Volunteering is a great way to get involved at university and with the wider local Guildford community and has many benefits for your future employability!
There are many volunteering opportunities listed on the Students' Union Surrey Volunteering website. You will need to register online with the Students' Union first.
Example roles include:
- Gardeners
- Sustainability ambassadors
- Community fundraisers.
By volunteering you can be confident that employers will recognise the skills that you have gained through voluntary work experience and it lead you to better employment prospects once you leave university.
You will be able to differentiate yourself from other candidates when applying for jobs by sharing the great work you've been doing in the community, the skills you've developed and the impact you've made.
Volunteering will provide you with plenty of opportunities to showcase your skills and experience to prospective employers during the application and interview process. You will be able to demonstrate that you have developed skills such as time management, communication, teamworking and customer service (as well as other slices of expertise you might gain).
Don't forget to engage with the Students' Union Employable Me initiative and the University's employability and careers support for help into maximising these opportunities for your future success.
By volunteering, you will meet different people from all walks of life.
- You can get to know like-minded people who share the same interest in a particular cause and make new friends.
- You can make good contacts amongst the people you are volunteering with or for. This will help you in countless ways; they may help point you in the right direction when it is time to start thinking about which careers you are interested in. They could also be a valuable source of advice to help you further enhance your skills. They may even put you in touch with their networks, giving you a helpful step on the ladder towards your ideal job.
Being a volunteer will help you to maintain good mental health at university.
Being at university is a learning experience in many ways, and it’s normal for it to feel challenging at times. For instance, you might find yourself feeling alone while you find your feet socially and in relationships. During exam periods, and when coursework deadlines are looming, stress levels can be intense. Helping others through volunteering has been shown to increase wellbeing and resilience to stress, and lift mood, helping the helpers as well as those being supported.
We have lots of different kinds of activities that you can get involved in to really make a difference, whether in the community or here at Surrey.
Volunteering is your chance to help shape the world for the better.
There maybe a charity or a not-for-profit organisation that can benefit from your enthusiasm, whatever you’re passionate about.
The wellbeing that comes from contributing to a cause you love will keep you in good shape mentally and spill over into other areas of your life.
Getting involved with volunteering is a great experience during your time at uni, and here’s a few reasons why.
It's completely up to you, you may wish to do a couple of hours a week or once a semester.
No payment, other than the reimbursement of agreed expenses, is made by the Students' Union or the external charities or partners.
There are many volunteering opportunities listed on the Students' Union Surrey Volunteering website.
You should also check our extra-curricular list of opportunities to find out about other ways to give your time to your fellow students via mentoring and being a rep.
