What is Volunteering?
Ever thought about giving back to your community while also picking up some cool new skills? That’s where volunteering comes in. Volunteering is all about doing unpaid work because you want to help out, not because you're getting paid.
Getting involved in volunteer work can be super rewarding. Not only do you get to make a difference in other people's lives, but you also get a bunch of benefits yourself. You can learn new things, make friends, and even beef up your resume. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore different career paths and grow as a person.
So, if you're looking for a way to give back, meet new people, and learn some new skills, volunteering is definitely the way to go!
What are the benefits of volunteering as a student?
At Heriot-Watt University, your volunteer efforts won't go unnoticed! As long as you meet the minimum requirements, your hard work will be officially recognized. There are several awards up for grabs based on the number of hours you put in during the academic year (September – May):
- 50 – 99 Hours: Student Council Bronze Award
- 100 – 199 Hours: Student Council Silver Award
- 200 – 499 Hours: Student Council Gold Award
- 500 Hours and above: Student Council Platinum Award
Plus, your award will show up on your official University Transcript when you graduate. And that's not all! If you rack up the highest number of hours in the whole university, you might even get a physical award at our Student Award Ceremony
What opportunities are available?
There are two types of opportunities available Internal and External.
- Internal: These opportunities are created by the University or Student Council. They include volunteering for events, initiatives, and more.
- External: These opportunities are created by external organizations and can include activities like clean-up drives, charity events, etc.
If you volunteer through an external organization, you’ll need to provide a certificate or letter as proof to record your hours
How do I record my hours?
Hours are recorded on the website (Hours Log). You will need to first select the type of Volunteering:
- Internal: These include all University and Student Council related volunteering
- External: These include all volunteering opportunities that has occurred with external organisations that are not related to the University / Student Council.