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The recent student volunteering week may have started you on the journey to volunteering or started you thinking about volunteering. But in case you need some guidance, just know that this will be the start of a journey of purpose and self-reflection. Lending your time to help others is of course, very important. But more people should consider volunteering as a gateway to discovering the very best of what you as an individual can offer.
Volunteering allows you to learn more about the issues affecting their local area. It is also a learning experience to show how action results in positive change. You will also develop essential skills that will assist you after you finish university. Employers will often look at experience outside of your degree when deciding if you are the best person for them to employ.
Helping other people, even changing people’s lives for the better. There isn’t a warmer feeling than knowing the hard work that you put into volunteering could be making a real difference in someone’s life. It’s unfortunate that there are still people across the UK, who don’t have access to essentials like food and heating. There are many foodbanks and donation centres all over the country that require hands to help organise and distribute.
It’s not only people that need support – many animal shelters are always needing volunteers to clean/feed the animals and even take them out for exercise.
Lending your support for conservation efforts is easier now than ever with charities like Planet Patrol combining activities with litter picking and data collection. You can find out more about Planet Patrol’s work in one of our previous blogs.
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With volunteering, you can do as much or as little as you like – whilst exploring career fields that interest you and judging if it will be a good fit for you. Studying a degree at university can only prepare you for your future career in some ways, but volunteering can give you a real taste of what post-university might be like.
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people. Volunteers can be of all ages and backgrounds who will have passion for similar causes to yours. Even if you already have an established friendship group – why not all get together for a cause?
We recently started working with the Oddballs Foundation to help break the stigma about Testicular Cancer. And you can help them too. The foundation is now welcoming applications to become a University Ambassador for the 2022/23 academic year. The closing date for applications is Monday 21st March. Find out all about the programme here.
Contact your university or student union to see if they have any local volunteer programmes in place or can put you in touch with any local volunteer services. Alternatively, check the local government website.
To become more ‘environmentally friendly’, Host is launching the #HostEnvironmentalPledge campaign to encourage responsible behaviour and drive sustainability across our sites throughout the UK and Ireland.
It’s a simple campaign! For every percent we reduce our overall utilities (electric, water and gas) consumption by we donate to one of our nominated charities.
Show me all newsWhen it comes to choosing student accommodation in the UK, most people focus on price, amenities, or whether it's en-suite or shared. While these are important factors, one element that can make or break your student life is location and commute time. It's more than just a pin on a map - it's about how your daily life will feel.
It might feel like you’ve got plenty of time before uni starts, but trust us - when it comes to student accommodation, early birds aren’t just getting the worm. They’re getting the best rooms, the best deals, and peace of mind long before the chaos of results day kicks in.Each year, thousands of students scramble to find the perfect place to live - and by the time they get around to it, the most popular rooms are already long gone. So if you’re heading to university this year, here’s why getting your accommodation sorted early might just be the smartest move you’ll make.
