Hi, I’m Emily, Volunteer Coordinator at Bristol SU.
Over the past year, the Bristol SU Volunteering Team have been running ‘One-Off Opportunities’.
These are group volunteering opportunities with various organisations across Bristol, that students can take part in on a flexible and ad-hock basis. I love joining in with these sessions, to chat to the fantastic student volunteers and learn why they’ve been some of our most popular opportunities.
During Student Volunteering Week (Monday 10 to Saturday 15 February), we’ll be providing a range of events, talks and workshops to help you find your perfect volunteering role. This includes a number of One-Off Opportunities.
Be the first to hear about our events by joining our One-Off Opportunities WhatsApp Chat, and sign up to all events on the Student Volunteering Week campaign page.
Here’s a few volunteers explaining why you should take part:
Develop your skills
All opportunities on the Volunteering Hub are linked with skills from the Bristol Skills Profile. Once you’ve volunteered, you can record, reflect and develop the skills you’ve gained using My Skills.
“I think volunteering is a great chance to enhance our skills; particularly for me, my language skills. I’m Chinese, so this is a perfect opportunity to practice my English.”
– Yuan, One-Off Volunteer at the North Bristol Foodbank
Meet others
We understand that lack of confidence can often hold people back from volunteering. That’s why we introduced our One-Off Opportunities – a low-pressure way to get started. Each session typically involves 10 volunteers, many of whom come alone. By the end, it’s amazing to see new friendships forming, with groups often heading to the pub together after the session!
“I’ve been able to make friends at each of these opportunities. I’ve made a group chat with the other volunteers I’ve met today and we’re planning on coming back to the Old People’s home regularly on Wednesday afternoons, to continue to help them take care of their garden!”
– Lula, One-Off Volunteer at an Old People’s Home
Making lasting change
Just a couple of hours of your time can make a meaningful difference, not only in the lives of those benefiting from the service but also in your own. Volunteering is a powerful way to create positive change whilst learning from new experiences and supporting your own wellbeing.
In 2024, the North Bristol Foodbank helped 8,022 people and served 137,000 meals. The staff at the foodbank and those benefiting from their service rely on the support of their 270 regular and one-off volunteers.
Before the winter break, a group of 15 student volunteers gave a couple of hours to help sort through thousands of items of donated food, which were given to local families in need of extra support.
Smile, a One-Off Volunteer explained how volunteering has helped her:
“We’re here to study, but not just to study; also to have a full experience. Doing things like this helps to make life colourful. For me, it’s rewarding, although when I work, I’m getting paid, with volunteering it makes me feel good when I leave.”
– Smile, One-Off Volunteer at the Craft Session with Elderly People
Remember – any hours spent volunteering can be used towards achieving your Bristol PLUS Award. Register for PLUS before the Friday 21 February deadline and gain formal recognition for your extracurricular activities.
Have a bit more time to give? Why not apply for a regular volunteering role?
1. Find 100s Opportunities on Our Volunteering Hub
- Explore: Explore a range of local volunteering opportunities and find one that fits your interests and schedule.
- Easy to Start: We’ve made it super simple to create an account and apply for roles.
2. Subscribe to Our Volunteering Newsletter
- Stay Informed: Get the latest on local opportunities, events, and social issues every fortnight.
- Not sure where to start? Book a meeting with us, for one-on-one guidance to find a role that’s perfect for you!
As a volunteer, you’ll develop plenty of transferable skills for your future. The Bristol PLUS Award gives you the opportunity to gain formal recognition for the time you dedicate to volunteering, as well as many other extracurricular roles.
You’ll receive a certificate, and the Award will be formally recorded on your degree transcript.
Register before 21 February to achieve your PLUS Award this year.
Take part in a City Challenge and support a charity or social enterprise while gaining invaluable experience.
They will present to you a real-life business challenge, and you will work with other students over an afternoon to come up with innovative solutions.
These events are a fantastic voluntary opportunity to showcase your talents, develop your skills, and learn from others.
Upcoming City Challenge events will be listed as events on mycareer, just search “City Challenge” in events.