Doing something for others through community or volunteering projects can help us to build skills without the pressure of a ‘career’ goal. Engaging with activities that make you, and others, feel good can offer a change to build confidence, build our teamworking skills and our ability to solve problems. Working with limited time and/or budgets also supports creative thinking and adaptability.
If you are interested in building specific skills, like project management, advocacy, networking and event management, these activities can really support their development too.
If you are interested in learning more about your current skills, you can evaluate your skills using the ‘Skills Discovery’ tool, accessible via your CRSID.
Community & Volunteering activities at Cambridge
There are many ways to be involved in your community and volunteering projects at Cambridge, here are just a few:
- Cambridge University Air Squadron (UAS)
- Cambridge University Officers' Training Corps (CUOTC)
- Cambridge University Royal Naval Unit (CURNU)
- Campaigning committee - chair
- Campaigning committee - officer
- Campaigning committee - representative (rep)
- Campaigning committee - secretary
- College or course admissions open days
- Fundraising - organisation role
- Fundraising - support role
- Green Impact Team - college, department, institute
- Organising your own event
- Volunteering - advocacy role
- Volunteering - campaigning role
- Volunteering - general support
- Volunteering - leadership role
Core skill areas developed in Community & Volunteering activities
Interpersonal, communication and social skills
Planning and organisation skills
Presentation, negotiation and influencing skills
Specific skills that can be built in these areas:
- Ability to advocate
- Building networks
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Compassion
- Crafting an inspiring vision
- Decisiveness
- Developing relationships
- Drive change and innovation
- Engaging with society
- Event management
- Fostering Inclusiveness
- Leadership
- Project management
- Role-modelling
- Seeking relevant information
- Self-development
- Sociability
How to find opportunities in Cambridge
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Find out more about volunteering
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Cambridge Students Union (societies) (find or start a society- all with various committee roles)
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Ask your Faculty about supporting open days or becoming a course representative
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Become a CAMbassador with Cambridge Admissions Office
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Become a member of your college JCR/MCR (including roles in welfare, social media, LQBTQ+ officers, environment, IT)
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Become a member of your college’s May Ball committee
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Ask your college about their student-body roles at college-level, for example https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/study/life-at-kings/representation
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Support the Public Engagement teams’ events in Cambridge
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Look at the Student Union ‘What’s On’ page for events
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Talk to the Student Union about their student-led outreach opportunities
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Interested in sustainability? Visit the Cambridge Zero pages on student opportunities