Community projects
Community projects are voluntary, team based and open to all University of York students. Build experience and gain new skills while giving back to the community.
Community projects offer a great opportunity to work in multi-disciplinary teams to tackle real-world challenges for local organisations, with a wide range of themes and topics. Each project will support a community partner such as a school, museum or charity on a specific brief they have set to tackle a local challenge. Teams might conduct research, deliver an event or create a resource to make a positive impact in the community.
Projects are open to students from any academic discipline. No previous experience or specific knowledge is needed - just enthusiasm!
Benefits
- Develop your skills and build on your strengths
- Gain experience and build your CV
- Make a positive social impact in the local community
What's involved?
- You will liaise with the project partners, learn about key issues in the community and how you can use your knowledge and skills to make a positive difference.
- You will receive training in project management, project planning, and reflection skills, and work with experts to develop the specific skills needed to tackle your project.
- You will work on your project with a small team of four to six students. There may be multiple teams per project.
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- The commitment is approximately 30-40 hours in total over the project period, but this is flexible.
- If you have a disability or long-term health condition that makes it difficult for you to access volunteering opportunities, please contact us to discuss any reasonable adjustments by emailing volunteering@york.ac.uk.
- Would you like to create value for the community as part of your course? Have a look at the York Interdisciplinary Modules, such as the Sustainability Clinic.
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Student experiences
"I loved having the opportunity to deliver a project that we were given the independence to develop, manage, and run ourselves. It was invaluable first-hand experience within our local community, and it was so rewarding to complete the project and reflect on its success! It was amazing to have the chance to be on the management/facilitating side of a project, as up until now I had only had experience being on the student side of projects similar to this." Community project volunteer
"The highlight of working on the York Environment Weeks project was the opportunity to apply my video production skills to a practical and meaningful project. Through this project, I was able to hone and enhance my techniques in a real work environment, particularly in terms of quickly and efficiently filming and editing videos. I think this experience is very meaningful, it gives you enough space to use your strengths and can give you effective advice and guidance." Community project volunteer