Good for you, good for the community
Doing voluntary work not only makes the individual feel good but can raise the happiness levels of a whole community, according to research.
A survey of 101 randomly selected district authorities found those with the best quality of life had high levels of informal community activity.
Areas where many citizens gave up their time for others enjoyed better health and suffered less crime.
Students from such communities also achieved higher GCSE grades.
Feel good factor
The voluntary work ranged from helping an elderly neighbour to taking part in community projects.
The study by the Economic and Social Research Council found a strong link between voluntary activity and overall life satisfaction.
Professor Paul Whiteley, from University of Essex in Colchester, whose team produced the findings, said: "The research has revealed an interesting link between helping others and enjoying a good quality of life.
"It seems that when we focus on the needs of others, we may also reap benefits ourselves.
"It means that voluntary activity in the community is associated with better health, lower crime, improved educational performance and greater life satisfaction", he added.
Volunteering was seen to have a positive influence regardless of the social class or the wealth of the community, according to the study.
Happy towns
At the top of the happiness league were residents of provincial cities such as Aberdeen, Chester, Bristol and Cardiff, and those from communities such as South Cambridge and Rutland.
But at the pinnacle of the satisfaction stakes was Sevenoaks in Kent, which recorded the highest percentage of people who said they were "very satisfied with life".
These were also the areas which recorded high levels of voluntary activity.