Our opportunity finder is here for you. Select your interests, what days you’re free, any skills you have and want to gain, and it will find you a volunteering role. 

If you like cooking and you’re free on Wednesdays, there’s a role for that. If you like science and you want to improve your confidence, there’s a role for that. If you like gardening and your schedule is complicated, there’s a role for that.  

I don't have enough time to volunteer 

Student life is busy. That’s why we only work with volunteering partners that have shown commitment to being flexible to your schedule. If you don’t have time for a weekly or monthly commitment, check out our online microvolunteering opportunities.  

I can’t find the exact role that I want, what should I do? 

Don’t worry! Email us on ussu-volunteering@salford.ac.uk and we’d be happy to help. 

I want to volunteer Internationally – can the SU support me? 

Not currently. We can’t offer effective international volunteering opportunities at the moment. We also have a policy of not supporting ‘Voluntourism’ - this means any volunteering opportunities where students must fundraise to travel internationally. We endorse effective fundraising for international charities. 

What should I do if I apply for something and they don’t get back to me? 

Contact ussu-volunteering@salford.ac.uk and we will get in touch with the community group on your behalf. We want to make sure that the providers on our platform have the capacity to support and welcome new volunteers, and if they can’t, we want to hear about it!  

Will I get my expenses paid? 

Yes. All opportunities registered on our system are with providers that reimburse their volunteers for any out-of-pocket expenses*. This means that they pay for any expense you wouldn’t have forked out for if you hadn’t been volunteering. This often includes transport and food.  

The organization I want to work with isn’t on your list - can you register them? 

At Salford Students Volunteering, we’re committed to working with volunteering providers that put the volunteer experience at the heart of their organization. That’s why we check out our partners before registering them, and we want to hear feedback from you about the quality of your volunteering experience. If you’re working with a stellar organization, ask them to get in touch with ussu-volunteering@salford.ac.uk and we will look into registering them. 

How do I log my hours? 

Follow this link for a full guide on how to log hours using the website. If you want to learn more about how to speak about the skills gained from your volunteering for interviews and applications, you could attend a Reflecting on Your Volunteering workshop. Full details of the next workshops are on the skill up page of the website. 

Can I take a break from volunteering over the holidays? 

Yes. All our partner organizations are aware that students aren’t necessarily around during the holidays. If you’re going home for the summer, you may even be able to temporarily transfer your volunteer role to your hometown.  

Will I need a DBS for my volunteering? 

For some volunteering roles you will be required to have some type of DBS check, which will be organized and paid for through the group you are working with. This is a criminal record check and is needed for roles in which you will be working with children, young people, or vulnerable adults. 

Can I chat to someone about volunteering? 

Yes! Salford Students Volunteering is here to support you through your volunteering journey. Make an appointment at ussu-volunteering@salford.ac.uk and you can come and speak to us. 

Where is the SU volunteering office? 

In University house, in ‘the South Side’ Walk past reception in University house and go down the stairs to the right. If in doubt, someone at reception will be happy to help.  ​​​​

I am an international student. Can I volunteer?  

If you have a Student Visa, there may be limitations on the number of hours you can volunteer and work. The home office makes a distinction between volunteering and voluntary work – volunteering will not count towards the maximum number of hours you can work per week, whereas voluntary work is viewed as a form of unpaid work and so it will.  

Volunteering is an unpaid role where you have no contractual obligations for time commitments – the role does not have fixed working hours and the days you volunteer are mutually agreed according to your own schedule and requirements. Voluntary work is an unpaid role that does have defined and contracted time commitments – your role has specified working hours/ days. For example, if the role requires you to be there for 2 hours every Wednesday evening. 

Whether it is volunteering, or voluntary work will depend on the nature of the role. For a role to count as volunteering the organisation you’re volunteering with must be registered as a charity, the work you’re doing as a volunteer has to be in line with the aims and objectives of the charity and volunteers should not be working to supplement paid staff members. The UKCISA and NUS both have great resources which break this down further. 

It's a good idea to check with your volunteering coordinator if they think your role counts as volunteering or voluntary work. If you are volunteering with an external charity listed on the SU volunteering portal, you can get in touch with the SU volunteering team via ussu-volunteering@salford.ac.uk and we can follow this up with the charity for you. The home office compliance team is also on hand to help with visa related questions - homeofficecompliance@salford.ac.uk 

If you are still unsure on whether or not your role counts as volunteering, it’s always good to air on the side of caution and assume the role will count towards your number of working hours.  For example, if your visa allows you to work 20 hours per week, and you volunteer 3 hours a week in a role you think could be viewed as voluntary work then you’d have 17 hours left of paid work you can do a week. 

 

I volunteer for the SU. Does my role count as volunteering or voluntary work? 

The SU has a number of different roles that students volunteer in, most of which count as volunteering rather than voluntary work. The different roles are broken down below:

 

• School & Course Reps – Volunteering 
• Voluntary Officers – Volunteering 
• Sports & Societies Committee Member – Volunteering 
• Give It A Go Activator for sports sessions – Voluntary Work (there are set hours you have to complete as a volunteer each week) 
• Give It A Go Activator for other sessions - Volunteering  

Can I get an award for my volunteering? 

You can! There are various awards up for grabs offered by the Students’ Union and Salford Community and Voluntary Services. At USSU, we have our Volunteering Skills Awards that celebrate the skills you gain from volunteering. To increase your chance of winning them, log your hours and fill in skills reflections every time you volunteer. 

1) Volunteer of the year (USSU) 

You could be announced the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ at the USSU Ball in May. Log your hours on our online platform to be in with more of a chance of being nominated. The USSU Ball is a glitzy celebration evening with drinks, stalls, and live music, in which student volunteers can nominate each other for awards. There are more details here 

2) Heart of Salford Awards (Salford CVS) 

The Heart of Salford Awards are Salford CVS and Volunteer Centre Salford’s prestigious annual ceremony to celebrate volunteering and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in Salford.

The Awards are a great chance to recognise and celebrate your volunteers and the work of your organisation.

Nominations for next year’s awards will open around July 2020.
 

Keep an eye on the Salford CVS website for updates.

 

The Award categories are subject to change, but this year included:
 

• Community Volunteer

• Young Volunteer (under 25)

• Trustee / Committee Member

• Over 55 Volunteer

• Personal Achievement Volunteer

• Volunteering Team

• Plus 5 organisation and project awards.

3) 100, 500, and 1,000 Hours Recognition (Salford CVS) 

If you've done 100, 500, or 1,000 hours of volunteering, you are eligible for a Salford Community and Voluntary Services Hours award in their Hours Recognition Scheme. Salford CVS can offer you certificates signed by the ceremonial mayor of Salford   

 

Resources 

• Volunteering Policy 

• NUS International Volunteering Guide  

 

Still got questions?

 

*this excludes any opportunities that take place within term-time, on campus, during the hours when you would normally be on campus.