If you fancy trying something new at university whilst gaining some new skills to make sure you stand out from the crowd, then make sure you head down to LUSU Involve, the volunteering unit on Alexandra Square.
LUSU Involve can provide opportunities for you to make a positive difference in the local community as well as further afield. Every year, they help Lancaster students to gain useful skills for getting graduate jobs as well as skills and experience which have helped previous students to run their own businesses.
They have a variety of exciting projects for you to get involved with. Their projects include the ‘Voltage’ scheme which helps 9-to-18-year-olds from local schools and colleges to set up their own social enterprises. In the past, these enterprises have included selling handmade jewellery which helped to fund water projects in Africa. They also offer placements in schools where you could help pupils by being their reading buddy in school or help them get creative with arts and crafts. However, if you feel that you couldn’t commit to a regular time, LUSU Involve also run lots of one-off activity days with school children.
LUSU Involve also offers placement schemes where you get the chance to work with local organisations. There is the ‘Safe’ project which involves working with the Lancashire Constabulary to help vulnerable people feel safer in their homes and to reduce crime in Lancaster. If you decide this is the volunteering project for you, you will get the chance to train with the police and the fire service in Michaelmas Term. Volunteering on the ‘Safe’ project is a great way to meet people in the local community and feel like you are making a difference in their lives.
This year, LUSU Involve has an exciting new scheme, the ‘Student Innovation Fund’. If you have a passion for something and want to share this with the wider community, and are lacking the funding and support to get your idea off the ground, then the ‘Student Innovation Fund’ can help you to make it happen! Any student can apply for the fund and make their idea a reality, whether this idea is a one-off event or a project that is more long term. This will give you an opportunity to develop strong leadership skills as well as great organisation and communication skills which are desirable to any future employer!
So if you would like to use your skills to help others and would like to apply for the fund, or if you would like more information about any of the LUSU Involve projects then pop into the LUSU Involve office in Alexandra Square.
