The Benefits of Volunteering for University Students

Building experience and developing your skills is just as important as achieving your degree if you want to stand out in the graduate job market. Volunteering lets you gain practical experience and provides concrete examples to showcase on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Volunteering can take many forms, from supporting at a one-off event in London to volunteering weekly at a foodbank. Whatever your commitment and schedule, there are non-profit organisations that really value the energy and new perspectives students can offer. In return, you gain valuable experience that can help you stand out when applying for roles. In this blog, we will look at the benefits of volunteering, where to find roles, and the types of opportunities available. We hope you feel inspired to consider volunteering during your time at university!

What can I gain from volunteering?

Volunteering as a student can offer much more than you might expect. Alongside making a positive impact on your community, it can help you build experience, develop your skills and grow in confidence. Benefits include:

• Develop skills: Build key skills valued by employers, including communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem solving. Depending on the role, you can also gain technical skills such as marketing, graphic design or care experience.
• Explore career options: Test out a career area before committing to it. You can gain a clearer understanding of what a role involves day to day and whether it suits your interests and strengths.
• Enhance your CV: Show employers your commitment through volunteering and add an extra edge to your applications by demonstrating initiative, your core values and experience.
• Support with job applications: Develop strong examples to use in applications and interviews. You can use the STAR interview technique to clearly demonstrate your skills and experiences.
• Grow your network: Meet new people and professionals, expand your contacts, and potentially gain a reference or LinkedIn recommendation.
• Build confidence: Challenge yourself by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, trying something new and growing in confidence. If you are an international student, you can build your confidence working in a UK environment.
• Support your wellbeing: Helping others can give you a sense of purpose and strengthen your connection to your community.
• Make a difference: Contribute positively to causes that matter to you, whether through a short-term project or an ongoing commitment.

What types of volunteering can I do?

There are many ways to volunteer, from regular weekly commitments to one-off opportunities. Consider which roles will help you build skills and experiences that support your career goals. Types of opportunities include:

• Education: School volunteering, reading groups, homework clubs, and mentoring young people.
• Health and Social Care: Hospital volunteering, care home support, befriending services,and disability support.
• Community Support: Foodbanks, community centres, local charities, and advice services.
• Events and Sport: Event stewardship at local events such as parkrun, community or religious events, and sports clubs.
• Fundraising and Campaigns: Charity fundraising events, awareness campaigns, and sponsored challenges.
• Administration and Marketing: Office support, social media, communications, data entry,and recruitment.
• Environment and Sustainability: Conservation projects, litter picking, tree planting, and community gardens.
• Animal Welfare: Animal shelters, rescue centres, and wildlife rehabilitation.
• Refugee and Migrant Support: Language support, integration projects, and advocacy groups.

Where can I find voluntary roles?

Finding the right volunteering opportunity can take a little research, but there are plenty of ways to discover roles that fit your interests, schedule and career goals. To get started, you can:

• Search volunteering websites such as Reach Volunteering or CharityJob.
• Use local volunteer centres to get matched with organisations, such as Tower Hamlets Volunteer Centre.
• Look for opportunities in your local community, town or city.
• Contact charities directly to ask about volunteering roles.
• Use social media platforms such as LinkedIn or Facebook groups.
• Reach out to your university’s employability service.

Is volunteering paid?

Volunteering is not paid, but it can offer a wide range of benefits. Some charities may cover expenses such as travel, and you may have access to personal development opportunities, such as free training or certifications. Volunteering can also open doors to paid roles if you make a strong contribution to the organisation.

It’s important to remember that volunteering is flexible, and you are not expected to work full-time for free. Roles can range from an hour a week to a few hours a month, so there is always something that can fit around your studies and commitments.

Considerations for international students

Volunteering can be a great way for international students to gain UK-based experience and become active members of their new communities. However, it is important to understand the difference between volunteering and voluntary work under UK visa rules.

If you undertake voluntary work, this may count towards your weekly working hours, whereas volunteering does not.

Volunteering: There is no contract, and you must not replace a paid employee or do work that would normally be paid. You should not receive payment, although you can claim reasonable expenses such as travel.

Voluntary work: Voluntary workers often have set duties and responsibilities. Even without a written contract, the arrangement may be considered contractual if you are expected to work set hours or complete specific tasks.

Always check your visa conditions carefully and seek advice if you are unsure.