Volunteering Panel Talk Programme

Volunteering Panel Talk: Impact, Skills & Your Personal Development

Thursday 1st October, 13:00-14:00
Main Quad Mini Stage

Learn how volunteering can help you make a difference, develop transferable skills, and enhance your personal and professional development. Through stories and insights from charities, community organisations, and student leaders, discover how you can create meaningful impact during your time at UCL.

You can only submit a question up to 15 minutes before the panel talk starts.

Panellists

Aadi Rana
Origami Volunteering Project
Aadi is a Student Project Leader for the Origami Volunteering Project, where he helps lead opportunities for UCL students to engage with children and older members of the local community through creative origami activities. Working alongside three fellow project leaders, he supports the coordination and delivery of the project, including origami sessions at Esther Randall Court that help reduce loneliness and foster community connections among older residents. Aadi is passionate about creating meaningful volunteering experiences and empowering others to make a positive impact in their communities.

Jasmine Lee
Solidarity Sports
Jasmine is the Outreach and Engagement Officer at Solidarity Sports and is currently completing a PhD in Population Mental Health at UCL. Her journey with Solidarity Sports began four years ago when she discovered a volunteering opportunity through the Students’ Union UCL’s Volunteering Directory. Inspired by the charity's work supporting vulnerable children and families, she continued volunteering and later joined the staff team. Jasmine's experiences as a volunteer have also influenced her academic interests, shaping her research into mental health and communities. She brings a unique perspective on how volunteering can create meaningful impact while also supporting personal and professional development.

Lois Plummer
IntoUniversity
Lois is the Volunteering Manager at IntoUniversity, an education charity that helps young people facing disadvantage achieve their potential and realise their ambitions. Having been a student volunteer herself while at university, Lois has experienced first-hand the difference volunteering can make. She is passionate about helping students recognise the impact they can have in their communities while also gaining valuable skills, confidence and experience. Through her work, she develops opportunities that enable students to make a meaningful difference while supporting their personal and professional development. 

Paul Crozier
Holborn Community Association
Paul Crozier is CEO of Holborn Community Association, where he has spent the last 10 years leading community services that support around 2,000 local people each year. With more than 30 years' experience in the voluntary and community sector, Paul has worked across community organisations, health partnerships and local networks to strengthen support for residents. He is also Co-Chair of the Camden Community Centres Consortium, a partnership including five community organisations serving the area around UCL's Bloomsbury campus. Paul brings a wealth of experience on the power of volunteering, community action and the difference students can make in their local communities.

Shazil Kashif Sabeeh
Students' Union UCL
Shazil Kashif is Students' Union UCL's Volunteering Officer, where he leads on promoting and developing volunteering opportunities for UCL students. As an active volunteer himself, Shazil has been involved in a range of community engagement initiatives, including Street Aid Society, Zero Food Waste, and the Big Help Out campaigns. Through his role and personal experience, he is passionate about making volunteering more accessible, straightforward, and rewarding for students, while championing volunteering as a powerful way to develop skills, build connections, and create positive social change.

William Antcliff
London Nightline
William is a final-year PhD student who has dedicated more than 2,000 hours to volunteering with London Nightline, supporting student wellbeing through its confidential listening service. Alongside his frontline volunteering, he has taken on leadership roles in training, volunteer development, recruitment, and community engagement, helping to strengthen both the volunteer experience and the support provided to students. Through his volunteering, William has developed valuable skills while building connections across London's student and community networks. His commitment and leadership have made a significant and lasting impact on London Nightline and the wider student community.

Panel Talk Programme

Welcome & Introductions (13:00-13:05)
We'll kick off the session by introducing our panelists and sharing a little about their volunteering and leadership journeys. You'll also find out how to submit questions throughout the event, so you can be part of the conversation from the start.

Panel Discussion (13:05-13:35)
Hear from our panellists as they share their experiences of volunteering, leadership and community engagement. The discussion will be split into four themed sections.

Theme 1: Creating Impact
What difference can one student really make? In this first discussion, our panelists will share examples of projects, campaigns and volunteering initiatives that have created positive change in local communities. You'll hear about the impact students can have, whether they can spare a few hours a month or are leading larger initiatives.

Theme 2: Skills, Behaviours and Personal Development
Volunteering offers opportunities to develop new skills, build confidence and gain experiences that can support your future studies and career. In this section, our panelists will explore how volunteering can contribute to personal and professional development, sharing insights from both student and organisational perspectives on the knowledge, skills and qualities that can be gained through community engagement.

Theme 3: Finding Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges
There are many ways to get involved in volunteering, but getting started can sometimes feel overwhelming. In this section, we'll explore the opportunities available to students, some of the common challenges faced by volunteers and community organisations, and practical advice for making volunteering fit around university life. Whether you're looking for your first volunteering role or hoping to take on more responsibility, you'll gain insights to help you get involved with confidence.

Theme 4: From Inspiration to Action
Volunteering journeys often start with a single step. In this section, our panellists will explore what inspires people to get involved, what keeps them engaged, and the impact volunteering can have on both individuals and communities. You'll hear practical advice for getting started and discover how you can take the next step in your own volunteering journey after the panel.

Audience Q&A (13:35-13:50)
This is your chance to take the conversation further. Questions submitted throughout the session will be put to the panel, giving you the opportunity to hear directly from volunteers, student leaders and community partners about the topics that matter most to you.

Quick-Fire Closing Round (13:50-13:55)
To finish, each panelist will answer the same short question, sharing their reflections, advice and key takeaways in just a few sentences. Expect plenty of inspiration, honest insights and practical tips that you can take away from the session.

Closing Summary (13:55-14:00)
We'll end the event by reflecting on the key themes from the discussion and highlighting how volunteering can help you make an impact, develop valuable skills and connect with communities. You'll also hear about ways to get involved and continue your volunteering journey after the panel.