"It was very rewarding, being able to support others to achieve their dreams, just like I did before."
Anca is a 3rd year medical student intercalating in Neuroscience. She was able to get involved in research as early as her first year and wanted to enable others to have the same enriching experience.
"Even now, I still think that volunteering is one of the best things I've done at UCL."
Emilia is a second year English student whose Fresher year was characterised by pandemic-induced lockdowns and reduced face-to-face contact at university.
SDG#1 No Poverty
SDG #1: No PovertyOne of the most entangled Sustainable Development Goals is #1, No Poverty, for whatever we would like to achieve as a society, we need to empower people to act first.While simply marking our planet’s passage around a large burning
Want to make a difference during your studies? Try volunteering!
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.
SDG #16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
In the second piece of our Sustainable Development Goals series, I will introduce you to Goal #16 - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, UCL's take on establishing a just society, and some of our many community partners that work towards a just, and peaceful society.
Volunteering with Afghan refugees: "it is always the highlight of my week to be part of such a warm, welcoming community."
Two teams of UCL student volunteers have been making a big difference through their work with newly arrived Afghan refugees living in temporary accommodation in Camden.
Our guide to festive volunteering
'Tis the season to volunteer! It’s already a special time of year, but there’s something else that could make it even more special - giving your time to help some wonderful community organisations and charities who’d really appreciate your support.
Meet your Volunteering Reps
Volunteering is a big part of the student culture here at UCL, with around 2000 students taking part in community projects each year. Every Autumn, we elect four Reps to make sure the voices of our student volunteers are heard, and to improve the volunteering experience for everyone.
SDG #13 Climate Action
The Covid-19 pandemic and the conclusions of the COP26 in Glasgow have drawn attention to societal inequalities and injustices, as well as the climate crisis and its consequences.
How to talk about volunteering experience in a job interview
Volunteers come from all walks of life and for all sorts of reasons. We already know the benefits of volunteering, and oh, are they plenty! Is it not great that helping someone will help you too in so many ways?
UCL Volunteering Society
UCL Volunteering Society (VolSoc) is a network of UCL students who meet up to volunteer, plan events, run fundraisers and socialise.
Social Hackathons
What are Social Hackathons?Heard of the
Discover London with volunteering
Ah, London. For a lot of you, it’ll be your new home for the next few years. London is big and busy, filled with lots of places to explore, opportunities to experience and memories to be made.
"If you want to seek change then you must first be the change and make a difference"
Katie San is a fourth year MPharm student.
Volunteering 'can make a real change to someone's life'
Melisa Sahan is an MSci Psychology student.
Social Hackathons: 'I really loved the experience every time'
Paul Ho had recently participated in our Social Hackathons. Here, he shares his experience devising ideas for Ataxia, the leading national charity in the Uk for people affected by any type of ataxia.
"Social Hackathons are a good way to get experience in the voluntary sector and help a charity in a short amount of time."
Elena Kayayan had recently participated in our Social Hackathons. Here, she shares her experience devising ideas for Our Parklife, a community organisation that aims to connect local people to the Park, through volunteering, training and employment. 
Jazz Society Outreach and Atlas Advocacy - a year of leading a Student-led project
Atlas Advocacy and UCL Jazz Society Outreach are two Student-Led Projects and runner-ups in this year’s Project of the Year Awards!
Volunteering 'contributes to a collective sense of wellbeing'
Kirsty Goodman is an MRes/PhD student in the Department of Security and Crime Science.
"...at the end of the day the more we give, the happier we feel."
Kleoniki Theodoridou is a Masters student studying Msc Risk and Disaster Science at the UCL Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction.