Volunteer to make a difference, meet friends and boost your CV

Two women talking about volunteering
Volunteering has the power to impact your community, boost your sense of wellbeing and launch your career.

In a study of current and recent volunteers:

58% credited volunteering with improving their job prospects, 38% had improved confidence, 39% had improved communication skills*.

Ready to start your volunteering journey?

  • Contact the VTeam to find out more at TheVTeam@uwl.ac.uk
  • Go to the Student Hub to book a one-to-one appointment and to see what opportunities are available.

*Social Mobility: Unleashing the Power of Volunteering 2021, Royal Voluntary Service.

What is Volunteering?

Volunteering is doing something unpaid for the benefit of others and is also a way to gain key skills, build knowledge and network with local organisations.

A group of students in discussion

What are the benefits of volunteering?

  • Develop your skills

  • Gain career-relevant experience

  • Boost your confidence and wellbeing

  • Have a positive impact on communities

Two students working together with their laptops open outside.

What volunteering can I get involved in?

We work with a range of organisations that are looking for support, both in London and remotely. These roles can be helping young people, families and older adults, environmental initiatives, campaigning, tech or event support, and more local projects. Volunteering covers a range of sectors relevant to different degree programmes and there are also great opportunities for leadership development.

You can volunteer in a way that works for you:

  • One off or half day opportunities and trips with the V Team

    Spend an afternoon outside maintaining green spaces or support your local donation centre by sorting out items. The VTeam promotes these opportunities on Student Hub and social media, you simply need to sign up and meet us at the right time and place.

  • External volunteering with community organisations 

    Apply for an ongoing role directly on an organisation's website, or via the Student Hub. If the organisation is a registered charity, not-for-profit or social enterprise, your help is considered volunteering. A lot of organisations will offer flexible roles, so you can discuss your availability and desired commitment with them.

  • Micro-volunteering on campus

    Short-term, low-commitment opportunities. We host plenty of stalls or speakers on-campus, allowing you to engage with topics or organisations in short bursts. Micro-volunteering could also look like signing a petition, sharing a campaign on social media, and donating clothes or food.

  • Leadership Programme

    A 7-week programme running twice annually in October and February, allowing you to participate in interactive workshops, hear from influential community leaders and network with local charities and other student leaders. You'll increase your confidence and motivation, learn new skills and techniques to fulfill your leadership potential and enhance your career prospects. All while doing something positive.

  • Community resilience workshops

    Look out for a host of one-off training workshops that will boost your knowledge and confidence to tackle real-world issues. Examples include First Aid Resilience with the British Red Cross and Suicide Prevention.

  • Peer Mentoring Scheme

    Peer Mentoring Scheme – Boost your communication skills and confidence while supporting other students.

  • Clubs and societies

    To find out more about societies and how to get involved, please visit the UWL SU website.

Quotes from volunteers

I wanted to contribute to volunteering in the community and the time, opportunities and incentives that the university has given, has allowed me to undertake some work. It has opened my eyes and has allowed me to be more empathetic towards others during a hard time in history. I would recommend given the opportunity that volunteering opportunities be taken."

- Cara, 2022 

How to get started

Once you've decided that you want to become a volunteer, you can head to Student Hub to see what opportunities are currently available, go direct to an organisations website to sign up directly or book a one-to-one appointment with the VTeam to discuss your options and get support. 

The Volunteering Team also sends out newsletters about one-off volunteering, fairs and more. To enquire about the volunteering newsletter, please contact the team at thevteam@uwl.ac.uk.

A group of four students walking through a park and chatting.

Explore opportunities on Student Hub

Check out opportunities provided by external organisations and VTeam one-off opportunities in Student Hub. You can access these by clicking on the VTeam opportunities through the careers section and by checking events. You can even filter opportunities by volunteering role or industry sector if you know what you’re most interested in.

Several hands on top of each other in a circle

Go direct to the organisation

Most not-for-profits and charities will have a volunteer section on their website for you to explore current opportunities. Some organisations even encourage you to get in touch if you feel you can offer a particular skill that isn’t listed in an existing role.

You can also look online for volunteering opportunities. Some websites have fantastic databases that can make it easier to find external volunteering. Do-ItTeam London Volunteering, Reach Volunteering and We Make Change are some good ones.

Book a one-to-one appointment with the VTeam

Book a one-to-one appointment with one of our team members through the Student Hub or email us at TheVTeam@uwl.ac.uk. At a time and place that works for you, a member of the VTeam can explain your volunteering options.

In order to give you the best support, we might ask you:

  • What are your interests?
  • What skills do you hope to gain? or What skills might you want to offer?
  • What is your availability for volunteering?

With this information, we can direct you to some of the most suitable opportunities available.

If there is a specific organisation you would like to volunteer for, but they are not on Student Hub, let us know! We can help you make contact.

Leadership Programme

Could you be part of the UWL Leadership Programme? 

Build confidence, learn about leadership and boost skills for employability. 

4 students walking outside UWL

What is the Leadership Programme?

The Leadership Programme is a seven-week extracurricular scheme that you can take part in alongside your course at UWL. It is designed to support you during and after your studies and places a focus on self-awareness, everyday leadership and supporting positive community change.

Four women working together from different ethnic backgrounds.

How the Leadership Programme works

During the course you will work through a series of interactive workshops and online resources to help you build knowledge, personal skills and confidence, and how to apply this to enhance your future career. There is an opportunity to hear from experienced community practitioners and unpack the true meaning of leadership with your peers. All students who complete the programme will receive a certificate awarded by the University.

The scheme runs twice during the academic year, from October - December and February - April, with workshops taking place on Tuesday evenings from 6 - 8pm. Please ensure that you are able to attend the sessions before you sign up.

A group of 4 students talking and drinking coffee

How to apply

Applications to take part in the Leadership Programme are currently closed and will re-open in September 2024.

Students with a disability or long-term health condition, and those who identify as Black or Asian, are particularly encouraged to apply for the programme.

If you have any questions about the Leadership Programme, please contact the Volunteering Team at thevteam@uwl.ac.uk or book a 1-2-1 appointment with us through the Student Hub.