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Student Volunteering Guide
WelcomeWhy volunteer?What can I do?
How do I get involved?Key Information, Hints & Tips
Want to do more?
WelcomeHello and Congratulations!
You’ve taken your first step to becoming part of a student community that collectively commits thousands of hours of its time, in order to create positive change in and around the City of Plymouth.
Carry on reading to see how your Students’ Union can help you on your volunteering journey, even if it has yet to begin!
See you soon!
UPSU’s Volunteering Team
UPSU is recognised as an “Investor in Volunteers”
by the United Kingdom Volunteering Forum
UPSU’s Volunteering Team are winners of The Student
Volunteering Network’s Volunteer Service
Award 2014
Why volunteer?
*Gain work experience within supportive and positive environments, which develop and enhance your knowledge and skills.
*Attend training courses run by UPSU or external providers, from countryside management skills to first aid.
*Have a go at something new to broaden your perspective of the world.
*Meet new people to expand your social and professional networks.
*Find out more about a specific third sector organisation and the issues they are working to overcome.
*Boost your self-esteem and overall wellbeing.
* Have a great time!
Why not! As well as helping to make a difference in the local community, you can also:
What can I do?
Community Volunteering We are in touch with over 100 different charity, community and non-profit organisations in and around the City of Plymouth, all of whom are looking for student volunteers. From Plymouth Age UK to the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), we can help put you in touch with any organisation which has a volunteering opportunity with your name on it! If you’re looking to gain some serious work experience, with the potential to learn new skills and to receive formal training, then this is the route for you. Perhaps you would like to befriend an elderly individual, or help the National Trust with their conservation and preservation work. There really is something for everyone.
Student Led Volunteering ViP Student Led Volunteering projects are run by students, for students, at Plymouth University. From woodland regeneration with The Green Team to mentoring with the Special Olympics Initiative, ViP Projects are great for those of you not wanting to commit to a frequent timetable of volunteering, but who are happy to spend an afternoon/day here and there when possible.
They are also a great opportunity to explore more of Plymouth and the surrounding countryside of Devon and Cornwall (for free!), whilst getting to know other students.
You may already have a clear idea of what sort of volunteering you would like to undertake. If not, don’t worry! Here at UPSU we can signpost you to an array of opportunities that match your career goals and interests, including many run by UPSU’s Volunteering Team and your fellow students. Whether you want to attend one-off events, or get stuck into voluntary activities that run more frequently, there is something for everyone.
Sports and Cultural Volunteering in Schools Looking to gain experience of working with children? Then volunteering with Relays @UPSU is for you. Overseen by UPSU’s Volunteering Team, Relays offers students the chance to engage with local school children, with potential for you to share your interests and passions with the pupils. Past engagement activities have ranged from teaching children about the importance of wildlife conservation through building wild patches in school grounds, to coaching football at local primary schools.
Fundraising is an integral part of life at UPSU. We encourage students to get involved in raising money for charity and giving back to the community... and also because it’s super fun! Whether this is through a sports club/society that you’re part of, as a keen and generous individual, or through the student-led fundraising group RAG, there are loads of ways to get involved. RAG (Raise & Give) organise tons of ridiculously fun events and offer some pretty amazing challenges to take part in – ever thought about scaling Mount Kilimanjaro or jumping out of a plane dressed as a monkey?!
Student Fundraising
How do I get involved?
*Enrol as a student volunteer and create your own volunteering profile.Find out more about the different avenues of volunteering supported by UPSU.
*Browse and apply for opportunities provided by external third sector organisations and UPSU volunteering projects.
*Sign up to attend one off volunteering events.
*Have your voluntary efforts officially recognised through our volunteering hours logging system (very useful for your CV!).
*View our volunteering policy and other key information for student volunteers.
Volunteering opportunities can vary from month to month. Should you not find something that interests you, get in touch with us, and we’ll help you find that opportunity you have your heart set on!
