University of Sussex Students' Union
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Volunteering > Information for students > Skill development  

Volunteering

Volunteering is an enjoyable way for you to make a difference, provides a fantastic opportunity for you to develop key skills for your future career and to check out possible career paths. On top of that it’s a great way to make new friends, to do something different from your studies and to get a different perspective of life.

We offer you the opportunity to volunteer in a wide variety of locally based organisations and community projects as well as for the Students' Union.

There are lots of options to choose from and we will help you find the volunteering placement that is right for you so contact us for more information.

Contents

► Skill development

Volunteering is a great way to gain and develop new skills. Project V encourages all volunteers to reflect on their learning experience, which helps to identify different skills aquired whilst volunteering.

Here are only a few skills that you will be able to gain through volunteering:

  • Communication skills
  • Increasing self esteem
  • Organisational skills
  • Knowledge and awareness of other groups
  • Understanding and appreciation of diversity
  • Teaching skills
  • Planning
  • Confidence Building
  • Support/ listening
  • Time management
  • IT/ computer literacy
  • Flexibility/ adaptability
  • Leadership

 

Tracking your skill development

There are different ways in which you can keep track of your skill development.

We offer a learning log in which you can reflect on the skills gained through volunteering. (For paper copies, please come and see us in the Activities Centre). You can also come to Project V and we will be able to hand you a Volunteering Diary, so that you can keep a record of your volunteering experience.

SussexPlus logo

Sussex Plus is a project for students where you develop your skills and create a multimedia webfolio to showcase who you are and what you can do. You will be able to reflect on skills that you have developed through your degree, work experience and extra curricular activities (such as volunteering!). Sussex Plus is part of the Careers and Employability Centre. On their website you also find a skills section which will be helpful for relfecting on what you have have learnt.
Volunteering England logo

Volunteering England is the national agency for volunteering. They offer different tools as well for skills development, such as the Action Plan and the Self Reflection Plan. These documents can be used in your supervision and support session at your volunteering placement.