What is Volunteering?
“Volunteering is when someone spends unpaid time doing something to benefit others. Helping your close friends or relatives isn't volunteering. But doing something to benefit the environment (and through that, other people) is. Volunteering can be formal and organised by organisations, or informal within communities. It should always be a free choice made by the person giving up their time” (from NCVO).
It’s important to remember that when you volunteer you are not considered to be an employee and therefore are not covered by employment law. However, we always check that our Community Partners who list opportunities on our website have the correct policies in place to keep you safe whilst volunteering. It's important to understand the difference between paid staff and volunteers. It should be clear that:
- Volunteering should always be your choice
- Volunteer roles are not the same as employee roles, you should not be doing the same job someone else at the organisation is getting paid to do.
- If you are ever concerned the role you are undertaking does not follow these general principles, please get in contact with us.
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering is a great way to gain experience, meet new people and network, and get involved in issues and causes you care about.
Types of Volunteering through LBSU
Through our platform you will be able to find a number of different types of volunteering opportunities, these include:
- One-off opportunities – marathon stewarding, convention attendees etc.
- Long term opportunities – Volunteering for an extended period, normally at least 6 months
- Student Led Projects and other LBSU role – We also consider any student who runs a society or partakes in the running of a project to be a volunteer. Similarly, many representative roles, such as being a course rep, are volunteering as well, and will be listed as opportunities on our site.
Creating a Volunteering Profile
Whilst you automatically have an LBSU account via being a student at Leeds Beckett University, your account does not automatically come with a volunteering profile. Stepping one up is easy, all you need to do is log in to this website, then go to the following page
Create your Profile
Newsletters
When you create your volunteering profile you can select areas of volunteering that interest you.
Doing so will mean you will receive regular volunteering newsletters with opportunities from our platform that might interest you.
Applying for Opportunities
Once you’ve set up your volunteering profile applying for opportunities is simple.
Once you find an opportunity you like click the apply button. This will notify the provider of your interest.
Check you email inbox for further information and next steps. With the provider has not contacted you within two weeks please get in contact with the LBSU Activities Team.
Logging your Hours and Skills
Your volunteering profile allows you to track the hours and skills you have gained whilst volunteering.
If you apply and are accepted for a volunteering opportunity through our platform it will automatically appear in your hours logging section.
Simply click on the opportunity in this section to begin logging hours and skills against it.
You can also manually add opportunities that you want to log hours against, even if you didn’t apply to them through us.
Please only list volunteering activity though, and not placements or paid work, as all hours logged go towards your volunteering award.
This section is for students who are running Student-Led Projects which are being supported by the Students' Union
Guide to running a Student Led Project
Project Leaders Training
Website Training
Booking a Space
If you want to use an LBSU space for an event, please submit the form below at least 14 working days before the event. This allows us to accommodate the specific requirements of your event.
Space Booking Form
Risk Assessment
You should submit a Risk Assessment at least 7 working days before any event. We must ensure all society members will be safe and that any risks have been identified and minimised.
Risk Assessment Form
External Speakers
If you are planning an event at which you would like an external person(s) to speak, you must complete an External Speaker Form at least 14 working days before the event.
All external speakers need to be approved before your event to ensure the safeguarding of you and LBSU.
External Speaker Form
External speakers will be required to complete the External Speaker Form. This must be completed at least 14 working days before the event.
External Speaker Agreement
Report an Accident, Incident or Dangerous Occurrence
If you have had any accidents, incidents or injuries that occurred during your society event or activity please complete this form and inform us as soon as possible.
Report an Incident
Personal Accident Cover
If you are an officially recognised and supported LBSU project, you are covered by the Union's Personal Accident Cover.
Please click on the button to see a summary of what is covered. If you require the full document please email lbsu-volunteering@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Accident Cover Summary
Food Preparation
Equipment Hire
Need some equipment for your event? Use the form below.
Equipment Hire Form
Project Payment Requests
All project payments or reimbursements can be made through the Student Groups Finance (SGF) System which can be found on your Admin Tools (cog button in top right). Below is a short video of how to access and use SGF.
Please note you must have the funds available to be reimbursed from either the society's Deposit or Grant Account.
SGF Guide
Student Union Activities Fund (SUAF)
The Students' Union Activities Fund (SUAF) is a grant from LBSU to help support you in the running of events.
We highly recommend reading the Student Activities Fund Guidancebefore applying to understand what we can and can't fund. You must have had an approved application to spend this money.
Student Union Activities Fund Application