Read all about Emma's experience of volunteering alongside her studies
During her time at the University of Portsmouth, International Development and Languages graduate Emma Booker-Milburn undertook some volunteer work with the British Red Cross here in Portsmouth - an experience she found extremely valuable for a number of reasons!
‘Volunteering alongside my studies was one of the best decisions I’ve made!’
Emma first heard about the Volunteering team when she attended Freshers Fayre, and she also remembers the team attending some of her first year lectures to explain about the different volunteering roles available. Being new to Portsmouth, she decided to volunteer to gain experience in an area of work she was interested in, and also as a way to gain skills that would be useful in her studies and future career.
Emma booked an appointment with the team, who were able to show her the Volunteering Bank on MyCareer to help her identify suitable opportunities that might suit her interests. Once Emma had decided on some positions to apply for (you can apply for up to three volunteering roles at a time!), the Volunteering team were also able to offer support through the application processes.
Emma was successful in securing a role with the British Red Cross; her role there involved assisting the Refugee Services department primarily through administrative work, although she also had the opportunity to get involved with lots of other projects and tasks during her time there. One of Emma’s highlights was being able to assist with a Young Refugee project, where she organised and delivered social activities and English lessons to young people, directly impacting on their integration into the community.
There are honestly so many benefits to volunteering...you do not do it for money - yes you gain lots of skills and experience - but volunteers are ultimately working to improve the lives of others or provide support to incredibly important areas of society.
Emma feels that her experience of volunteering has improved her confidence in both professional and social environments, and through her interactions with staff and service users at the British Red Cross, she was able to greatly develop her communication skills. In addition to these brilliant skills, although she was volunteering for just a few hours a week, the experience has boosted Emma’s CV and given her lots of examples that she can talk about in future interviews!
If, like Emma, you would be interested in volunteering, why not attend the Volunteering Fair on October 26th at the Third Space, from 11am-2pm? Forty different not-for-profit organisations will be in attendance to help you find a volunteering opportunity that’s right for you.
For more information about volunteering, please contact the team on volunteering@port.ac.uk, or book a volunteering appointment. You can also browse the volunteering opportunities available via MyCareer.