Royal Volunteering Service

Why volunteer as a student? #

Students have a lot to gain from volunteering.

While you might think that most people choose to volunteer later in life, we have plenty of student volunteers from school, sixth form and university who choose to share their talents with us.

What can students get from volunteering #

Volunteering is a great way to use your skills and talents to help others but it can benefit you in plenty of ways as well.

• It’s a great way to get work experience: get a head start in the jobs market while you’re still studying and help your CV stand out from the crowd.
• You can learn new skills that will help you in both your professional and personal life.
• Meet new people and expand your social horizons – our volunteers are all ages and come from all walks of life.
• Get a break from your studies by doing something worthwhile.
• Build your confidence.

What kind of volunteering can students do? #

We can offer a wide variety of volunteering opportunities that make a huge difference to the lives of people while in hospital and in the community.

You can help by:

• Becoming a Community Companion, visiting people that need support in their own homes and reconnecting them with their community.
• Making sure that people can get out and about on a regular basis, from driving them to the shops to just going out for a walk.
• Running social activities such as exercise classes.
• Chatting, reading and playing games with patients on hospital wards.
• Settling older people back into their home after a hospital stay.
• Serving healthy refreshments to patients, visitors and NHS staff from our Royal Voluntary Service shops and cafes in hospitals across the UK.
• Running a hospital trolley service round and delivering reading materials, snacks and essentials.
• Fundraising for Royal Voluntary Service in your local community.

Sharing your communication or digital skills #

We recognise that students have plenty of skills to share.

As well as the voluntary roles mentioned above, we also need tech-savvy people to update our social media and help organise events and fundraise for us.

If you have a particular skill or want some experience putting your studies or interests into practice in subjects like marketing or recruitment, get in touch and tell us how you can help.

“I don’t have enough time to study and volunteer” #

We know your studies need to come first so we’ll work with you to find roles that suit you and your availability – you can volunteer as much or as little time as you want.

Some of our volunteers make a regular commitment, others help when they can. Our volunteering opportunities mean that we can help you to find a flexible role that works for you.

This is directly from the RVO website, find out more: https://volunteering.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/student-volunteering