Making the most of your experience
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, discover more about the city you live in and gain unique and exciting experiences that can help shape your life and career.
With a wide range of volunteering opportunities available, there are plenty of ways for you to make a difference to your local community and develop your own skills along the way!
Take a look at our top tips on how to prepare for your voluntary role, and how to make the most of your experience:
Choose an opportunity that’s right for you
When looking to volunteer, it's important to think about both what you enjoy and what will contribute to your personal development. Maybe you’d like the opportunity to use skills from your course in a real-world setting, or learn something new! Volunteering is a great way to develop your soft skills such as communication or organisation.
All of our volunteering opportunities are advertised on Handshake and are open to any student. The commitment varies between roles, so make sure to think about your availability and choose a role that suits your timetable.
As an international student, it is important that you understand the difference between unpaid work (which counts as part of your permitted 20 hours) and genuine volunteering (which doesn't).
The University of York uses this definition of volunteering:
Volunteering is any activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims primarily to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups) other than close relatives.
As a student visa holder, your role is classed as volunteering rather than voluntary work if you:
- do not have a contract of employment
- do not take the place of an employee
- do not receive payment in kind (reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence expenses is allowed)
- usually help a charity, voluntary or public sector organisation
For further information, please see the guidance on working in the UK during your studies.
Making an application
Once you’ve found a role that interests you, it’s time to apply!
You’ll usually be asked to complete an application form, or sometimes the organisation will ask for a CV and cover letter. This is your opportunity to show the organisation why you’re passionate about their work, as well as highlighting any skills you have that make you a good fit for the role.
You can find support with writing your application on our applications webpage.
Preparing for your volunteer role
Get a sense of what the organisation does by taking a look at their website or social media.
- It’s helpful to research the organisation’s requirements for volunteers - some roles may require specific availability or technical skills.
- If your role involves working with children or vulnerable adults, you may need to complete a DBS check. A Disclosure and Barring Service check allows organisations to check criminal records, and make sure you are safe to work with children or vulnerable adults.
- Being well informed about the organisation you’re supporting can boost your confidence and help you feel prepared to start volunteering.
After you’ve applied, you will often have an informal interview or conversation with a member of the organisation you’ve applied to volunteer with. This is an opportunity for you to learn a bit more about the role and the organisation and for them to learn about you. It’s a good idea to think about any questions you might have about the role - here are some suggestions for you to consider:
- Is there a dress code? Some larger organisations may provide volunteers with a uniform, or if the role is outdoors, for example, you may need to wear specific clothing.
- What is the best way to contact the organisation?
- What is the organisation’s expenses policy? It is important to check this before incurring any out-of-pocket expenses, as you may not be able to claim money back. Some organisations may be able to reimburse you for travel, subsistence or equipment, but it’s important to check their policy first.
- Does the organisation have a specific policy on social media use? The organisation may have guidance as to how you talk about your involvement with their work.
- Is the location where you will carry out your volunteering accessible? If you have a disability or health condition and would benefit from reasonable adjustments to access the voluntary role, it is helpful to discuss these before you start volunteering.
- How flexible is the role? It is good practice to let the organisation know of any times that you’re unavailable, for example due to work commitments or holidays.
If your role requires a DBS check, there will be certain documents that you’ll need to provide before you’re able to start volunteering. Providing your documents promptly will allow you to focus on enjoying your role and avoid delays in getting started.
Likewise, if you’ve been asked to supply references, request these swiftly and politely to ensure that your contacts have time to fill these in.
Thinking about what you would like to take away from your volunteering experience is a great way to make the most of your opportunity
- Would you like to develop a particular skill? Learn something new?
- Making a note of your goals at the very start of your experience will help you to reflect on your progress, as well as helping you to organise your thoughts and foster a sense of achievement
You can download a simple action planning template to help you get started.
, 29kb)While volunteering for an organisation, it's reasonable to expect a certain level of support and guidance. Here are some things you can expect as standard:
- A written role description or outline of your responsibilities
- Training and guidance on your role
- Support and supervision from an experienced volunteer or member of staff
- To volunteer in a safe environment, and be covered by insurance to carry out your role
- To be made aware of the organisation’s policies and procedures
If you have any concerns, speak to a member of the team by emailing us at volunteering
Reflecting on your progress
Volunteering is a great way to build your experience and gain some real-life examples to talk about in applications and interviews.
Reflection is a continuous process, and something you should be doing regularly rather than just at the end of an experience or project. It helps you to build self-awareness and boosts your confidence in both employability and academics.
While you’re volunteering with an organisation, try to spend a bit of time noting down some examples of aspects of your voluntary role that have helped you to develop or strengthen your skills. It’s really easy to forget the details, so keep a record of your actions, thoughts and feelings.
This will help to give you specific examples to articulate your thoughts and feelings more effectively. You’ll find that this will save you lots of time when it comes to applying for jobs or going to an interview.
Reflective methods
Take a look at this video for tips on how to reflect on your experience, and a method you can use to talk about your voluntary role in job applications or on your CV.
