The Volunteering Team is dedicated to helping you discover volunteering opportunities tailored to your goals and interests. Our aim is to support you in developing valuable skills, boosting your confidence, and gaining beneficial work experience for your CV, whilst improving your overall well-being. By getting involved, you not only enrich your own experience but also contribute significantly to the wider community in York.

Jacqui Fountain – Operations Manager

Jacqui is our Volunteering Operations Manager, overseeing key programs such as Charity Volunteering, the University Community Fund and York Students in Schools.

Charity volunteering offers volunteering opportunities where students can make an impact in the community through volunteering with local organisations across a wide range of sectors. This semester we have opportunities with organisations such as The Snappy Trust, Friends of Rowntree Park, Move the Masses, The Conservation Volunteers and much more.

The University Community Fund, supported by Portakabin, aims to encourage innovation and support students who have an idea to help a community need beyond the university. Find out more information at Fund your idea. You could receive up to £500 to kickstart your project! 

Leanne Shaw – York Students in Schools Project Officer

Leanne is our Volunteering Project Officer, overseeing the York Students in Schools volunteering initiative. York Students in Schools is an award-winning scheme that has connected University of York students with local schools for 30 years, aiming to help raise aspirations and attainment of school pupils in York. Every year, hundreds of students engage in various placements and projects spanning from early childhood to higher education levels, contributing significantly to the realm of education and learning. 

Her role involves establishing connections with schools to secure classroom-based volunteering opportunities for students, as well as innovating new placement options. Leanne takes charge of our matching process, ensuring students are paired with suitable placements, and facilitates our training sessions to equip volunteers with the necessary skills and knowledge for their roles.

Meryl Parker – Community Projects Officer

Meryl is our Community Project Officer, assisting in the creation of engaging volunteering opportunities and overseeing the execution of our Community Projects, offering you the chance to support a cause you care about during your time at University. These projects cover a wide range of topics, including working in conservation, heritage, research projects and video production. The primary objective of Community Projects is to enable students to make an impact in their local community, whilst developing their skills along the way. Additionally, Meryl ensures that volunteers are prepared for their roles by offering project management and planning skills training. Through these sessions, volunteers gain valuable insights into various tools and knowledge, enabling them to maximise the impact of their volunteering experience.

Hannah Smith – Volunteering Assistant

Hannah is our Volunteering Assistant, supporting coordination of both our Charity Volunteering program alongside Jacqui and York Students in Schools alongside Leanne. Hannah is readily available to address any inquiries you may have regarding volunteering. Whether you’re seeking guidance on applying for roles or have questions about placements, you can reach out to her through our designated volunteering email.

We appreciate the vital contributions of our volunteers to local communities. If you have a story to share about your volunteering experiences, we encourage you to reach out to us. Your story could be featured on our Instagram and Twitter accounts, or you might even be honoured with a prestigious Student Volunteering Award at our annual celebration held in May 2024.

Sarah Rafferty and Kate Harper – 

Community Engaged Learning Managers

Sarah and Kate lead on the development of Community Projects and are helping to grow opportunities inside the curriculum. They are often out and about in Yorkshire, meeting with community organisations to design projects, but you might meet them running a workshop as part of your course, such as the Sustainability Clinic, which is an optional interdisciplinary module any student can take in their final year. 

Come and talk to us – Thursday Drop In 

From February, we have volunteering drop-ins every Thursday, 2pm to 3pm in the Careers Building, Campus West. No need to book, just come along to chat about anything volunteering such as current volunteering opportunities, how to apply via Handshake, York Students in Schools (YSIS) placement queries and Community Fund ideas.

To see a full list of opportunities including roles with charities across York, visit Handshake.

or email us at volunteering@york.ac.uk 

Let’s keep in touch, join us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter)! @uoyvolunteering