Volunteering Might Just Be the Best Thing You Do at Uni
Let’s be real, your uni years go fast. One week you’re figuring out your timetable and how to work the oven, the next you’re halfway through your final year, wondering what happened.
And while nights out, Netflix marathons and back-to-back lectures are all part of the ride, there’s one thing that might just shape your experience (and your future) in a totally unexpected way: volunteering.
Yes, giving back can help the community, but here’s the twist – it also helps you.
Volunteering = Serious CV Power
You don’t need a LinkedIn profile full of internships at age 19. What you do need is proof that you’ve shown up, taken initiative and built real-world experience.
Volunteering shows:
- You’re reliable
- You care about something beyond yourself
- You can work in a team, handle responsibility, and communicate like a human
And bonus – it’s way less awkward to talk about in an interview than “that time you nearly went viral on TikTok.”
It’s a Mental Health Game-Changer
When uni life gets stressful, giving your time to someone else might be the last thing on your mind, but it can be surprisingly grounding.
Helping others can be the perfect mental reset. It gives structure, boosts self-worth, and adds purpose to days that otherwise feel like a loop of group chats and deadlines.
Neo Top Tip: Volunteering doesn’t have to mean huge time commitments. Even an hour a week can make a difference – to others, and to you.
You’ll Meet People You’d Never Cross Paths With
Flatmates and course friends are great – but volunteering connects you with people from all walks of life. Different ages, backgrounds, stories. You’ll widen your perspective and your social circle.
You’ll Build Confidence Without Even Trying
Helping run a local event, tutoring kids, supporting a charity shop – these things stretch you in all the right ways.
You’ll learn how to:
- Adapt to new situations
- Speak up in unfamiliar settings
- Handle responsibility
It Helps You Feel Part of Your Uni City
It’s easy to float through uni life in a bit of a bubble. You’re here for a few years, so you might as well get to know the place. Volunteering gets you out of the uni bubble and into the real world around you.
Neo Top Tip: Check out Canterbury & District Volunteer Centre for local opportunities. Whether it’s mentoring, gardening, or admin support, there’s something for everyone.
Ready to Get Involved?
Whether you’re looking to build your CV, boost your confidence, or just do something meaningful with your spare time – volunteering is a win all round.
To find out how to start head to Canterbury & District Volunteer Centre to explore opportunities near you, and who knows? It might just be the most valuable thing you take away from uni (after your degree, of course!)
