WELCOME Hi everyone, and welcome to Volunteering at Bournemouth University! Whether you have 5 minutes to spare, or you would like to take part in regular volunteering or even a residential project, we have something to suit your availability and interests. Here at SUBU Volunteering we work hard to link in with as many charities and local community projects as possible, but one of our ultimate aims is to support as much volunteering which is organised and led by you, the students. We hope you will leave BU having learnt about being a leader, taking responsibility, making amazing friends for life and above all, with a fantastic CV. There are loads of ways to get involved in volunteering: you can check out our website www. the-hub.org.uk and apply for opportunities; if you would rather talk to a real person you can pop on over to the Students’ Union (above Dylans Bar, Poole House, Talbot Campus) or come and see us at the various Freshers’ events, the Volunteer Fayre and 5 minute Volunteering stalls throughout the year. See page 6 for where and when. We hope you have a fantastic year, and that you make the most of the opportunities that come your way. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Lots of love, Lexy, Kim and the Volunteer Committee
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I am a recent Accounting & Finance student who is now working at Mercedes Benz, Milton Keynes as part of their graduate training scheme. This year, the company had over 1,000 students apply for their graduate programme, so you can see how important it is to make yourself stand out! Alex Marshall, Baking Society Volunteer
THEHUB WEBSITE You can browse around 200 volunteering opportunities on our website and apply for the ones that suit you and here’s the great bit; you can search and apply anytime and anywhere, you don’t need the staff to be in the office! Log on to: www.the-hub.org.uk
Registering on the site takes a few minutes and applying is so simple. You can search for opportunities using our search function (you can look on the calendar, search key words or use the interests and availability option). Or you can just browse through the whole lot! Volunteering is a great way to supplement your study, it looks great on your CV if you have given up your own time to use your specific skills, so check out the ‘categories search’ function!
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VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE The committee is a group of students who meet regularly to create volunteering events for other students, and also to help shape the work of SUBU volunteering staff. This group is vital in advising SUBU volunteering about issues from our website through to promotion and awards ceremonies. There are places left on the committee for this year. Positions include: President, Vice President, Secretary, Communications officer, Elderly Persons Co-ordinator, Children and Young Peoples Co-ordinator, Environmental Co-ordinator, Vulnerable Adults Co-ordinator
Activities include:
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Helping to set up and lead new and existing volunteering events and activities Encouraging others to get involved in volunteering Arranging volunteer socials Helping at events such as the Volunteer Fayre and Freshers’ Fayre.
Why should you get involved?
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A chance for hands on experience of organising events and being on a committee A chance to have a budget for the events You can decide who to help and how to make a difference
I never expected to learn this much through volunteering. Being a part of the committee lets you really get immersed in the student experience. A definite must for those hard placement interviews too! Sarah Ardin, Committee President 2011/12
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TO GET SE ED PLEA INVOLV EMAIL
B@ THE-HU H EMOUT BOURN .AC.UK
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VOLUNTEER REPS If you’ve picked this mag up and you’re reading this far in, we can pretty much guarantee that you think volunteering is a good idea! This is brilliant news, but the trouble is there are LOADS of students each year who tell us they didn’t know they could volunteer until it was too late. What could you do as a rep? We need volunteers to help us make a change and tell others about volunteering and how amazing it is. By being a rep you will attend regular briefings about what’s going on in the world of SUBU Volunteering and then it’s your job to help promote what we do. Tell your housemates, your course mates and help out with promotion. You could be an extra pair of hands at our events, such as the Volunteer Fayre or Student Volunteer Week. You could be the most powerful weapon we’ve ever had and you could help us to involve more students and help more people in the local community!
HOW TO GET INV OLVED: email th ehub@ bourne mouth.a c.uk or com e along to our volunte er briefi ng sess ion. See ww w.the -hub.org .uk for d etails
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KEY DATES SEPT 17TH - International Fair
OCT 28TH - MAD Day - Kingston Lacy
SEPT 19TH - 5 Minute Volunteering – Hand made cards
9-11 NOV - Student Volunteer Conference (Impact)
SEPT 21ST - 5 Minute Volunteering – Plant a plant
DEC 5TH & 12TH - MAD days putting up Christmas decorations in homes for the disabled
SEPT 24/25TH - HSC Freshers’ Fair SEPT 26TH - MAD Day – Beach Clean SEPT 28TH - 5 Minute Volunteering – Bird feeder making SEPT 29TH - Freshers’ Fair
TBA - Volunteer Christmas celebration TBA - 5 min volunteering Christmas special JAN 20TH - MAD Day - Hod Hill
OCT 7TH - MAD Day – Studland Beach
FEB 11TH-15TH - National Student Volunteering Week
OCT 16TH- Volunteer Fayre, K103, 11-2PM
MAR 17TH - MAD Day - Corfe Castle MARCH 21ST - Involvement awards JUNE - thehub Goes Global - Bulgaria
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MAD DAYS These bite size, try it out volunteer days and afternoons are specifically for those who don’t have a lot of time, or don’t know what they want to do - everyone is welcome to join in! They are the perfect activity to meet new people and make a BIG difference in a short time! Activities include conservation work, putting up Christmas decorations and beach cleans. New activities are being added to www.the-hub.org.uk all the time so keep checking back.
5 MINUTE VOLUNTEERING
We go to various sites including Corfe Castle, Brownsea Island & Studland Beach where the individual rangers speak very highly of the BU students’ work. Projects are varied but previous tasks have included rhododendron removal, footpath construction & maintenance & dry stone walling. Marcia Peters, Bournemouth Volunteers, National Trust
Yes that’s right, you can even make a difference in 5 measly minutes! Once a month we will be encouraging you to take part in a fun activity that benefits someone else. We have an action packed year for you, including making Christmas cards (to send to the elderly), making bird feeders and of course our old favourite – plant a plant. As well as doing something for your local community, you’ll also get the chance to talk to our staff and volunteers to find out what else you can get involved with.
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MEYRICK PARK PROJECT LEADERS Meyrick Park is one of our biggest volunteer projects and is making a huge difference to the local people; making the area a safer and more beautiful place to be. The project – To remove invasive holly and rhododendron from the park and pick up litter. We are working with the local police and parks service on this project. Leaders will be responsible for getting the volunteers to the Park, arranging refreshments, being responsible for group safety and first aid, ensuring the group takes a break and leaves the Park on time and also filling out a small amount of paperwork. We would also ask you to help promote the project and encourage others to take part.
Why? To open out the park to improve public safety and encourage greater biodiversity in flora and fauna.
When? Wednesday afternoons in term time, 12:30 - 3:30pm
Could you be a leader? This project aims to be student led and if you would like to take on the challenge of leading the group (as part of a team of leaders), we will train you up in first aid, health and safety and send you off into the undergrowth!
“It has been a pleasure working with Bournemouth University Volunteers - we have already achieved so much and it will be great to carry on with it later in the year. Thank you to all the students and staff who have helped with the projects.” Richard Hesketh, PR & Volunteers officer, Bournemouth Council
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Want to take up the cha llenge? Sign up at www.th e -hub.o rg.uk and se arch fo r Meyric leaders k or ema il thehu bourne b @ mouth.a c.uk
MEMORY CAFE LEADERS The project – The memory café and singing for the brain are activities set up and run by the Alzheimer’s Society. The idea is for those who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s and their carers to meet up and have a cup of tea, and take part in activities, games and singing. A team of BU volunteers go over to help run the activities.
GET INVO LVED! www.the -hub.org .uk and search fo r: ‘Memory Cafe Lea ders’ or email thehub@ bournem outh.ac.u k
Why? It is really beneficial for those with dementia or Alzheimer’s to mix with younger people and of course, it’s a lot easier to run the activities with more helpers.
When? Once a month on a Friday afternoon, or more if you like.
Could you be a leader? Leaders are needed to liaise with the Alzheimer’s Society to confirm dates, promote the project and recruit volunteers, organise the transport, be responsible for health and safety and first aid of the volunteers and fill in a small amount of paperwork.
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THEHUB GOES GLOBAL - BULGARIA 10 days in Rousse, Bulgaria working at 2 orphanages has to be one of the most rewarding overseas projects! We wanted to be able to offer BU students a safe and worthwhile project overseas that wasn’t in a holiday destination, but somewhere close to home that really needs our help. Gapforce have tailor made this project just for us, and you can’t find this project anywhere else – so it’s a little bit special and unique. Bulgaria 2013 will be the 4th year of the project. In previous years BU volunteers have painted murals, the gym, children’s bedrooms, renovated a garden, painted and planted tyre flowerpots, played games, painted road markings onto the playground for road safety lessons and helped with taking the disabled children on a trip to the park.
The Details: Cost £1,090 (not including flight, insurance and travel to UK airports) What’s included? Meals and water, accommodation, travel in Bulgaria, a day trip, set up of the volunteering projects, a leader who speaks Bulgarian and a Gapforce t-shirt. Get Involved Sign up on www.the-hub. org.uk or contact us for more details.
“I took part in thehub Goes Global in 2011 and it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. It was a challenge both physically and emotionally but I learnt a lot about myself as a person, met some incredible people and spent time with both disabled and healthy Bulgarian orphans, whilst trying to improve their living conditions as much as possible. Thank you to thehub for making this all possible!” Olivia Easton
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UK RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS “It has been a great pleasure having the guys help with the children and also make the Pink house a better place to live! The fence looks great in the new colours and the children’s rooms are amazing! And Pepe doesn’t stop showing off his beautiful room with the wall paintings to everyone who visits!” Director, Pink House
It’s lovely to go abroad and volunteer, but don’t forget there are lots of disadvantaged people and worthy projects that could do with your help right here in the UK! This summer we have been working very hard to find you some really great opportunities and we think we’ve found them for you. If you have a week or so to spare in the Easter break or in the summer holidays you could help out on one of these projects: UNA Exchange – Conservation project in Wales Duration – 2 weeks. Cost £50. Expenses – Not paid Chicks – Country holidays for inner city kids in Devon and Cornwall. Duration 5 days. Cost – none. Expenses – travel expenses paid
We can’t tell you everything there is to know on this one page, so if you’re interested, come along to our info session - dates tbc on www.the-hub.org. uk or come and see us for more details.
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