Student Volunteering Week 2011

The University of Sussex Students’ Union observed the tenth anniversary of Student Volunteering Week from 21^st – 25^th February 2011 as a part of the National Student Volunteering Week to enrol students for volunteering with the union and local community. The Students’ Union offers a wide range of volunteer positions in Union Computers; ‘Front of House’, Events Teams and with the local organisations. Roles, commitment, responsibilities and benefits of all volunteer placements have already been set.

Union Computers is a new non-profit venture set up by the Students’ Union.  This is run and led by student volunteers to develop the venture into a fully functioning computer and laptop repair service for students. A volunteer here is required to work for a minimum of 4 hours per week during working days of the term. The responsibilities of the volunteers are- provide professional and friendly services to the staff and students; identify, diagnose and solve wide variety of software and hardware problems. These volunteers will be benefited by the training provided by the union in Customer Service Skills, Confidentiality and Data Protection, Computer diagnosis, custom-builds and parts handling, Applications of and using various operating systems. At the end of the year, the volunteers also receive a certificate and reference for CV. 

I had the opportunity to visit Union Computers as my laptop had developed some MS software problem.  IT Services of Sussex directed me to Union computers and the volunteers did an extremely good job. I really appreciate the service rendered to me by the volunteers.

The ‘Front of House’ team responds to students’ enquiries via e-mail, over the phone and in person at the reception. A volunteer is required to work for a minimum of two hours per week. The responsibilities of the volunteers are – attend staff, students and other visitors’ enquiries appropriately and complete the administrative tasks given by the Students’ union. The volunteers will develop communication skills, interpersonal skills, IT skills, learn administrations and proof reading by associating with the Front of House. In addition to this, the volunteers will have free entry to events including night clubs and other events organised by the Students’ union.

The members of the events teams help the Students’ Union throughout the year in organising events. A volunteer can play several roles – Co-ordinator, stage manager, door manager and event runner. Skills developed by volunteering are event management, time management, interpersonal skills, team building and complete experience in running an event.

Volunteering at the Students’ Union provides excellent opportunities to meet students and gain experience to further strengthen CV.

Over two hundred volunteering opportunities are available in the local community. Project V is the name of the Students’ Union Community volunteering Scheme. The main aim of this scheme is to provide safe and supported volunteering opportunities which will benefit both students and the local community. The organisations which have registered with Project V bear the travel expenses of the volunteers. International students need to have Tier 4 Student Visa to be able to work as volunteers in UK. Students with ‘student visitor visa’ cannot work as volunteers in UK.