Students engage with volunteering for several reasons. Whatever your reason we want to help make your volunteering journey is as accessible and enjoyable as possible. To do so we have put together some Frequently Asked Questions to help you feel more confident about getting involved in volunteering. If you still have any questions that aren't answered below then get in touch with us and we can find a solution together.
How easy is it to get involved?
How much time do I need to give?
What would I offer as a volunteer?
What support will I receive as a volunteer?
Are you an equal opportunities provider?
Will the volunteering opportunities be accessible?
Would my travel/meal costs be covered whilst I’m volunteering?
We try to provide all the relevant information so that students can make informed choices about what opportunities that they would like to get involved with. However, we also know that this can sometimes be a bit overwhelming and that often applications can be long and wordy. If you need any support at any stage of your volunteering, then you can talk to our Volunteer Development Officer or a member of the SA for guidance. We also try to ensure that the external providers that we advertise for have accessible application processes.
We know that you are a student, and that your studies will be a priority for you. To help you find a volunteering opportunity that fits with your schedule we offer a variety of different opportunities, from one-off events to ongoing programmes with flexibility of scheduling. If you would like to try a different volunteering opportunity, then we are here to help you find what might be more suitable for you.
Everyone has something special that they can share, it’s about finding the right opportunity for you. Don’t worry if you don’t feel like you have the work or life experience to get involved, a lot of volunteering is about building these skills in a supportive environment.
Our Volunteer Development Officer and CitySA staff are here to make sure that student volunteers feel supported and valued in their roles. Our staff are available to chat through any challenges that you might have with your volunteering and provide help with accessing any opportunities that may interest you. All student volunteers will have an induction and receive appropriate training for their role to make sure that they have all the knowledge and confidence you need to begin their volunteering
Regardless of your identity or your background we want to make sure that you feel safe and supported in your volunteering opportunity. We have our own Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and we make sure that all the external organisations that we advertise for also have one. Our volunteering opportunities also Equality Impact Assessments to makes sure that they will be welcoming and accessible for people of various protected characteristics.
All our external opportunities will be asked to provide accessibility information. All internal opportunities have undergone an Equality Impact Assessment. If you requirements that you would like to discuss with our team please get in touch.
We want to make sure that all students, regardless of their financial circumstances, can engage in volunteering opportunities. If you are volunteering for a CitySA opportunity we are able to cover reasonable expenses incurred during your volunteering, such as travel costs and lunch provisions. Our external providers will share information about their expenses policy within the role adverts, and you can discuss with their contact person if you have any further questions.