Volunteering

From singing to reading and researching to fundraising, there are tons of volunteering opportunities available in Birmingham, on and off campus.

What is volunteering?

Volunteering involves offering your time to take part in an activity which benefits people, organisations or the environment. Many students and recent graduates see volunteering as an enjoyable way to gain valuable work experience and develop their personal and professional skills.

Why should I volunteer?

There's so many reasons why you should volunteer, but here are a few we've picked out:

• Meet new people, make friends and increase your network  
• Build confidence and increase your wellbeing   
• Stand out in a competitive labour market  
• Gain crucial experience to enhance your CV  
• ‘Try out’ possible career paths  
• Make a positive difference to a community, organisation, or cause  
• Find opportunities which are flexible and can fit around your studies  
• Try something new and stretch your comfort zone 
• Learn new skills or refine existing ones 
• Gain recognition via the BCU Award, which allows you to earn awards that demonstrate your development to future employers through volunteering!

What types of opportunities are available?

Many different activities and roles are available throughout the year with a range of commitments, from short-term, one-off projects (a few hours, or several days/weeks) or more long-term, regular opportunities (several months to a year). Roles can include things such as taking part in a community clean-up, befriending the elderly, mentoring a young person, managing a charity’s social media or organising an event – to name a few.   

Whatever your skills, passions, interests and goals, the Volunteering team at BCU can help you find the right opportunity. Offering a tailored service, we work to source roles that are relevant to your degree or career prospects. Whether you want to commit to a regular voluntary position or the occasional one-off opportunity, there will be something for you.

How can I get involved?

As a BCU student, you can search for opportunities in the Volunteering Bulletin. There will also be opportunities to find out more about volunteering during Welcome Week and get involved in micro-volunteering opportunities from the beginning of your studies.

See more in the Volunteering Bulletin