The UK is gearing up to help celebrate World Humanitarian Day next Sunday. 

The inspiration for the inaugural Day came on August 19th, 2003, when terrorists attacked the UN’s headquarters in Baghdad – among the 22 people killed was Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN’s top representative in Iraq. 

In 2009 the UN adopted a resolution that saw the formation of the first World Humanitarian Day. 

It is now held every year on August 19th to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their own lives helping others. 

It also aims to rally support for the millions of people affected by crises, such as armed conflict, around the world. 

As humanitarian workers deliver aid and medical professionals treat the wounded or sick, they can find themselves directly targeted. 

However their work is vital for all of the civilians who are caught in conflict and need to be protected, especially children, people with disabilities and the elderly. 

But not all humanitarian work involves working in war-ravaged countries or famine zones.  

There are many jobs all across the UK where one person can make a huge difference to many lives. 

Social Services 

It will challenge you every day but at the end of every shift in social work you’ll have the immense satisfaction of knowing you made someone feel better, more comfortable and listened to. 

This is a jobs sector that encompasses many different roles – from care assistants and social workers to support practitioners and housing officers. 

It’s also going to need many more new starts and experienced workers to cope with growing demand.  

One reasons is that by 2030 it’s estimated the number of elderly people with care needs will have risen from 2.5 million to 4.1 million. 

Healthcare 

You don’t have to be on the frontline of a dangerous war zone or dealing with an epidemic in a faraway country to make a difference in healthcare. 

Nurses, GPs, hospital porters, surgeons, admin assistants, anaesthetists . . . the list of medical and healthcare professionals who help others every day is almost endless. 

All of these roles have one thing in common however. They each offer the potential to transform the experience of people who suddenly find themselves at one of the most difficult times in their lives. 

Charities 

Poverty is a factor that can affect anyone and anywhere. This is why charity workers can make such a difference all across the UK. 

From helping the homeless find safe accommodation and families stay healthy and nourished through food banks, the daily tasks of a charity worker are incredibly varied and often challenging. 

But there are few better ways to make a difference in our rural and urban communities.  

A career in social services, healthcare or in charity work is not for the faint-hearted. It takes dedication and compassion, as well as emotional and physical stamina. 

The rewards, however, are not matched in any other jobs sector. 

These roles offer opportunities not only to earn a salary but also transform people’s lives every day.  

What better way to mark World Humanitarian Day on August 19th than to begin your own transformational career with a new job in one of these sectors?