{"id":34503,"date":"2026-01-09T13:41:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T13:41:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/?p=34503"},"modified":"2026-01-09T13:41:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T13:41:14","slug":"student-leadership-opportunities-at-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/2026\/01\/09\/student-leadership-opportunities-at-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Societies to College Sport: Student Leadership Opportunities at York"},"content":{"rendered":"

Uni is about so much more than lectures, deadlines, and working your way through an ever-growing reading list.<\/b> For me, some of the most valuable things I\u2019ve gained at York didn\u2019t come from a seminar room\u2026 they came from student leadership roles!<\/span><\/p>\n

From <\/span>college sports to academic societies and school-level representation<\/b>, getting involved has grown my confidence, my friendships, and my future potential. If you\u2019re curious about committees, volunteering, or leadership opportunities at York, this blog\u2019s for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Starting Small: My Early Leadership Roles<\/b><\/h2>\n
I started uni as a fresher at Constantine College and decided to pick netball back up (after a fair few years off!). A few months in, an Instagram post popped up saying Constantine College Netball Club (CCNC) we<\/span>re looking for a <\/span>First Year Representative<\/b>. This role was the perfect introduction to committee life. It was low-pressure, gave me a chance to organise a social and trial being a committee member to see if it was for me. I loved it!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Another low-pressure role I took on was being a <\/span>STYC (<\/b>Second and Third Year Contact<\/b><\/a>)<\/b>. This role is on the University of York bingo card- most people I know have done it! Leading a flat through Freshers\u2019 Week, from campus tours to group photoshoots, was a fun, easy way to <\/span>gain some CV experience<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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Levelling Up: Social Secretary Life<\/b><\/h2>\n
My 1st year experience gave me the confidence to apply for <\/span>Social Secretary of CCNC<\/b> in my 2nd year. In this role, I started to gain\u00a0<\/span>some real skills such as <\/span>organisation, multitasking and communication<\/b>, by balancing running socials and committee responsi<\/span>bilities alongside my degree. Also, some of the memories I made in this role, like race days with the netball girls and Wednesday socials, are highlights of my time at uni.<\/span><\/p>\n
\"race\"Wednesday<\/b><\/h2>\n
Also in 2nd year, I applied to be <\/span>Events Officer <\/b>for the <\/span>Social Policy Society<\/span><\/a>. Getting involved in a society linked to my degree (Criminal Justice and Social Policy) was such a good decision. Not only did I meet older students (who had previously done my modules and gave amazing advice), but I also got to <\/span>connect with professionals in my field when organising talks and workshops<\/b>. It genuinely opened doors and allowed me to connect my degree to the real world.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Stepping Into Senior Leadership<\/b><\/h2>\n
Knowing how much I enjoyed being on the committee and how beneficial it was for me, I ran for <\/span>Vice President <\/b>of the Social Policy Society in my 3rd year. The leadership experience in a role like this is unmatched. I was constantly developing skills like <\/span>accountability, initiative, decision-making, and problem-solving<\/b>. Also, on a personal level, being VP introduced me to some of the best friends I have made at uni. Skills development + friendships = no brainer!<\/span><\/p>\n
\"Social\"Social<\/p>\n
Beyond Societies: School Reps, Colleges & Volunteering<\/b><\/h2>\n
All of my 1st and 2nd year roles gave me great interview material, which helped me secure the role of <\/span>School Representative <\/b>for the <\/span>School for Business and Society<\/span><\/a> in 3rd year. This has been a more <\/span>professional<\/b> leadership experience, from leading course reps to chairing Student Staff Forums; it\u2019s helped me build <\/span>confidence <\/b>and given me insight into how to conduct myself in formal settings.<\/span><\/p>\n
York also offers loads of <\/span>volunteering opportunities<\/b><\/a>, from <\/span>community projects<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>charities<\/span><\/a> to <\/span>working with schools<\/span><\/a>. College committees are another great option too- whether you\u2019re interested in welfare, sport, social events, or inclusion, there\u2019s usually a role that fits.<\/span><\/p>\n
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How I Got Involved (And How You Can Too!)<\/b><\/h2>\n
Every role I\u2019ve mentioned had a slightly different application process, but they all started the same way: being a member first.<\/span><\/p>\n
Most societies and college committees post their <\/span>openings on Instagram<\/span><\/a>, usually towards the end of the academic year. Applications might involve:<\/span><\/p>\n