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How can our amazing student volunteers help your organisation?
Need a couple (or 20) extra hands on deck? Could your organisation do with some passionate student volunteers to support your work? We work with a whole range of not-for-profit organisations and charities to connect UCL students with meaningful volunteering opportunities that make a difference to your mission.
We’re always looking for new community partners who can offer engaging volunteering opportunities that are accessible, rewarding and suitable for students.
'All hands on deck' group volunteering activities
Or as we call them, Big Help Outs
Big Help Outs bring together groups of UCL student volunteers to support you with practical, short-term volunteering activities. From painting community spaces and litter picking the canals on canoes to conservation activities in cathedrals, Big Help Outs help you increase your capacity while engaging students in a fun, team building, impactful moment to make real change.
Creative activities for a good cause
A relaxing, mindful way to make a big difference. Introducing... Crafternoons
Crafternoons are creative volunteering sessions where students take part in activities that directly benefit local communities. They show up with friends, or for some introverted time getting arty. Previous projects have included making laptop sleeves for refugees, mosaic tiles for local gardens, cards for isolated older people and murals in local community spaces. We work with partner organisations to design workshops that deliver meaningful outcomes for both students and the communities they serve.
Ongoing or Project-based Volunteering roles
Helping you reach our students with our Volunteering Directory
Our Volunteering Directory helps you find skilled and motivated students for ongoing, flexible or project-based volunteering opportunities. Need help elevating your social media, or an extra pair of hands delivering tutoring sessions for young people? Or maybe you'd like some regular support packing care packages. We connect organisations with talented student volunteers who can contribute their time, skills and enthusiasm to help further your mission.
Already registered with us? Find out more about using our directory here!
Interested in promoting your opportunities to students? Let us know!
Student-Led Projects
Connecting our passionate student leaders with your mission!
Partner with our Student-Led Volunteering Programme to host community outreach projects designed and delivered by UCL students, bringing new activities, services, and expertise to your organisation. Find out more about how to get involved here!
Is your organisation a good fit?
To help create positive volunteering experiences which are beneficial to both your organisation and our students, we work with organisations that share our values, and are committed to good volunteer management.
The majority of our community partners have opportunities based in London within an hour's commute from our Bloomsbury or East London campuses. You can view a selection of current partners with live vacancies on our volunteering organisations page.
We are always looking for interesting new volunteering roles that’ll be suitable for UCL students and provide great opportunities and support to all our current partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I recruit volunteers using the volunteering directory?
- Check out our handy guide which walks you through how to promote volunteering opportunities on our directory, and contact the students who have registered their interest.
- How can I run a Big Help Out or Crafternoon?
- If you would like to run a Big Help Out, please contact [email protected] and let us know your idea for an engaging group volunteering event! We consider collaborations on a rolling basis.
- Can I recruit volunteers if my organisation is not based in London?
- Currently we're only working with organisations who can offer our students opportunities within London - even better if these opportunities are local to our Bloomsbury and East London campuses. Remote opportunities are also welcomed.
- What support does Students Union UCL provide?
- Our team will help you to develop unique volunteering opportunities and events which are fun and engaging for students whilst helping them to make a meaningful impact to your organisation. We'll help you with targeted promotion for your opportunities, and support you to make your opportunities inclusive and accessible.
- How many volunteers can I expect?
- We can't guarantee a specific number of volunteers for your opportunities. To maximise volunteer numbers we suggest contacting students who have expressed an interest as soon as possible. Our summer months can be quieter for volunteers, but if you're running a group volunteering event, our team will do our best to fill every space available!
- Can I advertise remote opportunities?
- Yes, you can!
- What if my organisation doesn't meet the community partner expectations?
- If you don't meet all of our community partner expectations, please let us know by contacting [email protected] and a member of our team will be happy to chat to you about this. We will signpost you to some useful resources, or help you to meet these requirements together.
Interested in finding out more? Drop us a line at [email protected]