Benefits of volunteering
Meet people and give back
Volunteering lets you get involved in the local community and meet new people. You can give your time to those who need it whilst making new friends and connections in the city. You can volunteer for a cause you feel strongly about or find out about something new.
Build experience and skills
You don’t always need relevant experience to volunteer and it can be an excellent way to build practical skills and work on skills such as communication, teamwork and time management. It can also improve your confidence and self-esteem. Some areas of work will require that you have experience in order to apply for work or further study –some examples include international development, creative arts, teaching and social work – and volunteering is a good way to start.
Get insight into career areas and build your network
If you're considering several different career options, volunteering allows you to gain an insight into what they are like on a day-to-day basis, and what roles suit you. Meeting people within the organisation is a way to build your own personal network.
How can you volunteer?
There are lots of different ways to volunteer. You could be involved in the organisation side in roles such as fundraising, communications, marketing and administration – or you may prefer to be involved in practically supporting the individuals, or the cause, the organisation supports. This could range from cleaning a park to providing company over meals to an elderly person. In some instances there may also be opportunities to conduct research.
Time commitments can also vary to suit what you have available – some opportunities will require an ongoing commitment but others might be a one-off opportunity such as supporting a charity event.
Where to find opportunities
The Students’ Association Volunteering Service is the place to start your volunteering journey. It offers a huge variety of opportunities appropriate for students. If you have your own idea of a project that could make a difference to others in the local community, but are not sure how to organise it, the Service can support you to make it a reality.
Its website includes advice on volunteer rights and information specifically for international students .