Student Volunteering: new networks, new information Andrea Grace Rannard, Volunteering England Jamie Darwen, National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement 14 July 2010 AGCAS CIEL Conference 2010

To identify how student volunteering contributes to key careers service drivers; To update you on student volunteering developments and research; To identify student volunteering stakeholders; To explore the benefits of engaging with student volunteering in your work; Next steps for you; Future developments. Aims of interactive presentation

Andrea Grace Rannard Volunteering England: national volunteering development agency and membership organisations (private, public and voluntary sectors). Further and Higher Education team: embed volunteering within FE and HE, and wider volunteering infrastructure. Jamie Darwen NCCPE: aims to inspire a culture change in how universities engage with the public (Beacons for Public Engagement). vinspired students: understand benefits of volunteering for students, universities and communities, and embed as a core activity. Who are we?

10 minutes What does student volunteering look like at your institution? What relationship does it have to your service? How does student volunteering contribute to the key objectives of your service (eg. employability)? One representative per group feedback to everyone In groups

Outline of student volunteering

15.3% of undergraduates reported “volunteering with a charity” during first year of studies (Volunteering England’s Student Volunteers: A National Profile, 2010); 64% of students reported giving “unpaid help to groups, clubs or organisations” (NCCPE/IVR research, 2010); Students studying medicine/dentistry and social sciences most likely to volunteers; engineering and physical sciences least likely; Students who volunteer are more likely to take part in other extracurricular activities; volunteering not a barrier to paid work; Students volunteer to help someone/the community (69%); to learn new skills (56%); to gain experience for future career (45%).

Stakeholders PrivatePublicVoluntary / Third Multi-national companies Large corporates Small and medium enterprises Government Local government / authorities Public sector employers, NHS, etc Universities Charities as employers and volunteer recipients Social enterprises Sports clubs Students’ unions

In groups 10 minutes What benefits can student volunteering bring to your stakeholders? How can you use student volunteering to find new ways of engaging with these stakeholders? One representative per group feedback to everyone

Next steps New partnerships: Raise the profile of SV programmes with employers; Communicate value of your SV programme, and what employers can gain from this; New ways to engage with employers: –Time and expertise; training; funding/resources; CSR/links with communities Showcase employability of your students; Ensure SV programmes have employability focus, and that students have best opportunity to make the most of it.

Future developments Funding cuts Graduate unemployment Big Society Publication of NCCPE/IVR research (Oct 2010) and ‘manifesto’ for student volunteering (Dec 2010) European Year of Volunteering 2011 / UN International Year of the Volunteer plus Ten Student Volunteering Week 2011 and NASES Student Employment Week 2011

Thank you Jamie Darwen Andrea Grace Rannard