Once you're volunteering, bear in mind the extra support on offer here at UCL:
Volunteering should be rewarding, stimulating and enjoyable - but it can also be challenging. That's why we'll be in touch with you at least once a term to check that everything is okay. In the meantime, please contact us if you've any questions about volunteering, or would like support with any aspect of it.
You can see what to expect from us on our Service Standards webpage.
We are committed to giving you a good volunteering experience and support a team of Project Leaders who run our Student-Led Projects. All of our Project Leaders receive bespoke project management training and receive the support of our staff team to enable them to manage their project and volunteers successfully. The Project Leaders, in charge of your Student-Led Projects should be your first point of contact if you have any questions but we also have a staff team who are here to help if needed.
We provide travel expenses for all UCL students that volunteer with one of our Student-Led Projects. We will cover your travel expenses completed within TfL Zones 1-6. See our claiming expenses guidance for more information on how to obtain reimbursement for your travel costs.
Questions about your placement?
Are you running late? Need to cancel a volunteering session? Did your timetable change?
We have created a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions page to answer questions that might come up while you are volunteering. You will find information related to your journey until you start volunteering, changing your schedule, as well as sharing your experience.
Still have questions? Email us anytime at [email protected] and we will be happy to assist you.
Do you love volunteering with your Student-Led Project? Do you want to get other students involved? If so, let us know, as we’re always looking for volunteers to feature on our webpages - it’s a great way to recruit other students. We can also talk to you about other ways of getting the word out around UCL. Check out the student stories we've had in so far this year. You can also tweet us and link to us in your posts on Facebook and Instagram.
If volunteering has inspired you to create a community project of your own, then we can help you turn your ideas into reality. Find out more on our Student-Led Volunteering pages.
If you’d like to connect with other UCL student volunteers, join the student-run Volunteering Society. Their slogan is ‘by students, for students’ - they organise socials and talks, put on one-off volunteering events, as well as offering social enterprise activities and their own longer term volunteering projects. To find out more about VolSoc, visit their website or email them directly.
Each year we hold an Awards Ceremony to celebrate our students’ achievements. We think it’s important that everyone is thanked for their efforts, so everyone is invited! There are also some special categories of award, such as the Volunteer of the Year Award. More information about our Awards Ceremony can be found here.
For most UCL undergraduates, your volunteering can now be included on the HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Report) if you have completed at least 20 hours of community volunteering with one of our Student-Led Projects or Volunteering Service Partners. The HEAR contains your academic record, but also includes extra-curricular activities such as volunteering. We will ask you if you would like your volunteering included in your record during Term Two.
Life as a student can present all sorts of stresses and strains, and so it’s important that you look after your own well-being and seek help if you’re having problems. There’s lots of help on campus - again, speak to us at any time, or visit the Student Support and Wellbeing web pages.
You can apply the skills you develop in your volunteer role in a professional capacity when you graduate. Find out more about this on our volunteering and your career webpage.