A student guide to volunteering at the University of East London

What is volunteering?

Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving their time and labour for community service.

Volunteering can be organised by charity organisations or can be informal and take place within any communities.

Volunteering is an effective way to build your professional profile as it equips you with key transferrable skills and work experience which you can later use to showcase in your CVs or Cover Letters. Some skills that volunteering can help build or develop are teamwork, problem solving, communication or project management skills. 

How does volunteering benefit you?

Volunteering has many benefits which not only extend to employability but also help with our mental, emotional and physical, we have listed below some of these benefits:

  • It can give you a sense of achievement and purpose.
  • It is rewarding.
  • It can help build a career.
  • It builds self-esteem and confidence.
  • It builds social relationships.
  • It can improve physical and mental well-being.
  • Allows you to explore different opportunities.
  • Brings a sense of purpose.
  • Allows you to help many people to feel part of a community.
  • It will help you share your talents.
  • It helps combat stress, loneliness, social isolation and depression.
  • It will help you meet new people, which can help you feel more connected and valued.

Hear from our volunteers

“Volunteering has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. It’s a reminder that even small acts of kindness can create ripples of change. Through volunteering, I’ve not only helped others, but also gained a deeper understanding of the world and my place in it. I would recommend it to anyone who seeks a purpose beyond themselves and wants to contribute to a more compassionate and connected community. It provides immense peace to mind and satisfaction towards the work I have done.” 
Nikitaben, 
MBA (Business Analytics)

“Volunteering is an invaluable experience that every student should try out. My confidence, CV, learning, social connections, and teaching skills have all solidified because of spending a couple of hours per semester helping out- the reward is great!” 
Reda,
BSc Pharmacology

“Volunteering has allowed me to make a positive impact while gaining valuable experiences. It's rewarding to know that my time and efforts contribute to something meaningful, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking to grow and give back.”
Romana,
MSc Public Health

“Volunteering with UEL pushed me to carve out time to give back to others amidst the business of life, I am now volunteering for another organisation, and I’m always open to volunteer for UEL again”
Lydi,
BA Journalism

“Volunteering has been crucial in developing my leadership, organisational, and interpersonal skills, and has provided me with a sense of fulfilment and community engagement.” 
Robinson,
MSc Cloud Computing (with Industrial Placement)

“To me, volunteering is something fun and rewarding—a way to meet new people, learn new skills, and make a difference in my community. Through volunteering, I've discovered passions I never knew I had, from addressing food waste to providing mentorship to teens. It’s also a chance to unwind, step away from daily responsibilities, and do something meaningful. I am excited to see what new opportunities and surprises volunteering will bring me in the future!” 
Nour,
MSc NGO and Development Management

How can you get involved with volunteering?

There are many different ways that students can get involved with volunteering, have a read below to find out how you can get involved! 

If you want to search the amazing volunteering opportunities on offer, simply visit the Career Zone Jobs Board or drop by one of our friendly Career Zone spots, where an Advisor can help you log into and browse our live volunteering opportunities on the Career Zone website.

Want to speak to someone one on one? You can book a Volunteering Advice Session via the Career Zone with one of our amazing Volunteering Coordinators that looks after your School.

You can also attend the Volunteering Fairs, micro-volunteering events as well as other events that are hosted throughout the academic year to get a feel for Volunteering.

Or why not get involved directly with the team by becoming a Volunteer Champion or by participating in one of the Volunteering Projects. To keep up to date with all the latest in the world of volunteering at UEL, feel free to follow the Volunteering Team on Instagram, X and Teams or email them at volunteering@uel.ac.uk