Volunteering
Volunteering can be a particularly useful way to build up skills in certain sectors e.g. health and social care, environmental and heritage work because of the large number of third sector organisations involved and it is highly valued by employers.
"Volunteering is what made me choose a career with social impact. It brought growth to my social enterprise. My volunteer experience led me to create a social enterprise empowering thousands of people with disabilities to find jobs as part of our mission."— Samer Sfeir, Founder of Shareq and M Social Catering
- Five ways volunteering can help you land a job
- What are the benefits of volunteering
- Get inspired by reading our latest blog
Volunteering whilst at university:
During your time at university there will be opportunities to undertake voluntary roles such as being a class rep, or serving on a university committee. You may also like to consider getting involved with the university's students associations and student clubs and societies.
There may be opportunities to do some voluntary work within your department to gain course-related experience and you should speak to your PAT or lecturers to find out what is available.
If you are a graduate from UHI and are interested in volunteering why not help current students by becoming an alumni career mentor? You could help students making the transition to life after university by sharing your insights and experience with them. The UHI Futures team also offers a 'Graduate for Life' service with access to careers support and guidance for the lifetime of your career. Register through the Handshake service
Find out more about volunteering by contacting careers@uhi.ac.uk or studentengagement@uhi.ac.uk
Make Volunteering Count:
Once you become a volunteer you can make it count towards various awards.
The university is also accredited to run the Duke of Edinburgh Award and participating students can log volunteering hours within the Volunteering section of an Award. Please note that this Award is only available in certain colleges. To find out if your college is currently running the award, please contact us.
If you are a student under 25 years of age you can register with the Saltire Awards and log volunteering hours to achieve awards. Once you are registered you will be assigned to a local Saltire Delivery Office where you can access support.
Find out what our students have to say about their volunteering experiences
Where to go for more information
Where to go for more information
Volunteer Centres
There are volunteer centres across Scotland. These centres advertise currently available voluntary opportunities, and they can also offer you information and advice on volunteering more generally.
A great starting point is the TSI Scotland Network (Third Sector Interface) website which brings together charities that support the third sector across Scotland, with local branches in each of the 32 local authority areas. This extensive resources has a wealth of information, resources and opportunities.
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) provide support and promote the development of a confident, sustainable voluntary sector in Scotland.
Volunteer Scotland work collaboratively to create a Scotland where everyone can volunteer, more often, and throughout their lives, believing that volunteering should be an enjoyable, rewarding and fulfilling experience for every volunteer. They also run annual Volunteers' Week, generally throughout the first week in June, celebrating the huge and varied impact of volunteering across Scotland.