Volunteering Opportunities in York
Information about the numerous volunteering opportunities available in York can be found through the university or college you are studying at, or through external organisations, some of which are detailed below.
Millennium Volunteers
A large number of York students have been involved with York Millennium Volunteers. The majority have either; worked on community based projects; assisted with ‘one-off’ charity collections; or committed a regular amount of time every week or month to help out with a particular group. There are all sorts of things you could get involved with immediately in the York area. Click here for more information.
York Mind
York Mind is currently recruiting volunteers for its advocacy project. The project has been set up to help people who use psychiatric or other mental health services to have their say in decisions about their health or social care. As an advocate you would work on a range of activities, with the possibility of both short-term and long-term commitments to the project. Click here for more information.
York Citizens Advice Bureau
There are a number of volunteering opportunities available at the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in York, including working as an adviser or administration assistant. Ninety per cent of people in the CAB service are volunteers and the organisation values its volunteers very highly. Click here for more details about the positions available and training you would need to undergo.
Institution specific
All the universities and colleges in York run their own volunteering activities which students at these institutions can get involved with.
Askham Bryan College has recently appointed two volunteering co-ordinators who assist the SU president in supporting student lead volunteering. Students from the college took place in the Knaresborough Bed Race earlier this year in aid of local charities.
There may be additional volunteering projects up and running at Askham Bryan College. For further information you should contact ABC careers service.
The University of York boasts an extensive Community and Volunteering Unit with 33 new projects on the go and 375 volunteering opportunities. Two examples of these highly successful projects are the ‘Youth Voice Conference’ and the renovation of Fulford Youth Club. Youth Voice gave North Yorkshire A Level students the opportunity to attend a series of mini-lectures and a two hour debate about the topic, ‘How is Childhood changing in the 21st Century?’ Workshops were student volunteer lead and helped to prepare pupils with advice on public speaking and debating. The project is now set to be a regular annual event.
The University also runs a programme called the York Award. This is offered in partnership with public, private and voluntary sector organisations and enables students to undertake transferable skills training and experiential learning. To obtain this award students have to plan an active programme of personal development.
The University also runs the York Students in Schools (YSIS) initiative. This is a school based volunteering programme open to all students at the institution. YSIS works alongside York Millennium Volunteers and the York Award to provide opportunities for student development and volunteering.
York Student Community Action (YSCA) is a student run, student led volunteering body which is part of The University of York Students' Union. YSCA create and run voluntary projects across York. All kinds of projects exist which you can join or you can set up your own and the YSCA will provide any support and money you need.
There are also plans to involve more graduates in volunteering currently being lead by a group of chemistry students who are restoring a pond at the Woodlands Respite Care Centre. In addition there are various other projects including a Sports Volunteer Programme and a project establishing historical records for some allotment sights in York, all of which allow students to use their skills for the benefit of the local community.
There may be additional volunteering projects up and running at The University of York. For further information you should contact the University of York careers service.
The strength and popularity of volunteering programmes at York St John University has increased vastly over the past few years and the university now has around 529 volunteers spread over numerous areas.They do every thing from parties for senior citizens and mentoring secondary school pupils to woodland conservation. A recent project helping local primary school children with literacy and numeracy skills received record recruitment, along with a project to improve a Kids’ Club affording part-time mature students the time to study whilst their children are safely looked after. Most recently YSJ students have been using their culinary skills to provide a dinner on the third Sunday of every month at York’s ‘Arclight’ shelter.
There may be additional volunteering projects up and running at York St John University. For further information you should contact YSJ careers service.
For more information or contact details regarding volunteering contact the institutions directly or visit our useful links in the employment section.
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