Volunteering while at university

TheEffect

Has anyone volunteered while at university? I'm starting at a local university in September, and possibly working 1 day a week, however there's a local charity working with disabled children who I'd like to volunteer with and get involved. I've already spoken to the charity and they want me to come and complete a CRB form.

Is it a bad idea to do some volunteering during your first year at university? My family think it's not the best idea as I'll be balancing meeting people at university/the new course, possibly 1 day a week at work and volunteering.

Any advice? I'd love to do the volunteering but I'm afraid it's going to be too much... :cool:

hethmar

Your parents may be right, the first year really is the time to be bonding with new friends and learning the ropes. Could you not volunteer with a group within the university? My son ran the Uni radio station for instance.

TheEffect

hethmar wrote: »

Your parents may be right, the first year really is the time to be bonding with new friends and learning the ropes. Could you not volunteer with a group within the university? My son ran the Uni radio station for instance.

Well the career I'm looking to go into is working with children/special needs children. If I'm going to volunteer, I'd rather it be doing something I enjoy and something that's going to help me in my future career.

ViolaLass

I think it's a lot to take on while doing a degree as well - I worked two days a week during my second year and in hindsight, think I shouldn't have. Can you volunteer for them during the holidays?

MrsManda

Volunteerring whilst at university is a great way to gain experience and meet new people and universities generally have their own voluntary service offering opportunities to volunteer.

However it is easy to get caught up with voluteering to the extent it has a negative effect on your studies. I'd wait until you've been at university a few weeks before committing any specific time to volunteering as you need time to find your feet, settle and make new friends.

How about seeing if the organisation will let you volunteer with them until term starts and say you'll talk to them about continuing volunteering once you're settled into university and know how much time your studies are going to take up?

hethmar

If your course is for this sort of work, then Im sure you will have further opportunities for volunteering.

Oldernotwiser

I have to disagree with most people. First year marks don't generally count towards the degree classification so it could be the best year to do this; you can always stop when university becomes more intense.
I think this sounds perfectly doable, particularly if you have good time management skills.

scottishblondie

I volunteered at my local Riding for the Disabled centre when I was at school, and I tried to keep it up when I started university. However, it ultimately got a bit too much for me along with working and my new found social life, as well as moving out of home. If I hadn't been working it would have been perfectly doable, but in the end I decided that I needed the money so I gave up volunteering. I started back at the RDA after I graduated though, and I'm really enjoying it

PassedAtFailing

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I have to disagree with most people. First year marks don't generally count towards the degree classification so it could be the best year to do this; you can always stop when university becomes more intense.
I think this sounds perfectly doable, particularly if you have good time management skills.

I have to agree and was thinking the exact same thing whilst reading the thread!

Good luck.

alwaysonthego_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I have to disagree with most people. First year marks don't generally count towards the degree classification so it could be the best year to do this; you can always stop when university becomes more intense.
I think this sounds perfectly doable, particularly if you have good time management skills.

I agree too, as you know I have two young children and I managed to volunteer whilst at university; at the CAB and my DD1's school and I am also a parent school governor. I found that I gained some good skills that will hopefully help me gain a good job. I did not find it particulary difficult fitting it all in as I managed my time really well and I came out with a good degree classification. When I start my MASW there is no way that I can fit in voluntary work, though I may try and do some work for the CAB when I can.

Absinthe_Fairy

I have to agree with ONW, in my experience the first-year workload was much lower than in subsequent years. Maybe you could start later in the year, to give you a chance to settle in, or even after Christmas?