Volunteering opportunities

Joining a community means giving back – and getting a great deal in return. There are volunteering opportunities to suit everyone.

Opportunities by sector

Whether you want to totally immerse in your course subject area, or mix things up and explore a different avenue, there are some really exciting sector-specific opportunities. Think about the skills you want to gain and what fires your imagination – then start connecting.

Two art students working on a project at a drawing table.

Arts, heritage and creative industries

Apply to volunteer for an arts, heritage or creative industries opportunity.

Students analysing data on business performance around a laptop.

Business, marketing and events

Apply to volunteer for a business, marketing or events opportunity.

Environment, conservation and sustainability

Apply to volunteer for an environment, conservation or sustainability opportunity.

Student Optometrist talking to a patient during a consultation.

Health, social care and youth work

Apply to volunteer for a health, social care or youth work opportunity.

Two law students taking part in a trial a mock courtroom.

Law

Apply to volunteer for a law opportunity.

Schools and education

Apply to volunteer for a schools or education opportunity.

Science students using precise scientific equipment.

Science, engineering and IT

Apply to volunteer for a science, engineering and IT opportunity.

Sport

Apply to volunteer for a sport opportunity through the Sport Volunteering Programme.

UWE Bristol professional volunteering

We run a range of projects around Bristol for you to get involved in. Get stuck in working with other students and your local community, gaining CV-enhancing experience and hands-on skills as you give back. Projects take place during the autumn and spring terms, and are designed to fit around your studies.

Professional creative volunteering

Experience counts. Do something great and use your skills to support a charity in areas like photography, film, graphic design, illustration, web development or branding.

Timings are arranged to suit you and the organisation, for up to ten weeks. Typically, you'll work on a real brief related to the skills you want to develop. You'll also get the chance to network with other creatives in the organisation and produce work for your portfolio or CV.

To find out more, get in touch with volunteering@uwe.ac.uk.

"Art + Power really helped me to gain valuable knowledge, confidence and experience. They are a very supportive organisation and I’d definitely like to be involved more and support them in the future."

Phoebe, volunteered with Art + Power

Phoebe volunteered with Art + Power

Micro volunteering

If you are interested in volunteering but are not able to commit to a long-term role, we have compiled a list of micro volunteering opportunities for you to browse. Typically, these roles will not require an application, screening or training process. The tasks may take a few minutes or a few hours to complete and won’t require an ongoing commitment.

Find a micro volunteering opportunity

What is micro volunteering?

Micro volunteering is a chance for you to undertake small but important tasks without the need for an ongoing commitment. These are often very short projects that require little time or one-off activities such as a charity bucket collection or helping out with a community fun day. They can also take place either in person or remotely depending on the task. Micro volunteering gives you the opportunity to engage with your community in a timeframe that suits you.

Benefits of micro volunteering

Learn new skills quickly or improve on skills you already have to add to your CV.
Get involved anytime and anywhere – micro volunteering is often much more convenient and flexible than traditional volunteering.
No ongoing commitment means that you volunteer only when you have the time, perfect for when you are facing a busy time of exams or an essay writing period.
In many cases, you will see an instant return on your volunteering.

If you have any questions about micro volunteering and how to get involved email us at volunteering@uwe.ac.uk.

Join our Social hackathon

Work together to solve problems for a local community or organization, within a set time limit. Join us for an unforgettable experience of learning, collaboration, and making a difference with a dash of fun thrown in!

Social hackathon

"One-off events are a fantastic way to volunteer, as you are able to give as much time as you can afford to. The feel good factor of working hard for a whole day is fantastic!"

Amy, one-off volunteer

Amy one-off volunteer

International volunteering

The UWE Bristol Go Global team have identified trusted global volunteering providers who offer safe, ethical, good value, and positive outcomes for both student volunteers and communities.

Discover overseas opportunities

Apply for an international volunteering project

You will need to apply directly through your chosen organisation's website. Your application will be assessed by the individual organisations. Successful applicants wishing to secure global funding support will receive it on a first-come, first-served basis.

UWE Bristol Employability Bursary

If you meet the eligibility criteria, all of the international volunteering programmes can be part-to-fully funded by UWE Bristol via the UWE Bristol Employability Bursary.

Contact the Go Global team

For queries about international volunteering, email the UWE Bristol Go Global team at goglobal@uwe.ac.uk.

"I found the experience both enlightening and useful. I would urge any student who is considering a career in education, or who wants to strengthen their CV with some meaningful volunteering, to take the opportunity to volunteer with local schools. "

Schools Programme Volunteer, UWE Bristol Volunteering

Schools Programme Volunteer UWE Bristol Volunteering

The Students' Union

The Students' Union organises a series of one-off action days in the local community for teams of student volunteers working in partnership with voluntary organisations and charities to make a difference.

Upcoming opportunities from the Students' Union at UWE

You can also get involved in a wide range of sustainability, conservation and biodiversity volunteering through the Green Team. these roles are very low commitment, so perfect for a busy timetable. Find out more about the Green Team and sign up to the newsletter.

Interested in fundraising? Looking to use your business skills or to try an enterprise activity? Last year the Students' Union RAG team raised over £90,000 for charity.

Get in touch

If you have any further questions about community projects and volunteering please email volunteering@uwe.ac.uk.

Nakita's international volunteering experience

Nakita Hedges, LLB(Hons) Law, volunteered with the African Prisons Project (now Educating for Justice). She tells us about surprising things she encountered whilst volunteering, and times where she felt she'd really made a difference.

Further information

I didn't sign up in Term One. Can I still volunteer?

Yes. We have volunteering opportunities available all year round. Search on InfoHub (login required) or contact UWE Bristol Volunteering for advice and support.

Can I take a break from volunteering during university vacations?

The organisations understand that students need to take breaks for holidays and during exam periods. The most important thing is to tell them in advance so that organisations can plan around you. Our UWE Bristol Volunteering Projects and Schools Programme stop over the holidays.

How long will it take until I can start volunteering?

It often takes longer than people think to organise volunteering. This is because volunteer managers are very busy and they will want to arrange suitable training and inductions for you. Six weeks is quite a standard time to start volunteering but it could be longer if the organisation requires a DBS check.

What if I don't like my volunteering role?

Volunteering is a two-way process. If you are not happy in your role, it is important to talk to the organisation you are volunteering at, or contact us. It might be that they can help to make it a better experience for you. Although you are expected to show commitment, you do not have to keep doing something that you don't enjoy.