What Is…The Student Volunteer Academy?

It’s Student Volunteering Week! In this newest instalment of our What Is..? blog series, we spoke to Sports Coach Joe Jowett, who oversees the College’s Student Volunteer Academy to discuss the power of volunteering here at College and across our community.

What is the Student Volunteer Academy?

The Student Volunteer Academy is a student-focused initiative allowing learners to represent the College as ambassadors at internal and external events.

“Through volunteering, students can develop important skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem solving.” Says Joe.

Engaging in volunteer work also opens the door to opportunities for future development, including CV building and career advancement.

What sort of opportunities are available?

There are many fantastic opportunities to volunteer both at College and in the community. We have a range of exciting ambassador roles at College including Inclusion Ambassador, Wellbeing Ambassador, and Green Sports Ambassadors.

Joe added, “Each role on the Student Volunteer Academy comes with a bespoke CPD package and development programme, designed to grow learners into the best version of themselves.

“A lot of our volunteers are also a vital part of our on-site Open Days and applicant events. Out in the community, we also have several volunteers working with the FA Youth Volunteer Network, Association of Colleges (AoC) Rising Leaders Programme, and AoC National Championships to name a few.”

Why should I join?

Being part of the Student Volunteer Academy isn’t just a rewarding experience, but can offer exclusive benefits to enhance your experience at Loughborough College, and prepare you for your future career or education pathway.

“The skills you learn and develop as part of the Student Volunteer Academy are key to preparing you for whatever next steps you plan to take,” says Joe.

“Volunteers get access to training and funding opportunities that work to improve student welfare through sport. It’s a great opportunity to gain new, free qualifications, create exciting and unique initiatives at College, and be a part of positive change for our whole community.”

Don’t forget the social aspect, too! Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, get insights into how the College operates, network with learners both here at Loughborough, and across the region through our links with the AoC and FA.

Where can I find out more?

Contact Enrichment to find out more about what opportunities are available with Loughborough College. Want to shout about your volunteering? Drop an email to Volunteering to have your experiences highlighted on our website.