- It’s a great way to give back to the local community during your time at Durham. Many of our projects are aimed at helping vulnerable or overlooked people in society, such as children from deprived backgrounds, the elderly or people with complex needs. Our projects work with people all over the county, not just Durham City, so volunteering enables you to be part of the wider community whilst you live in County Durham.
- You meet many different people and make friends for life! Volunteering enables you to meet people from all walks of life and different backgrounds, and spend time with people who share similar values. Volunteering also has a colourful events calendar running throughout the year for you to enjoy, with highlights including Go Volunteer Week, Soul Food Festival, SPARK Community Fun Day and the annual Volunteering Awards.
- It’s great experience for your future career! We have ample opportunities for our volunteers to develop skills and leadership experience, with each of our student projects having a volunteer Project Manager, the Exec positions and Sabbatical officer opportunities. Volunteers can qualify for the Durham University Leadership Programme and are eligible for the Durham Inspired Award. Each year we offer a range of workshops and qualifications. This year our volunteers enjoyed learning British Sign Language, behaviour management, first aid, children’s engagement activities and Basic Food Hygiene.
- Your valuable contributions are recognised and rewarded. Starting from Michaelmas term 2020, we are introducing the new Durham University Student Volunteers Certification Scheme to recognise the invaluable contribution our students make to the local community through volunteering. The certification scheme recognises 3 different levels of volunteering, based on the total number of accumulated hours a student has volunteered during their time at Durham University: Bronze (30 hours), Silver (60 hours) and Gold (90 hours).
Why Volunteer?
Why Volunteer?
Everyone benefits from volunteering. Local communities and organisations value the time, energy and enthusiasm that both staff and students can offer. For you, it’s a great way to engage with the community, add to your CV, meet new people, and see more of the North East.