Volunteering
make a difference
AND BOOST YOUR SKILLS and WELLBEING
Why not join the 6,000 students who are involved in volunteering at Queen’s every year?
Volunteering will help you meet new friends, have loads of fun, boost your wellbeing and CV, and get a well-earned break from your university work.
From community gardening to campaigning for cause to planning events and inspiring young people, SU Volunteer at your Students’ Union can match you with the perfect volunteering initiative. Whatever you’re passionate about, there's a volunteering opportunity that's right for you. Below are just a few of the ways you can make a difference in the community:
Older People
- Parkinson's UK – research and develop activities & support for people with Parkinson’s in your local area
- Provide support and listen to the voices of older people with Age NI
- Answer the call to be a helpline operator for Hourglass
- Help people reconnect with their community with British Red Cross
Fundraising
- RNID – raise money to help fund hearing research, support services and campaigns for equality
- Enable positive change for those impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships through fundraising for Nexus NI
- Guide Dogs - fundraising will make sure people living with sight loss don’t lose their freedom as well
Conservation and Community
- Provide a warm and informative welcome to visitors with The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
- Belfast City Council – if you have a passion for plants and heritage you could give tours and engage with visitors to the Tropical Ravine
Young people/mentoring
- Code Club – provide children with the opportunity to learn code
- Childline – make a difference to children’s lives by being there when they feel they have no one else to turn to.
- Inspire young people to dream and achieve their goals with MACS
- VOYPIC - Mentor young people leaving care, helping them connect with their local community and prepare for independent living
Health
- Compliment the services provided by front line clinical and nursing staff at hospitals within Belfast Trust
- Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke – assist those affected by chest, heart and stroke conditions to participate in wellness activities
- Provide emotional support for those who desperately need someone with Belfast Samaritans
- Support people living with cancer as a Macmillan Community Buddy
The Students’ Union deliver their own volunteering initiatives so if you prefer to get involved alongside other students, check out what they have to offer:
Would you like to support local children and young people improve their study skills, build their confidence and raise their aspirations about further and higher education?
The Homework Clubs Programme gives student volunteers the chance to provide homework support to children and young people who live in areas of educational underachievement.
Homework Clubs is a perfect opportunity for you to make a positive change in your community, get involved in something rewarding and gain hands-on experience for your personal and professional development.
Do you want to do good for your local community, develop your skills and make new friends, but you haven’t got the time to make a regular commitment?
Handy Helpers is a unique initiative which enables you to take part in a wide range of one-off volunteering opportunities in the local community. You can pick and choose what activities you want to participate in based on your interests and availability.
From community gardening to decorating charity premises and event logistics, you will gain experience in various settings while actively contributing to the local community.
There’s no long-term commitment, just get involved in the activities that suit you. As an added feel good factor, you’ll get access to relevant training and you will get rewards for changing the world around you!
Check out the types of activities you could be involved in:
Jump In is an all-encompassing programme which supports you in every stage of your volunteering journey. Whether you are a seasoned volunteer, or looking for your first role, Jump In is there for you.
From volunteering fairs for those just starting out or looking for something new to training sessions and expert Q&As for those more experienced in volunteering, we ensure you can build the networks, skills and confidence you need to progress in your voluntary role and enhance your employability skills.
We provide sessions around leadership, volunteer management, fundraising, influencing, communication, conflict resolution and much, much more.
Alternatively, if you have got a charitable or voluntary idea of your own, Jump In can provide you with the guidance you need to set up and structure your project for maximum impact. We can also introduce you to key contacts that can help your project succeed.
Contact the SU Volunteer team if you would like to volunteer with any specific organisations or to be matched with a suitable volunteering opportunity.
Sinead volunteers with the Homework Club and Enactus, a university society that sets up small social enterprises both locally and internationally.
“Volunteering with Enactus has honestly been the best thing I’ve ever done. I’ve worked with ex-convicts, refugees, asylum seekers, the homeless community and teenage girls, and this year have become Vice-President of Enactus Belfast. I’ve gained so much experience that my degree alone could not have given me, and made friends who I would not have met had it not been for volunteering. If you’re not volunteering already, all I have to say is go for it, whether your first year or final year, there’s so many different organisations, just waiting for someone like you to come along!”
If the feel-good factor is not enough for you see how volunteering can get you rewarded:
Prestige Volunteers is endorsed by Queen’s Students’ Union and provides recognition for the volunteering efforts of students.
If you are already volunteering or would like to start, you can sign up to the award scheme. Your volunteering can be recognised if it takes place within Queen’s (for example if you are a committee member of a club or society) and/or if you are volunteering independently within an external organisation.
You can achieve certificates evidencing 50, 100, and 200 hours of volunteering which recognises the valuable efforts you are making in your community as well as the training and skills you've gained.
The Future Ready Award is an employability award that allows you to gain formal recognition and a certificate for the extracurricular experience you gain during your time at Queen’s.
Through SU Volunteer, you can gain the Future Ready Award through participation in Handy Helpers, Homework Clubs, or Prestige Volunteers. If you volunteer and take part in another extracurricular activity, you may also be eligible for the Combined Experience route.
