The National Council for Voluntary Organisations, (NCVO) is leading a national campaign, called 'What Do You Believe In?' to encourage people to support causes they care about.

Liz Atkins, head of public policy at NCVO, said: "Volunteering is a great way to give to causes you believe in and make a real difference to people's lives. It's free, fun, rewarding and can dramatically improve your career prospects by giving you new experiences or the chance to hone professional skills."

A total of 73 per cent of adults in Britain volunteer in some way with 17.7million people volunteering formally at least once a year through specific groups or organisations. It is estimated Britain's volunteers contribute £22.7bn to the economy.

A string of high profile celebrities volunteer their time for causes they believe in. Angelina Jolie is a goodwill ambassador for the UN, actor Seth Green volunteers for Amnesty International while fashion stylist Nicky Hambleton Jones and Olympic swimmer Mark Foster have worked a stint in a Barnardo's charity shop, to name just a few.

Volunteering includes all kinds of activities from helping out at a one-off event through to regular a commitment manning telephone helplines, working in charity shops or helping run clubs such as Scouts and Guides.

To find out more about volunteering and opportunities in your area, visit www.whatdoyoubelievein.org.uk

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