Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
Email
volunteering@eusa.ed.ac.uk
Twitter
@eusavolunteers
What is volunteering?
In general terms, volunteering means donating your time for free to help a good cause or charitable organisation. The main reasons people decide to volunteer are to help people, to get to know the local community, to make new friends and to develop new skills.
Well- one reason is employability. 73% of employers say they would give a job to a candidate with volunteering experience. But volunteering is fun, too! If you like children, you could volunteer in a Toy Library, at a Parent and Toddler Group or an After School Club. There are also one off events like marshalling at marathons- the atmosphere on the day is always really energetic and enjoyable. Volunteering is also a way to make new friends.
I want to volunteer, but don't know where to start
Think about what you want to get out of volunteering. If you want to meet new people, you might want to consider getting involved in a befriending scheme, or joining one of the student-led
charitable societies. If you're keen to improve things for fellow students, you might want to volunteer within EUSA on one of our projects- such as Freshers' Week volunteering or in the Advice Place. If you want to become active in the local community then there are lots of options available. A good place to start is by looking at the list of
current positions on our volunteering e-system
As a student we understand your free time might be limited. Maybe you're in your final year, studying for a PhD or a student parent. However we try hard to ensure there are always roles available that are either short term, low commitment, home based or on an ad hoc basis. Some are even one-off opportunities such as helping at an event. However, your academic studies should always come first!
We have roles that are exclusive to EUSA Volunteering as we offer a tailored, personalised service and work in close partnership with our registered organisations. If you browse the opportunities on our bespoke e-volunteering system you can be sure that the people advertising those roles are keen to involve Edinburgh University students, therefore cutting down the 'detective work' involved in finding a position. We can also provide advice about how to get recognition for your volunteering by applying for awards.
Register with us and we'll advertise your volunteering opportunities to students. For University societies, we can also provide practical volunteer management advice and training. Our Volunteer Development Manager has several years experience with hands-on volunteer recruitment, selection and management and is happy to meet with you to discuss ways you can turn your charitable society into a 'volunteer magnet'!
Just email volunteering@eusa.ed.ac.uk to let us know what kind of volunteering you might be interested in and we'll do a wider search for you. Or check out our 'latest volunteering news' section to read about other people's volunteering experiences for inspiration!
You might also want to try doing a wider search yourself using the Volunteer Centre Edinburgh Website: http://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/home . Please note- unlike the opportunities hosted on our site, these aren't all tailored to students.
The Careers Service Database, SAGE, also hosts some volunteering opportunities, as well as overseas volunteering information. To search it, visit http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/careers/looking-for-work/sage-database