Volunteering is a significant and powerful way to give back to the
global community. When you approach moving to a new country like the United Kingdom,
the transition can be a significant change. You might wonder how exactly you
can stand out and build new skills while studying here.
Being a student, we know there are many changes to which you adapt.
For instance, you start living in student
accommodation or adjusting to the new place jitters. In addition to
adapting to a new place, you have to manage busy schedules, social engagements
and co-curricular activities. However, adding volunteering to your day can be a
fulfilling and beautiful experience. Volunteering is not only about giving back
to society but also about learning and earning benefits that go beyond
university life. In this blog, we are penning down why volunteering is important
and how it can make a difference while studying in the UK. Let’s find out!
Why Volunteering is a Fulfilling Experience?
Once you move to the United Kingdom, you can expect to find
multiple student communities with different interests. With a rich tradition of
community engagement, most people rely on volunteers to give essential
services. Especially for international students, volunteering can help you to
foster a sense of belonging, meet new people and build both professional and
personal connections.
This is also a fulfilling experience as they can promote cultural exchange
and understand British culture. You can volunteer at anything that aligns with
your beliefs and interests. It can be participating in a cleanliness drive by
your student housing or guiding new
students on campus. There are also volunteer programs supporting environmental
organizations, healthcare initiatives and more.
How to Find The Right Opportunity to Volunteer?
The United Kingdom offers a wide range of opportunities for
students to volunteer. From large businesses to grassroots student
accommodation, each enterprise works to give back to the community. However,
students should not get involved in anything. You should know what interests
you, what the right opportunity is and how it aligns with your career goals.
As a result, here are some ways to find the opportunity and secure the right
volunteer experience.
What are your Interests?
Always start by reflecting on your interests the most. You might be
interested in healthcare, social causes, education or animal welfare. Hence, it
is better to explore which area interests you the most and aligns with your
career goals. For instance, if you’re studying real estate, working with student accommodation websites can help
you further.
Explore Opportunities through Universities
Most of the universities in the UK have a dedicated team for students,
especially international students, to help you find volunteer opportunities. UK
Universities have joined hands with various local charities, businesses and
non-profit organizations.
You can also connect with your mentor provided by the college to
explore volunteer opportunities. This way, you can find opportunities that have
a good impact on your career goals. In addition, there are student unions and
career service centres for better recommendations.
Online Platforms Works like a Charm
Let’s say your college might not have a dedicated team to offer you
volunteer opportunities. You can easily search online for many opportunities.
There are various platforms like LinkedIn, Reach Volunteering and more to find
what interests you. Such websites have a strong network with renowned
businesses to help students well. Also, they help you find opportunities based
on location, skills, availability and preferences.
Work On Skill-Based Volunteering
Volunteering is good for many reasons. Starting from skill development
to career development, volunteering can help you learn things that go beyond
student life. Always try to find those volunteer opportunities that help you
gain skills that can help you later in your professional life.
For example, if you are a law student at the University of Law,
Leeds, try exploring opportunities with legal aid. If you are a computer
science student, try to engage with NGOs to assist them with technology.
Explore Volunteering Fairs
Similar to career fairs and job fairs, colleges and student communities
host volunteer fairs. You can easily connect with the leaders of local
charities and NGOs which can be significant in your professional growth. These
events are also good for understanding what companies are looking for while
learning and giving back to the community.
Benefits of Volunteering In the UK
Volunteering is a significant move you can make while studying here in the UK. This not only helps in professional life but personal life too. Some of the benefits of volunteering in the UK are:
- Enhance your skill set
- Develop a successful professional network
- Promote personal growth
- Helping your student housing with cleanliness drives or social gatherings.
- Improve the sense of belonging and mental health
- Contribute to the community
- Make new friends and more.
Balance Volunteering With Your Studies
While volunteering is important in students’ lives, so are
academics. Hence, it is necessary to strike a balance between the studies and
volunteering. You can start balancing by allocating the time required to both.
It should not be like either you are giving too much time to volunteering and
neglecting studies, and vice versa. Moreover, some organizations and NGOs offer
flexibility or remote opportunities. As a result, it is easy to integrate time
according to your schedule and life.
Simply put, volunteering can be a challenging yet rewarding
experience for students in the UK. You can easily make a difference by
volunteering and sparing some time from your busy schedule. So, explore what
interests you and make a meaningful impact while enjoying your life at student accommodation in the UK.
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