Volunteering for Impact
Volunteer. Build experience. Make a difference.
Volunteering is a great way to develop your skills, explore your interests and make a difference while you’re at university.
Whether you’re looking to build your CV, try something new, meet people, explore a career or get involved in a cause you care about, volunteering can give you valuable real-world experience.
It can also be the starting point for something bigger. Getting involved in real-world challenges can help you understand the issues communities face, identify opportunities for change and develop ideas for social impact.
We’re developing a new Volunteering for Impact offer to help you get even more from your volunteering experience.
Find a Volunteering Opportunity
Explore the Volunteering Bank
The Volunteering Bank brings together opportunities with charities and community organisations, from one-off activities to regular volunteering roles.
You can also explore opportunities through student societies, local organisations and community projects.
Visit the Volunteering Bank
Discover More Volunteering Opportunities
Looking for something specific?
We’ve also put together a guide to other places you can find volunteering opportunities, including Southampton Voluntary Services, SO:Linked, Do-it, Southampton City Council, University Hospital Southampton, Future Towns and more.
Explore More Volunteering OpportunitiesVolunteer at University Hospital Southampton
Make a real difference to patients, visitors and staff by volunteering at University Hospital Southampton.
Opportunities range from providing companionship and practical support to welcoming visitors, supporting hospital charities and helping staff with occasional tasks.
Interested? Sign up to our Expression of Interest form to find out more and hear about our upcoming volunteering event at the hospital.
Express Your Interest HereGet Help Finding the Right Opportunity
Not sure what kind of volunteering would suit you? Or interested in finding out how volunteering could support your career or develop an idea for social impact?
Book a 15-minute Explore Social Impact Lab and Volunteering appointment through MyCareer.
We can help you explore what’s available, identify opportunities that fit your interests and goals, and connect you with wider Student Enterprise and Social Impact Lab support.
Book an Appointment
Where could volunteering take you?
- Build your employability – Develop skills, gain experience and build examples you can talk about in applications and interviews.
- Explore your future – Try different things, discover potential careers and build connections with people and organisations.
- Create social impact – Get closer to real-world challenges and communities – and perhaps discover an idea that you want to take further.
If volunteering inspires an idea for a social enterprise, community project or other form of social change, the Social Impact Lab can help you explore what comes next.
Explore the Social Impact Lab
Student Stories
See how other students have turned volunteering into experience, opportunity and impact.
Sally Phillips, BSc Business Analytics Student & Action Tutoring Volunteer
From volunteering to building confidence
“As a Business Analytics student, I chose to volunteer as an Action Tutoring tutor because I wanted to contribute to my community while gaining experience alongside my studies.
Seeing my pupils grow in confidence has been incredibly rewarding. Tutoring has also helped me develop my communication, confidence, time management and organisational skills, particularly learning to explain ideas in different ways to meet different needs.”
Naomi Willingham, UOS Graduate
From volunteering to a career in fundraising
“Volunteering with Marrow at the University of Southampton helped me develop the skills and confidence that have shaped my career. Alongside friends, I helped restart the student society, organising events, building interest and learning through the experience.
The role developed my teamwork, confidence, networking and relationship-building skills, which I now use in my work as a Regional Fundraiser at 2wish, supporting families affected by the sudden death of children and young people.
If you’re thinking about volunteering – go for it! You’ll make a real difference, and you’ll gain far more than you expect.”
Yulin Guan, MMus Music (Musicology) and Yujie Wu, MMus Music (Musicology) Volunteered with Cross Culture Hub
“Through volunteering I have learned how to communicate and collaborate in an international environment, the experience has given me valuable insight and hands-on
skill that will benefit my future career. Since completing my volunteering I’ve become more confident communicating with others and have a better understanding and feel more informed about my future career.” – Yulin
My volunteering role gave me valuable insights into how music can be used socially and scientifically, especially as a tool for community building. I will draw on this cross-cultural and interdisciplinary experience when I pursue a teaching career, as this has grown my confidence as an educator.” – Yujie
Coming soon: My Volunteering Pathway
Get more from your volunteering
We’re developing a new My Volunteering Pathway to help you make the most of your experience.
The pathway will help you:
Discover what you want to get from volunteering and the difference you’d like to make.
Find opportunities that match your interests, skills and availability.
Evidence the skills, experience and learning you gain through volunteering.
Recognise your achievement through our new Volunteering for Impact Award.
My Volunteering will launch shortly!
Coming soon: Volunteering for Impact Award
Turn your volunteering into recognised experience
Our new Volunteering for Impact Award will give you the opportunity to reflect on your volunteering, evidence what you’ve done and showcase the skills and experience you’ve developed.
The award will be supported by a digital badge that you can use to showcase your achievement.
You don’t need to wait for the new pathway to start volunteering. Get involved now and you can use your experience towards the award when the pathway launches.
[Find out about the Volunteering for Impact Award →]
Sign up to our mailing list and we’ll tell you when these are available!
Got a question? Email the Social Impact Lab team at [email protected]