Giving back is an excellent way to get more involved with the community and gain valuable experience – how can you give back during Student Volunteering Week?
It’s Student Volunteering Week (SVW)! Yes, running from 10 February to 16 February and now in its nineteenth year, SVW celebrates all students getting involved in volunteering in several ways.
Student wellbeing, your future employability and positively contributing to wider community life: this is what SVW is all about. And there are many ways you can volunteer.
INVOLVED
No matter if you’re in uni, college or high school there is a volunteering opportunity that is right for you.
Volunteer Scotland has a host of different volunteering roles across Scotland from helping in your local charity shop, having tea with an elderly person all the way to working with animals, sport and outdoors or health and disability.
When it comes to volunteering the world is literally your oyster. Not to mention it will look great on your CV.
Its #StudentVolunteeringWeek! We have lots of #volunteer opportunities @DimensionsUK to help you boost your CV, whilst making a positive impact on the people we support at the same time. Browse our roles here > https://t.co/hHGM5Su2EK @StudentVolWeek #SVW2020 #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/W8QQDVeHhn
— DimensionsVolunteering (@DimensionsVols) February 10, 2020
PROGRESSION
Whilst volunteering you’re sure to gain confidence whilst making a difference, learn new skills, take on a challenge and make your CV really pop.
If you’ve got a passion for working with animals, then Guide Dogs are continually looking for volunteers. Or, do you want to work in the culinary world? Then join a social kitchen, where you can be ‘the host with the most’ and help integrate isolated families over a hot meal.
There is a volunteering role for any future career, and we promise the experience will help you get a feel for the industry.
Today, in celebration of Student Volunteering Week, we hear from a Year 10 student who's been volunteering on our student-led campaign with @UKSCN1 – Teach the Future…https://t.co/KzV5U7UhH5#studentvolunteers #SVW2020 #thanks #teachthefuture pic.twitter.com/fnXPap1WmH
— Students Organising for Sustainability🌍 (@sosukcharity) February 11, 2020
WHAT TO EXPECT
If you’ve never volunteered before you might be unsure of what to expect. Volunteering is a lot of fun, and you’re sure to make some great friends along the way.
In some volunteering situations you might need to go through a Protection of Vulnerable Groups Disclosure Process (PVG) – this will only happen if you are looking to work with vulnerable people including children or adults with mental health conditions, disabilities and the elderly.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0fhkITDO53/
When going through the process for PVG, your chosen charity will require your passport and other documents before Disclosure Scotland carries out a criminal record check. It sounds scary, but it’s just to ensure everyone is safe – plus, if you’re looking to work with vulnerable people in the future having a PVG will stand you in good stead.
Although you won’t get paid for your time volunteering, if there is an instance where travelling is involved during a placement the charity should cover out of pocket expenses.
For those with extra time on their hands – hello, summer holidays – it’s the perfect chance to volunteer. Don’t forget, if your circumstances change or you need to focus on studying more then you can stop volunteering at any point.
So, this Student Volunteering Week, how are you getting involved? Let us know on Twitter or Instagram.
