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Student Volunteering Week 2011
January 2011
Student Volunteering Week was established in 2001 by Volunteering England to raise the national profile of Further and Higher Education student volunteering.
The theme for 2011 is ‘Inspiring futures; connecting communities’, with the focus on volunteering as a way to enhance personal and professional development, as well as a way to create community and institutional cohesion.
The theme for 2011 is ‘Inspiring futures; connecting communities’, with the focus on volunteering as a way to enhance personal and professional development, as well as a way to create community and institutional cohesion.
This year will be the 10th anniversary of Student Volunteering Week and Volunteering & Employability will be organising a variety of volunteering events throughout the week of February 21st culminating in the annual Big Challenge on Saturday 26th February 2011. The Big Challenge is our largest one-off volunteering event of the year with 3 separate projects across the city undertaken by volunteers from both Coventry University and The University of Warwick.
For more information about the activities we will be organising and updates, sign up to our weekly ‘Opportunity Updates’ by registering online at www.cusu.org/volunteering
New Volunteering and Employability Community Co-ordinator
November 2010
The Volunteering and Employability team have recently taken on a new member of staff Parminder Naga to cover maternity leave for Fran Docherty until June 2011. She will be based at the Volunteering and Employability Office two days a week Tuesday and Wednesday to support staff and students at Coventry University who wish to take part in community volunteering.
The Volunteering and Employability team have recently taken on a new member of staff Parminder Naga to cover maternity leave for Fran Docherty until June 2011. She will be based at the Volunteering and Employability Office two days a week Tuesday and Wednesday to support staff and students at Coventry University who wish to take part in community volunteering.
Parminder’s role is to offer information, advice, guidance and support throughout the volunteering experience. She is just one of the team members dedicated to helping volunteers in finding the right placement of their choice that suits individual needs, interests and time commitments.
If you are interested in learning more about volunteering in charities and community organisations come down to the Students’ Union based on the top floor of Priory Street between 10am – 4pm from Tuesday to Friday and take advantage of our service which will help you develop key transferable skills, enhance your CV and allow you to gain work experience in a potential career path.
Volunteering Steering Group and RAG - Volunteers needed
November 2010
If you are interested in getting involved in the direction of volunteering and would like your say then it’s not too late. We are looking to recruit students for a Volunteering Steering Group, enabling students to get the opportunity to take some ownership over the volunteering undertaken at Coventry University Students’ Union.
The group will also influence the direction of RAG, a group which aims to fundraise in exciting ways, support local and national charities helping to benefit others. For more information on RAG, the Volunteering Steering Group or Student Council, contact Dave Brewis, Vice President Student Activities on telephone: 07583117764 or email vpactivities.su@coventry.ac.uk
Student Councillors 2010/2011
November 2010
The main decision making body of the students union will be the Student Council which will consist of 70 students elected for various groups around campus such as halls reps and sports and societies. To ensure council is representative of minority groups there will also be 7 liberation officers who will represent minority groups such as black and minority ethnic student’s officer, and mature students officer. Council will meet once every three weeks and will pass policy of the Union and instruct the Sabbatical and question us to make sure we are doing what students want. Since Volunteering & Employability Volunteers are one of the most important and active sections of our membership, the student volunteer councillors, will make sure that the Union is giving Volunteering & Employability volunteers the support they deserve. You can find out all the issues to be discussed on the Union website, so if you’ve got an opinion or issue why not come along and make your voice heard.
The main decision making body of the students union will be the Student Council which will consist of 70 students elected for various groups around campus such as halls reps and sports and societies. To ensure council is representative of minority groups there will also be 7 liberation officers who will represent minority groups such as black and minority ethnic student’s officer, and mature students officer. Council will meet once every three weeks and will pass policy of the Union and instruct the Sabbatical and question us to make sure we are doing what students want. Since Volunteering & Employability Volunteers are one of the most important and active sections of our membership, the student volunteer councillors, will make sure that the Union is giving Volunteering & Employability volunteers the support they deserve. You can find out all the issues to be discussed on the Union website, so if you’ve got an opinion or issue why not come along and make your voice heard.
Congratulations to Petar Mladenov and Madeeha Bakali who have been elected as Student Volunteer Councillors for Volunteering & Employability.
If you have any questions regarding Student Council please feel free to contact Dave Brewis, Vice President Student Activities; d.brewis@coventry.ac.uk
Why volunteer?
October 2010
Here at the Volunteering and Employability office, we are here to help students develop key skills and further their future careers through volunteering and in these well documented times of economic difficulty, volunteering has been known to help graduates get a foot on the job market. This statement is proven by a survey of employers which concluded that 73% of employers would employ a candidate with volunteering experience over one without. The survey, conducted by timebank also found that 94% of employers believed volunteering added to an individual’s skills.
This is why, volunteering is one of the best things that you can do as a student, the value it has on you as an individual is well documented. It helps with skill development, confidence, gaining work experience and enhancing your CV, but it also has a huge effect on the local community too. Volunteering helps with social integration, community cohesion and gives something back to local people and their communities.
Some employers have long championed the importance of volunteering, both before and after an individual gains employment and those individuals who volunteer whilst holding down a job are rewarded too. The survey also found that 94% of employees, who volunteered, developed their careers by improving their salary or being promoted.
As a student it is probably the best time to volunteer and with the above facts showing that starting volunteering in your private life and continuing through your professional life is of great financial benefit, now is a great time to get involved. With our past volunteers being our biggest fans; 98% of volunteers enjoyed being a volunteer with us and 97% of volunteers would recommend our service to their friends. Isn’t it time you got involved?
Our department, CUSU Volunteering and Employability will help you find the volunteering placement of your choice and support and guide you throughout. Last year over 1000 students directly benefited over 150 local community organisations, charities and schools in activities ranging from classroom support to conservation, language translation to mentoring and sports coaching to supporting health charities. So to find out more come and see us on the top floor of the Priory Street Students’ Union between 10:00 – 16:00 Tuesday – Friday or visit our website, where you can register online at www.cusu.org/volunteering
Volunteering & Employability scoops first prize in the Add+vantage Employability Awards at Coventry University
October 2010
The prize was awarded for our significant contribution to supporting students to develop skills and gain experience by undertaking one of the Add+vantage modules in volunteering.
Karen Quinn, Senior Employability Advisor said, “The panel of judges were particularly impressed by the evidence provided to demonstrate the volunteering department’s impact on student employability and the range of skills and experiences that students are gaining through taking these modules. Really well-done, you have done an excellent job.
If you would like to find out more information about our range of advantage volunteering modules, please go to http://www.cusu.org/volunteering/content/23498/addvantage_modules/
The prize was awarded for our significant contribution to supporting students to develop skills and gain experience by undertaking one of the Add+vantage modules in volunteering.
Karen Quinn, Senior Employability Advisor said, “The panel of judges were particularly impressed by the evidence provided to demonstrate the volunteering department’s impact on student employability and the range of skills and experiences that students are gaining through taking these modules. Really well-done, you have done an excellent job.
If you would like to find out more information about our range of advantage volunteering modules, please go to http://www.cusu.org/volunteering/content/23498/addvantage_modules/
