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► Volunteering
Volunteering is part of the Guild’s Student Development Department which also encompasses Student Groups, Residence Associations and Post Graduate Support.
Here at the Guild of Students we have over 100 different volunteering opportunities for students to get involved in. This means you can choose an opportunity to suit your interests, passions and timetable! You can volunteer on a regular or one-off basis, with one of our 30 student-led volunteering projects or with one of the many local charities and voluntary organisations in and around the Birmingham area. You can even set up your own project!
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering is a great way to develop transferable skills and knowledge, improve your employability and gain valuable experience towards your degree or future career. It gives you the opportunity to work with like minded people and make new friends, meet other people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds and have fun, all while making a valuable difference to the local community. Volunteering is a chance to support a cause you really care about or just try something completely new!
Celebrate your achievements at the Volunteering Ball!
On Tuesday 17th March 2009 ComAc, the student-led Community Action project, will be holding a Volunteering and Societies Ball. ComAc have been working extremely hard to organise this event for students and it's set to be the volunteering social event of the year! Everyone is welcome, so why not bring your friends along too, so they can see what volunteering and being involved in student groups is all about?! The event will be held at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham. The theme is Moulin Rouse and the dress is black tie and cocktail dresses. Tickets are now on sale at £21 and a proportion of this will go towards the Miirya Village project in Uganda http://www.justgiving.com/miiryaproject so if you buy a ticket you'll be doing your bit to help others too! To reserve your tickets and if you wish a table, or to find out more please email comac@guild.bham.ac.uk
Further information can be found here.
Support and Training
Being a member of the Guild means you will be able to access information on all our volunteering opportunities, receive advice and guidance both before and during your volunteering, attend free in-house training, get free Criminal Record Bureau checks, gain recognition in the form of certificates, prizes and awards and be invited to volunteering celebration events. We aim to provide you with all the support you need to enable you to make the most of your volunteering experience.
Types of Projects
The huge variety of projects we offer gives you the chance to volunteer with a diverse range of people such as children from underprivileged backgrounds, adults with learning difficulties, the elderly, refugees and asylum seekers, young offenders, the homeless or people with disabilities.
Your role could involve running a play scheme or activity club, befriending or mentoring someone, teaching or sports coaching, giving advice or counselling, conserving the environment, fundraising, marketing or campaigning, conducting research or even volunteering abroad!
Here is a list of our opportunities and how to get involved.
Please pop into Student Development to read through our project files containing profiles about each of the opportunities below, detailing the project or organisations aim, volunteer roles, location, times and commitment, recruitment process and the skills and experience volunteers can gain.
How to get Involved in Volunteering
If you would like to volunteer with any of our projects here are the steps you need to take:
1. Sign up and attend a Volunteer Induction
This free training session will explain everything you need to know to make the most of your volunteering. Visit Student Development in the Guild for the training dates and to sign up.
2. Find out about the volunteering opportunities
We have a team of staff dedicated to supporting you, so please come and talk to us about your ideas, interests and motivations so we can help you find a project right for you. We have a resource library where you can sit down and read through our information sheets, leaflets and categorized project files. Look out for our Volunteer Fair, a showcase event where you'll have the unique opportunity to talk to the people who run the volunteering projects. Alternatively if you want to set up your own project, let us know and we can support you to do this!
3. Choose a Volunteering Project
Once you have attended an Induction and registered your details with us we will help you get in touch with your chosen project.
4. Sign up for Additional Training or Checks
Each project has its own selection process – you may be required to attend an interview, complete an application form, complete a Criminal Record Bureau check or attend additional training.
5. START VOLUNTEERING
6. Keep in Touch
Please let us know how you are getting on. We are here to support you, to answer questions or address concerns and we are always keen to hear your stories! As a volunteer you will receive our fortnightly volunteering e-newsletter with updates and details of new and one-off volunteering opportunities.
7. Celebrate your achievements
Hand in volunteering timesheets and be rewarded with certificates and prizes and attend celebration events such as the Volunteer Ball!
How to Contact Us
Student Development is located on the lower ground floor of the Guild. Please go to the Student Development counter where our Volunteering Assistants will be happy to answer your questions and provide you with more information.
Opening Times:
Term Time: Monday to Thursday 11am to 5.30pm
Fridays: 11am to 4.00pm
Vacations: 11am to 1pm
Telephone: 0121 251 2411
Email: volunteering@guild.bham.ac.uk
