Information for Voluntary and Community Groups

At Active Volunteers we aim to work in partnership with organisations like yours to help you develop your work with the help of our volunteers.

Why get involved with Active Volunteers?

  • Because a wide range of expertise, interests and enthusiasm exists within the University.
  • Because we aim to utilise these skills and qualities to the benefit of the local community, raising awareness of the wide range of resources available through student volunteers from all academic disciplines.
  • Because increasing University involvement will help both students and staff to gain new perspectives, and develop understanding of the social, cultural and economic issues facing different sections of the community.
  • And of course because for most community and voluntary organisations, another pair of willing hands is always welcome to support the valuable work already being done.

Benefits of working together

The mutual benefits of such partnerships are many.

  • The University's strong commitment to community engagement is demonstrated through the variety of voluntary activities undertaken by students and staff, sharing their existing skills and expertise while enhancing a sense of community involvement.
  • The opportunities for additional support for local groups and voluntary organisations can provide extra resources and skills.

If you are a voluntary or community organisation within the West Midlands region, please read how we may be able to support you.

Support for Voluntary and Community groups

Who are our volunteers?

Our volunteers include students and staff at the University, from any background, age 18 or above; most are students aged between 18 and 25. We have a number of international students from all over the world.

Students volunteer for a number of reasons:

  • To use their time and skills to benefit the local community
  • To achieve accreditation that can go on their CVs
  • To develop transferable skills that equip them for life and work
  • To have fun and meet people

There is a constant demand for us to find suitable placements within local voluntary organisations, for students who are looking to go into teaching, social and health care, the law, media and the arts etc. after finishing their studies.

When considering student volunteers the following points should be taken into account:

  • Many students wish to volunteer on a regular basis
  • They are looking to use skills that they have developed through their studies, including IT, language, art and sport
  • They are flexible, and can fit volunteering around their studies
  • They are reliable, well motivated and hard working
  • Students often go home during vacation times

Registering your project

Our aim is to work in partnership with organisations like yours to help to develop your work with our volunteers. We ask that you help us to ensure that we are providing volunteers with a quality placement. You can do this by completing our Volunteering Opportunity Registration form, which gives us information about your project and the volunteering opportunities available, as well as any support you provide.

To register your volunteering opportunities, please download the registration form or contact Active Volunteers: activevol@wlv.ac.uk

Once the project is registered, the information provided will be featured in our Active Volunteers database, handbook and website. We can also display posters for you to promote your volunteering opportunities.

We ask that you keep records of volunteers recruited through Active Volunteers, and respond to requests for monitoring and evaluation of student volunteering activity.

We also ask to be kept informed of any major changes in your organisation.