Ive been unemployed for several years, will voluntary work be a good start back?

Ive suffered with post traumatic stress for many years due to abuse I suffered as a child, I went right off the rails and down the road of drugs and crime and was a heroin addict from age 15, landed in prison several times, Im now clean 6 years and I haven't committed any crime since I got clean, I have been on sickness benefits due to the ptsd and its been difficult to say the least, but physically I am strong and fit, I work out alot and Im just bored not working, I would love to be getting paid to work but being out of work so long makes it difficult to find an employer who will give me a chance, I am not happy with the way things are and not having a job only makes my condition worse, im sure I would feel better if I was doing something, I would work full time as a volunteer to get out the house and be doing something, does this really help then going on to find full time paid employment?