1. Why Volunteer? How volunteering can enhance your employability Vanessa Harris Volunteer Development Manager University of Leicester

2. Outcomes for this session Discover the benefits of volunteering for both personal development and employability Understand the University of Leicester student volunteering programme Explore the volunteering opportunities available Find out how you can get involved.

3. Why volunteer? Have fun Make new friends Help others Do something you’re passionate about Learn and develop new skills Gain work experience Try out a career Improve CV Break from studies Gain experience & skills to enhance your employability

4. How can volunteering make you more employable? Employers look for transferable skills such leadership, team working, problem solving, communication & initiative. Volunteering provides an arena for developing and evidencing transferable skills for the workplace.

5. Don’t just take our word for it… 80% of employers said they value volunteering on a CV when recruiting. (TimeBank Survey 2009)

6. What employers say…. “Volunteering provides graduates with an invaluable set of skills and competencies which cannot be rivalled by other experiences, even in the commercial sector” Rebecca Martin, Co-operative Group “We’re always on the look out for applicants who can display a range of qualities including leadership skills and initiative. One of the best ways graduates can show these skills is through volunteering “ Leigh Lafever-Ayer, Enterprise-rent-a-car “Volunteering enables individuals to demonstrate their skills in a wider context and gives them greater worldliness and maturity”Roger Hammett, BBC

7. Case Study Jane volunteers with SCAMP: a Sunday playgroup for children with disabilities. Parents bring their children along each week to take part in games and activities organised by the student volunteers. Jane volunteers regularly for 2 hrs each week and often helps organise the games. She had never worked with children with disabilities before, and sometimes they can be challenging, but she loves it. Jane is studying History and is in her 2nd year. What skills is Jane developing through her volunteering?

8. What skills has Jane gained? Teamworking (works in a team with other volunteers) Communication (with team members, parents and children) Reliability & commitment (turns up every week and on time) Leadership (regularly organises games and leads the team) Initiative (comes up with ideas for new games and activities) Organisational skills (organising games, the club and her own time) Time management (juggling her volunteering with other commitments) Interpersonal skills (liaising with other volunteers, parents and children with disabilities) Problem solving (dealing with challenging behaviour)

10. University Volunteering Team Enable students to volunteer in local community Work in partnership with Students’ Union Liaise with local charities & voluntary groups Support student-led projects Help students to develop their skills & enhance their employability

11. Contact Student Volunteers One of the largest Student Associations Over 1400 student members Student Executive Committee, supported by Volunteering Team

12. What could you offer? Time Enthusiasm Specialist skills - e.g. languages, IT, music No experience needed! All necessary training & support provided.