Dance Society: Welfare and Volunteering Officer

Dance doesn’t discriminate! It belongs to anyone with a passion for it, regardless of age, background or ability. This belief is what draws me to the Welfare and Volunteering officer role. 

DanceIt! is a tangible expression of that belief, and I want to be the person who keeps it running. Having previously volunteered and worked with older adults, I’ve learned how to connect across generational and cultural differences. Meeting people where they are, being patient and making them feel welcomed. I hope to sustain a space for those to come together, move and simply have fun.

On the organisational side, having been the Events Team leader of my previous school’s art council and head of a student-led arts service, I’ve managed events end-to-end: planning, liaising with teachers and third parties, and handling logistics. I’ve led teams by checking in on members, delegating around individual strengths and making sure no one was stretched too thin. I’ve also handled the administrative side – schedules, meetings, meeting notes, being the point of contact and many, many emails.  

Through all of this, I’ve learned that good organisation and genuine care for people aren’t separate things but rather reinforce each other. Being the Welfare and Volunteering officer is about being steady, approachable and making sure people feel supported and signposted in the right direction. I believe I have both the skills and the passion to carry this role forward. 

jMy name is Virginia and I want to stand as welfare and volunteering officer because volunteering in the DanceIt programme has been one of the most fulfilling things I have done in my first year. I really enjoyed spreading the positivity of dance to others, but I believe it can go even further. Right now the volunteering programme is oversubscribed and most people only get to volunteer once a term. Since there is so much desire to volunteer I would be happy to try to outreach to more programmes to see if we could volunteer with them as well. I have experience working in youth clubs and so know that they are always open to new session ideas and volunteers.

I have a background in volunteer and leadership and so think my skills would be transferred well to this role. In terms of welfare, I think it would be good to introduce some anonymous way (phone number/ google form) of contacting the welfare officer for any non-serious or slightly embarrassing issues that it may be hard to approach someone you do not know about.

 Overall I hope to be a friendly face to welcome people into dance society and to improve the already amazing volunteer section of dance soc. 

I’m standing for this role because I love dance and want to continue to make the Dance Society a welcoming, supportive space for everyone. I always enjoy helping people, whether the problem is big or small! I’m reliable, hardworking and organised (juggling busy schedules has been part of my life for years thanks to dance!) and I’d be happy to support both new and existing members during classes or behind the scenes. 

I’ve also volunteered in the past, in particular working with older people, which has taught me patience, empathy and communication skills. My previous role as a Dance Representative during my school years has taught me how to bring a friendly, supportive presence to a large team, helping both new and existing members feel included and looked after. Being approachable, ready to pitch in with new ideas and willing to help wherever needed, are the qualities I have and value highly, with the goal of giving back to this community that is so welcoming and vibrant, always ready to cheer each other on!

I’m excited by the chance to support all of you and share in the joy and energy that makes this society so special!

Hi everyone! I’m Charlize, a first year Psychology student :) Looking back at my first year at University, Dance Society was definitely one of the communities that helped me to settle into a new city and find my people! As a fresher, having committee members I could lean on before auditions made settling into the society both easier and more enjoyable! It’s this same sense of support I want to offer to future freshers, and for any member who needs a little encouragement to try something new! Whether it's leading pre-audition breathers or being a friendly face at rehearsals, I hope to embody this role as someone who members feel they can always turn to for guidance or simply a reassuring presence.

Through my previous experience leading a dance performance for a local children's hospital, I learnt how to balance organisation with genuine care for people. It taught me to manage schedules and coordinate activities while keeping wellbeing at the heart of everything, which is something I hope to bring to the weekly volunteering at Holborn Community Association and to supporting members during shows and competitions! Having been that fresher who needed support, I acknowledge how much it matters to have someone to turn to! With this, I am committed to being a dependable point of contact for anyone experiencing uncertainty or injury, in hopes of supporting the welfare of our members!🕺🕺

Hi everyone! My name is Lina, I am a second-year Civil Engineering student and I’d love to be your next Welfare & Volunteering Officer for Dance Society.

