Enhancing the student experience through

volunteering

Jon BiggsStudent Advice & Activities Manager

Oxford Brookes Students’ Union

Contents of talk

• Benefits of volunteering

• What is STAX?

• Current statistics

Benefits of volunteering

• To the student– A chance to

experience what’s ahead

– Opens up new opportunities

– Builds confidence– Awareness of local

cultures/issues– Network of people– Develop skills

Benefits of volunteering

• To the University– Relationship with local community– Marketability to potential students– Widening Participation

programmes– More employable graduates

• To the community– Skills and expertise can be

transferred from the students and University to the community

– Breaks down stereotype both of, and by the community

Facts and Figures

• 73% of employers stated that they would rather employ someone with voluntary experience, than someone without

(Timebank, www.timebank.org.uk)

• Almost 50% of chief executives believe there will not be enough suitable candidates over the coming year, placing the blame on the lack of skills that graduates possess

(Association of Graduate Recruiters, www.agr.org.uk)

• Formal volunteering in the UK is worth ~£40 billion per year

(Institute for volunteering research, www.ivr.org.uk/economic.htm)

What is STAX?

• We hold information for over 400 opportunities in the local community. We can help students to choose the right opportunity for themselves. We then provide advice and ongoing support to volunteers.

• We offer support for students to develop and run their own projects e.g. funding advice.

STAX 05/06 - Opportunities

5

1 15

32 2

1

20

317

32

1

14

5

22

122

5

Total Oxford CityOutside CityOpportunities in STAX

Total Opportunities

1623119

212

Map Oxford City Council Ward boundarieswww.oxford.gov.uk

STAX 05/06 - Demographics

• 76% of volunteers were female• From all Schools… but not representative

School Percentage

Arts & Humanities 15

Built Environment 4

Biological & Molecular Sciences 8

Business 8

Health & Social Care 6

Social Sciences & Law 26

Technology 3

Westminster Institute of Education 10

Two Schools 19

STAX 06/07

From August 2006 until April 2007…• 111 students volunteered• 465 students registered• 404 current opportunities

STAX 06/07

• Working with Schools– Diverse City– Grendon Prison

• Outreach– Visited Gipsy Lane,

Wheatley, Harcourt and Marston Road

– Targeted emails e.g. Technology students

Summary

• Volunteering is a good thing!

• STAX does a lot but could do more

• We want to do more in Headington and Rose Hill

• We want better links with Schools but need your help

Ground floor, Helena Kennedy Student Centre, Headington Hill CampusOpen 10am – 4pm

T: 01865 48(4737)E: stax@brookes.ac.uk