We can also support you with processes such as application forms, as well as answer any queries you may have.
www.upsu.com/volunteer is the answer to this question! Through this webpage you can:
upsu.com/volunteer
facebook.com/UPSUVolunteers
@UPSUVolunteers
Key Information, Hints and TipsWe want you to have the best possible experience as a volunteer. The following information will help you get the most out of your volunteering journey whilst studying here at Plymouth University.
Choosing an Appropriate OpportunityUsing upsu.com, you can find an array of volunteering ventures that can complement your study programme and social life. Volunteer Coordinators are also on hand in the Hive in the Students’ Union building to guide you through your decision making process. Be aware that some opportunities may have restrictions concerning days, times and commitment levels as examples. Please think carefully about the commitment you are able to make (remembering going home for weekends, friends, academic work and exams etc.) and please do not make a commitment you are unable to make. You have the right to change projects and/or to withdraw from volunteering, whilst giving the appropriate amount of notice.
Your Rights and ResponsibilitiesAs a volunteer you have rights and responsibilities and these should be explained to you when you start volunteering for an organisation. They are designed to give you a voice, and to ensure that your volunteering is of real benefit to yourself and the community. As a volunteer from UPSU, you are acting as an ambassador for us and as such, should behave in an appropriate manner. All the rights and responsibilities for volunteering with UPSU can be found on upsu.com.
Settling InWhether you are new to volunteering or a dab-hand, you may like to ask for a ‘settling-in’ period. This could involve visiting the project a few times before you start, shadowing another volunteer or having a trial period before you commit to longer term involvement. This process will help build your confidence, enable you to find out more about the organisation and get to know others before you start.
Feedback and IdeasWe value your thoughts, feelings, ideas and experiences! If you have any comments or criticisms about the service we provide or the projects we support, then please let us know.
Volunteer ReliabilityVolunteers are highly valued by organisations and contribute significantly to their mission and work. It is therefore essential that they are able to rely on you. Please let your organisation/project know if you are unable to attend and inform them of any changes of circumstances that will affect your volunteering.
Ongoing SupportWhether you are volunteering for a UPSU project, or for an external third sector organisation, UPSU’s Volunteering Team in the Hive will always be on hand to provide support and guidance whenever you need it. A meeting can be arranged at any time throughout the academic year using the contact details on the back of this guide. In addition to this, there will be a key person you can talk to within the organisation/project you are volunteering for.
SafetyAll volunteers are covered by our insurance policy whilst volunteering with activities facilitated by UPSU. In addition to this, all the community groups that UPSU works with have a valid insurance policy and we ensure that you will volunteer in conditions that are safe and healthy.
CommunicationPlease let us know if you experience any problems whilst volunteering, and we will endeavour to help you. You should also talk regularly with the person responsible for you at the project/organisation where you volunteer. This will help you chart your progress and will help to avoid problems.
SocialsSocials are a great way to keep in touch with fellow student volunteers and to meet new people on other volunteering projects. Both ViP Student Led Volunteering and RAG run socials throughout the academic year.
Future PlansVolunteering can be a good way to test your career choices. It is also a great way to develop knowledge and skills which will make you more employable. Make sure you use our online system to record the hours you volunteer and any skills you acquire. These records can be used when completing job applications!. We can also act as a referee for a period of 12 months after you finish your volunteering activities through us.
Want to do more...?Some of the most successful volunteering opportunities are led entirely by students. Why not become a ViP Project Leader or join the RAG Committee? Doing either will provide you with the opportunity to develop skills such as leadership, project planning and teamwork.
With the support of a specialist member of the UPSU Volunteering Team, you will be able to access relevant training and have the chance to fulfil your ideas for developing your project to its full potential. As part of a team, you will work with other students to promote your project and others, organise socials and help students, staff and members of the public recognise the difference you make within the local community.
Perhaps you have a volunteering or fundraising idea of your own? Either way, we want to hear from you! Just pop in to the Hive in the Students’ Union building and say hello.
How to get in touchVisit us! We are located in The Hive in the Students’ Union
upsu.com/volunteer
@UPSUVolunteers facebook.com/UPSUVolunteers
01752 588387
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