Why not join the ranks of UCL's student volunteers?

Record numbers of UCL students are playing their part in the community through UCLU's Volunteering Services Unit (VSU).

Over 2,000 students helped out in the last academic year, giving over 53,000 hours of their time. The Volunteering Services Unit is busy recruiting student volunteers for the 2015/16 academic year. With more than 500 opportunities available, from conservation work to befriending older people, there are lots of ways to get involved.

The VSU exists to connect UCL students with rewarding volunteering activities in communities across London. They're one of the largest departments of its kind in the UK, giving UCL students a breadth of opportunities unavailable elsewhere.

What does it mean to volunteer?

Over the summer, the VSU have been gathering up students' stories about volunteering. A recurring theme has been learning, volunteers have been busy acquiring new skills as well as getting a new perspective on London and life in general.

"By far the best thing about this volunteering experience has been the people who I have met along the way. They teach me just as much as I teach them, and I love to learn about their languages and cultures as well as informing them about mine." Katherine Bloor, United Migrant Workers Project.

"Everyone I've visited has been very different and sometimes it requires a bit of effort to gain their acceptance, but it's always incredibly rewarding and fulfilling in the end." Pietro Servini, Dorcas Befriending Project.

"What was the highlight of volunteering? The opportunity to interact with different members of the local community, be they children, parents or teachers. They taught me to view the world with a broader perspective, to never take things for granted and to appreciate the value of love, empathy and kindness. Seeing them smile during each volunteering session lights up my day too." Celine Goh, Spectrum, Meducate and Save a Baby's Life.

For more information visit uclu.org/volunteers.

John Braime, Volunteering Manager UCLU Volunteering Services Unit