The Community & Leadership Impact Programme supports you to build confidence, develop your leadership skills and turn your ideas into action whether that’s within ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½, across the University or in the wider Cambridge community. Through the programme, you can build community, make an impact and develop your leadership & turn ideas into action.
Community & Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to have fun, make a difference in your community and develop your leadership skills. At ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½, we want you to gain not only world-class academic skills, but skills that prepare you for life after university.
There are many options for volunteering, some of which have been curated in our Volunteering Resource. These vary from mentoring, volunteering in schools, sports, language and culture exchange, arts and crafts, supporting refugees, helping people who experience homelessness and so much more. We hope that the options curated will match your interest and the skills you would like to develop or build on.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss volunteering opportunities please contact Simona, the Community & Leadership Impact Coordinator, at clic@wolfson.cam.ac.uk
Support for volunteers
Through the Community & Leadership Impact Programme, we offer practical support to help you make the most of your volunteering experience – from connecting with other student volunteers and developing your skills, to accessing funding and advice for bringing your ideas to life.
Explore the support available below, and get in touch if there is anything else the College could do to help you get involved and make a positive impact.
- Volunteer Connect
Volunteer Connect brings together volunteers and student leaders for pizza, networking and support to help turn ideas into action and make a positive impact in the community.
- Disclosure and Barring Service Certification (DBS)
The College can help students obtain a DBS Certificate for voluntary activities. Please contact Simona at clic@wolfson.cam.ac.uk.
- Tell us how the College can support you in volunteering
Do you have any feedback on how the College can better support your voluntary work? Please fill out or email Simona at clic@wolfson.cam.ac.uk.
Depending on your feedback, the College could:
- help with your individual needs (e.g. you needed some financial support with accessing a voluntary role such as travel expenses)
- use your feedback anonymously to inform the future development of the Community & Leadership Impact Programme
Volunteering and your career
Getting out there in the community can help you build the sorts of skills that you’re going to need in a fast-changing and competitive jobs market, such as:
- interpersonal, communication and social skills
- leadership and management skills
- planning and organisation skills
- writing, analytical and reporting skills
Explore the University Careers Service to explore the skills you want to develop and opportunities to help you in your development.
Leadership
Leadership is not just about having a title or being in charge. It is about understanding yourself, working with others, taking initiative and finding ways to make a positive difference.
Through the Community & Leadership Impact Programme, we offer opportunities for students to explore what leadership means to them, develop their skills, connect with inspiring people and put their ideas into action. Whether you are taking your first steps into leadership or looking to build on your existing experience, there are different ways to continue your leadership journey at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ and beyond.
Student experience
Read about our students’ volunteering experience and how this has helped them in their personal and professional development.
- ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Volunteer Spotlight: Tom Williamson
PhD student, Tom Williamson, volunteers doing something he loves - gardening. When he isn't busy performing as part of the ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Music Society or working on his studies in Materials Science, Tom can be found volunteering on the student garden allotment.
Read the full article here.
- ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Volunteer Spotlight: Chidera Ezenwanne
Chidera has many strings to her volunteering bow, from supporting the CB Mentoring Programme to being a member of the College's student association. Having received support throughout her academic career Chidera felt she wanted to give something back to others, to enhance their university experience.
Read the full article here.
- ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ Volunteer Spotlight: Tasha Mapenzi
MPhil student Tasha has found her volunteering experience to have not only been meaningful and rewarding while helping others but also helped bring abstract concepts from her studies to life, further enhancing her studies and future employability.
Read the full article here.
- Students lead on Refugee Week at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½
To mark Refugee Week, a group of MPhil students organised and ran a series of thought-provoking events and activities at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ to highlight the talents and strengths of people being forced to leave their countries.
Read the full article here.