Structured volunteering by students was one of our key activities. Across our network of Hubs and through our Projects, we delivered a range of volunteering programmes addressing social and environmental challenges in local communities.
Practical social action connects students with the world outside the university bubble and provides the opportunities and skills to make a real difference to their university careers and beyond.
Across our network of Hubs and Projects staff supported student leaders through our committee structure to get experience running and delivering volunteering programmes, managing volunteers and working with local community partners, such as schools, youth groups and care homes. Through our learn, connect, do framework, students developed their critical engagement, wellbeing and key skills.
Discover our volunteering programmes:
Schools Plus
Tackling educational inequality by providing near to peer academic support for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds
Empower
Empowering young people to improve their expectations for future life through near to peer mentoring
Inspire Debate Change
Creating active citizens through interactive, student-led civil education workshops for 9-13 year olds
Branch Up
Supporting social and emotional development for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds through free activity days
LinkAges
Narrowing the intergenerational gap through activities to build friendships between students and older people
Invent Plus
Increasing diversity in Engineering through interactive, student-led STEM workshops for young people
Libraries Plus
Homework support in local libraries to tackle educational inequality and support young people’s academic attainment
One-off volunteering
As well as our long term volunteering opportunities, we understand the importance of one-off events to reduce the barriers students face to getting involved in social action – especially those who haven’t taken part before.
Our one-off approach was born in Student Volunteering Week, a national event celebrating student volunteering, and promoting the benefits for students and universities. This annual event is now coordinated by the Student Volunteering Network.