As a first-year, I haven’t had much experience volunteering at university yet, however I’ve had so many opportunities for such a wide variety of roles in only a few months around the university campus and within York’s community.
The University Website
The first point of call when searching for volunteering opportunities around York and the university could be the University of York’s volunteering web page. There is plenty of advice and guidance for volunteer applications, including contact details for support and how to apply for funding to start your own volunteer initiative – you can receive up to £500 if successful.
You can create a Handshake account, as Handshake regularly post about events and opportunities in which alerts can be tailored to your own interests. When you sign up to their mailing list you’ll receive information not only about volunteering, but also career support, placements and events – both online and in-person. I’ve found this particularly helpful when searching for all sorts of opportunities. While I feel like my degree (Physical Geography & Environment) encompasses a large range of subject areas, there are plenty of openings advertised there to suit all degree areas.
Green Impact Sustainability Programme
A great experience I recently had was completing the Green Impact Lab Auditor training, which was very relevant for my course in particular. Although during the day I met people from every university department and a surprising variety of degrees. There weren’t many first-years like me taking the training – in fact, many there were postgraduates – but everyone was very friendly and helpful, so never be put off if you’re in a similar situation! I was reassured by a PhD student from a biology background that they had never done anything like this before, so bear in mind that while you might be starting something completely new, it might be new even for more experienced students. Also keep an open mind when looking for volunteering opportunities, as there could be many experiences out there that compliment your degree in ways you may not have thought! If you’re interested, find out more about the Green Impact sustainability programme – they’re making a big difference across the university year-on-year!
The Sustainability Clinic
The University’s Sustainability Clinic, while part of a geography student’s degree course, is open to everyone looking for volunteering or work experience with a huge range of organisations that focus on the environment and sustainability. If you’re looking to broaden your skill set and widen the scope of your degree, sustainability and environmental awareness can be worked positively into any employment opportunity, and this is a great way to find out how. They have an office on Campus West right next to the Information Centre. It can be chosen as an elective module, so make sure to check that your degree allows electives in Semester 2.
Emails and Newsletters
While a weekly stream of emails and newsletters into your inbox might sound a bit tedious at first, but signing up to a few can be a good source to help you find local volunteering experiences. Examples include Handshake, the Careers & Placements newsletter, the Environment Employability Hub, and Eventbrite.
The Environment & Geography department is very good at regularly updating students on opportunities to volunteer, both within and outside the university: we have a weekly newsletter!
Through all of these, I have learned about all sorts of opportunities to volunteer in York’s community. This includes management and conservation at St Nicks Park, fundraising events, a video design and editing voluntary job with the York Climate Commission, and chances to volunteer in local schools. There’s a huge scope of experiences you could choose from to complement your degree.
Enjoy Volunteering!
Since it’s something you’ll be fitting in around your university schedule, make sure it’s something you enjoy! Volunteering is a great way to find like-minded people who take time to give back to their community, all while building skills and doing things they love. I hope you feel inspired to have a look into volunteering while studying at York!
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