Moving to a new city, embarking on a degree, meeting new people left, right and centre - the start of term is full of changes, and you might not have thought about volunteering yet. And we get it - it's a balance right? Time, studies, caring, paid work - lots of things need your attention right now. However, it's worth keeping in mind all the benefits volunteering can bring. Want to be better connected with other people? Looking to improve your wellbeing, or get some new insights to enrich your degree? Perhaps develop some new skills or boost that CV of yours? Or just get to know London better and make a difference to others? Volunteering will provide you with all this and so much more.
Here at the Students' Union we have our very own Volunteering Service, and we'd love for you to get involved!
How to get started
Why not have a browse of our online Opportunities Finder? It’s got around 300 different volunteering roles around London and online, with plenty of flexible roles that you can fit around your studies. It's got really handy filters for things that are really low commitment!
You can look for volunteering related to your degree, search for particular skills you'd like to build, see what’s within walking distance of UCL’s Halls of residence or find virtual volunteering,
The Volunteering Service is here to help you every step of the way. If you’re unsure about volunteering or have any questions, you can book in a chat with one of the team or get in touch by email.
There’s even an option to set up and run your own community project – with support, training and funding from our Student-led Volunteering team.
Lead one of our flagship projects
Zero Food Waste (UCL East), our Student-Led Project of the year, fights food waste on campus by redistributing food from UCL Cafes to nearby homeless shelters and surplus food banks.
If you are passionate about fighting food waste on campus, volunteering as the Zero Food Waste UCL East Project Leader is the perfect opportunity for you!
Help lead the efforts to redistribute food from where it is in excess to where it is in need and assist the expansion of the successful initiative from the Bloomsbury Campus to the East Campus.
Leading this project is a great opportunity to develop your leadership, project management, and communication skills, while making a positive impact for our community.
Apply to become a Project Leader now!
What do other UCL students say?
"The cheerleading Student-Led project was more than just a cheerleading session—it was a celebration of friendship, empowerment, and the joy of coming together as a community."
"I decided to volunteer (...) because it is a great way to gain experience, meet new people and it was relatively flexible which was important to me."
Find out more
Visit the Volunteering Service webpages to discover what's on offer, and make sure to follow our Instagram and sign up for our weekly bulletin for the latest vacancies.