Add your volunteering to your HEAR
If you have been volunteering on a community project, you may be able to add it to your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). In order to do so, you’ll need to meet one of the following criteria:
“Although we are cheering the participants on now, in that first session, they were cheering us"
I had a lovely chat with Maria about her student-led project called DanceIt! and what it is like being a project leader. Tell us little about yourself  
Volunteering Awards 2022
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"It’s a partnership from start to finish, that’s what I like"
Linda works at One Housing, one of the organisations that our Student-Led Projects collaborate with. We had a wonderful chat with her about their experience working with our Student-Led Projects, and the impact they have had on the organisation and its beneficiaries.
"Some of the experiences you get are some things you can't predict"
Jennifer is a part-time student pursuing her MA degree in Education and Technology while working as a full-time secondary science teacher. She developed a keen interest in understanding how technology is shaping and influencing education and learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures.
"I wanted an opportunity to grow in those non-technical areas, and volunteering is undoubtedly one of the best ways to do so."
Read on to find out how Teresa Su, a first-year BSc Theoretical Physics student, found her experience with Off the Curriculum!
SDG#5 Gender Equality
SDG#5 Gender EqualityWomen’s rights are fundamental human rights. However, SDG#5 is not just a human right issue, it’s a tale of wasted human potential.
The feeling of knowing that I am bettering myself through bettering others is unmatched.
Artemis is a second-year student studying Experimental Linguistics.
"At university, we are in such a bubble. [...] Volunteering helps you step out and realise there is more to the world."
Lorraine is a second-year student pursuing her undergraduate degree in European Social and Political Studies. She is currently the Project Leader of Impact Initiative a Student-Led Project.
"You can tell I genuinely enjoyed my time as a volunteer since I am still with that organisation even after graduating."
Kemi talked us through her inspiring journey as a female mentor with Laamiga, a charity run by women for Minority Ethnic and migrant women.
"For us, it was just a couple of hours from our day, but for the charity, it resulted in this marvelous plan on how to move forward."
Mary is a first-year Economics student who tells us about her first time being involved in volunteering.
"It is so empowering to know that your small contribution could have an impact on other people’s lives"
Rasyida is an MSc Business Analytics student who tells us about her experience participating in one of our February 22 Social Hackathons. The Hackathon was hosted by Outward, a charity working across 10 London boroughs to support those with learning disabilities and on the autism spectrum.
Ukraine - How to help
We've had a lot of enquiries from students about ways to help in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, so we've pulled together some links to resources. We hope you find them useful.
"Although you might not be making the impact you want to make, you are still making an impact, and any impact is good."
Siri Rajesh Reddy is a third-year undergraduate student currently pursuing her degree in BSc Social Sciences.
"If you cut down the time you spend on Instagram and give that hour to other people, you would see a big difference being made. "
We had an exciting chat with Clementine Bachelart, a second year undergraduate in Philosophy, Politics and Economics with Social Data Science, about her volunteering.
Consultancy Challenge
What is it?The Consultancy Challenge is a week-long volunteering initiative delivered by Students' Union UCL at the end of Term Three and open to all current UCL students. It's run in collaboration between staff in Students' Union UCL and UCL Careers with host staff in London-based community projects.
"[Best thing about volunteering?] Getting students interested in what I'm passionate about!"
Will Smith is a Second year PhD student in Computer Science. We had the pleasure of hearing about his experience volunteering as a CoderDojo Volunteer Mentor at Royal Museums Greenwich.
Support the UN's Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainability in general, and Sustainable Development in particular is vital for all of us to live in a just, and prosperous society.
SDG#3 Good Health and Well-Being
SDG#3 Good Health and Well-BeingIn the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, and a mental-health epidemic in the UK, physical and mental health and well-being have never been so topical
"You never know the impact that you can have to someone's day until you step up and help them."
We had the pleasure of chatting with Patricia Gimeno Le Paih, reading MSci Biological Sciences, about her volunteering at the Age UK as a Spanish teacher.