We are keen to develop new partnerships with volunteering organisations. If you are interested in recruiting UCL student volunteers, please note:
- We limit the number of organisations and projects we refer volunteers to keep in line with the number of volunteers available.
- We aim to offer a wide range of types of volunteering opportunities, gauged in terms of setting, type of organisations, level of responsibility, time commitment, opening times and client group.
- The overall range of organisations we work with should broadly reflect the diversity of the local community.
- The opportunities we offer should realistically reflect the skills, needs and expectations of students and staff at UCL.
- We expect organisations to be transparent in their aims and objectives and to have good standards in volunteer management.
- We will not refer students to organisations involved in activities which breach any VSU or UCLU policies or which might bring disrepute to the VSU or UCLU.
- We will only refer students to not-for-profit organisations with charitable purposes, or to volunteering projects run by statutory agencies (such as local authorities or hospitals).
- All projects registering with the VSU must sign a set of service standards, outlining the policies and procedures that they must have in place, and the levels of service they can expect from the VSU.
All projects must have the following policies and procedures in place:
- A written health & safety policy.
- A written equal opportunities statement or policy.
- A Fire Safety procedure.
- An Accident Book and First Aid kit.
- All activities and premises that volunteers will be involved in must have been adequately risk assessed.
We expect our partner organisations to provide appropriate induction, training and support to volunteers.
Where organisations do not have the required policies and procedures, we’re happy to offer guidance.
Faith Organisations
The VSU welcomes the opportunity to work with volunteering projects that are based within or set up by faith organisations, as we value the contribution such projects make to the local community and the opportunities they provide for UCL students. However, we cannot be involved with any project that is used in any way to recruit members - from their clients or their volunteers - to any religious organisation, nor any project that is used to promote the tenets of a particular faith.
Campaigning Organisations
The VSU welcomes the opportunity to work with campaigning organisations. We will not refer students to organisations that are closely connected with any political party.