Glasgow University Students Representative Council

What can I do?

Volunteering isn’t about spending a token few hours doing something that you’d rather not be doing on a Sunday afternoon, and it isn’t about doing something because you feel guilty for not being involved.

There are a lot of projects to choose from and we try to make sure that they are as flexible to your schedule as possible — we have two unofficial mottos: ‘Your studies come first’ and ‘You don’t give anything but your time’.

Managing your finances is difficult enough at University, so GUSRC Volunteering can even cover your travel costs around the local area.

More than a degree

Some of the projects we have here may even relate directly to your future career plans — if you want to be a teacher, why not apply for a place on our Classroom Support project and get some experience in the classroom. But, of course, the only qualification you need is to be a student at the University of Glasgow.

If you are interested in Psychology, perhaps you’ll find that staffing the phones on Nightline or being trained by Alzheimer’s Scotland would be a good way to spend your free time.

Maybe helping out in a local care home through the Elderly Befriender project is more your style?

If you want to spend a Summer in Africa working with children, then we can even help you achieve that too through Student Volunteers Abroad (SVA) or Students for Kids International (SKIP)!

Perhaps you have a special interest in language, or want help improving your English. Maybe you want to meet people from other cultures, or all of these things! Our Conversational English and Culture Club programmes could be exactly what you’re looking for.

How can I benefit from being a volunteer?

The confidence and other personal benefits you gain can stay with you for the rest of your life, but apart from the positive impact on your world view and general outlook, volunteering also adds an extra dimension to your academic record. When you graduate,  some of the volunteering activities can appear on your Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR) and these days, many employers look for individuals with a little bit more than a degree.

Student volunteering covers a large range of activities and projects: there truly is something out there for everyone.

Volunteering with the SRC can help you to do all of these and allow you to make a difference in your local community and build your employability skills.

Volunteering can also be a great way to escape the “West End Bubble” and see a different side of the city.

Last year we helped nearly 800 students make a real difference in the community and abroad — why not join them? Apply through our online database – https://volunteering.glasgowstudent.net/vk/volunteers/index.htm