wonder the same thing myself - yes, on the face of it, it seems quite illogical.

Here are ten reasons why I volunteer for St John Ambulance. To be honest, I could probably find more reasons, but I’ll stick to my “top ten”.

It’s very good fun. Just like any hobby or club, it’s sociable, and I get to meet lots of different people, and we have a good laugh. If it wasn’t fun, I wouldn’t do it.
It challenges me. As you’ll know if you’ve read about my history in St John Ambulance, I’ve constantly had new things to try, new ways to challenge myself. By constantly challenging myself in this way, I don’t get bored. And it’s fun (see 1.)
It keeps me out of trouble. If I didn’t fill my time with volunteering, I’d probably end up drinking too much, or watching reality TV, or spending even more time on the internet, or one of many other undesirable pastimes.
I’ve learned useful skills. If someone collapsed in the street in front of me, I’d know what to do. I could actually save your life :-)
I’ve learned loads of useful, non first-aid skills. Like communicating with a wide range of different people, management skills, presenting to an audience and so on. I am now a much more confident person than I was four years ago.
I think being in St John Ambulance got me my job (which is completely unrelated to first aid or anything medical). At the interview, I spent maybe 10 minutes talking about what I learned on my university course, and 20 minutes talking about what I’ve learned in St John Ambulance. Seriously.
I enjoy “giving something back” to the community. Many of the events we cover could not happen (if only because they’d not be able to get their event licence, or insurance cover) if we weren’t there.
It’s very rewarding to be able to help someone who is unwell get better sooner. Whether that means cleaning and dressing a small cut on a child, being able to give a footballer with a broken leg some pain relieving gas and taking them to hospital, or even just being the radio controller that dispatches an ambulance to the ill patient on the other side of the field, it’s really rewarding to know you’ve helped in some way. The smallest things can make a difference.
Had I not joined St John Ambulance, I wouldn’t have half as good an understanding of Bristol or it’s people. This is a good enough reason for any student to join St John Ambulance (whichever city you’re in). I have been to many places that I didn’t know existed, and built up good working relationships and friendships with people of all ages and of different backgrounds, all thanks to my St John Ambulance volunteering.
Because it makes me feel proud. Yes, you might be sick of the song, but the lyrics are powerful:
I look into the window of my mind / Reflections of the fears I know I’ve left behind…
I am on my way / Can’t stop me now / And you can do the same…
Still so many answers I don’t know / Realise that to question is how we grow / So I step out of the ordinary / I can feel my soul ascending…
And you can do the same…
What have you done today to make you feel proud?