I’m a very easy-going and supportive person who naturally prioritises others. I care a lot about making sure people feel comfortable, included, and supported — especially in a community like Dance Society where we spend so much time together.

University can be stressful sometimes, so I’d love to help create a positive environment where people can relax, check in with each other, and feel supported both inside and outside of dance.

If elected, I’d also be really excited to organise volunteering opportunities where we can use dance to give back to the community. Some ideas I’d love to explore are dance workshops for kids, sessions with community groups, charity dance classes, or performances at local events and care homes. It would be a great way for us to share what we love while making a positive impact.

Dance brings people together, and I’d love to help make our society a space where everyone feels supported, connected, and inspired.

I’d really appreciate your vote!

Hi everyone! My name is Aysha and I would love to be your new Welfare and Volunteering Officer!

Having been on the dance committee last year, as well as dancing in many shows and competitions, I completely understand the stress and fatigue that dancers face throughout the year. I believe that as an empathetic and approachable individual, I can offer my support to those who are feeling overwhelmed or to anyone who simply wants a quick chat to express their worries. Either way, I’d be really happy to listen!

My passion for volunteering has further drawn me to this position, as I have previous experience volunteering in a special needs primary school, at an education-based exhibition in Borneo, and notably with DanceIt! As part of the Welfare production team last year, I had the opportunity to lead DanceIt sessions, which were an extremely rewarding experience that I would love to continue leading next year! Additionally, to build a stronger connection between our students and the senior participants of DanceIt, I hope to organize more socials and pre-sessional activities!

My involvement in Dance Society over the past two years has helped me understand how reassuring it can be to know that a friendly face is around—someone who can be caring and understanding during stressful times. Knowing how hard it is to balance multiple commitments, in this position I want to focus on fostering a supportive and positive dance family, where everyone feels uplifted and supported :)

💗💗🏄‍♂️

Being part of UCL Dance Society has been extremely rewarding, but I also know how difficult it can feel to balance dance commitments on top of a busy work/ social life. As Welfare & Volunteering Officer, my main motivation would be to help members of the society navigate this work-life balance and offer support for stress/ anxiety, concerning dance or not. I would also make effort to engage with Social Secretaries to organise low-commitment wellbeing-oriented socials, such as arts & crafts, to help society members take a step back from the hustle of uni life. 

I would additionally integrate these wellbeing aspects of my role with volunteering, encouraging engagement in community dance activities to help society members feel good about themselves by contributing to a greater good. One idea I have for a volunteering activity is organising sign-ups for 'icandance' - a charity which supports disabled children's learning and empowerment through dance mentoring. I would organise group sessions for society members to travel to the studio and become 1-on-1 mentors for children to help support their self-expression through dance. This would be an invaluable opportunity for those hoping to progress into the field of Education, those who are passionate about working with children, or simply those who want to give back to the local community.

I hope you can consider me for this role, so we can work together to make Dance Society a relaxed, stress-free environment for members to thrive! :)

I’ve always been someone who naturally checks in on people, whether that’s teammates before going on stage or friends during stressful weeks. Being kind and organised isn’t something I switch on for a role; it’s how I approach every team I’m part of.

Supporting dancers’ wellbeing would be a key priority for me. As a former Dance Captain, I regularly checked in on teammates in high-pressure competition environments and acted as a point of contact for concerns. As a dance teacher working with students aged 6–19, I’ve developed a strong awareness of when someone is overwhelmed and how to respond calmly and supportively. As a qualified gymnastics coach, I also have experience managing injuries, fatigue and safe warm-up practices.

Through my committee role as Chief People’s Officer in another society, I’ve also developed a strong understanding of the responsibility involved in committee positions and confidence in supporting members and fostering a positive team culture.

Alongside welfare, I would bring strong organisation to DanceIt!. As a dance teacher, I understand how to structure classes, lead warm-ups and adapt teaching for different levels, so I would help ensure volunteers feel confident and prepared to teach.

Fundamentally, I want Dance Soc to feel welcoming and supportive for everyone involved. I care about creating an environment where people feel comfortable asking for help and where DanceIt! is something volunteers enjoy and dancers feel proud to be part of.