This year marks the twenty-second year of Student Volunteering Week. A week where students who are committed to making impactful and positive contributions to local communities are recognised and celebrated.

Student Volunteering Week has proven to be a large success amongst Canterbury Christ Church University students and partnering charities and organisations in Kent and Medway.

In 2022, Canterbury Christ Church students logged more than 1,030 volunteer hours, giving their time to 78 charities and organisations in Kent and Medway.

There are endless opportunities for students to get involved and give back to their local community. Local charities that have benefitted from Christ Church students volunteering include, FareShare, an organization fighting hunger in Ashford; SATEDA in Sittingbourne to help victims of domestic violence; English Heritage sites at Walmer Castle, Dover Castle, Deal Castle and Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre, and a new and exciting partnership with Canterbury Cathedral which will see students working with the Visits and Welcome team.

Volunteering presents opportunities to meet new people, boosts confidence, benefits mental and physical wellbeing, provides interesting new perspectives, and increases employability skills. Furthermore, it enables students to give back to their local communities, as seen through volunteering with Keep Talking Services – a telephone befriending service created by a Canterbury Christ Church alumnus, Alex Richardson, a Mental Health Nursing graduate.

What started as a small project to help reduce loneliness felt during the first Covid-19 national lockdown has turned into a recognised charity that makes over 1,000 weekly calls to support elderly and vulnerable people across Kent. Student volunteers at Keep Talking Services gain a new sense of confidence and develop essential communication skills while having a huge impact on people’s lives.

And you could get involved too. We are asking our alumni community to come forward and offer student volunteering placements. So make a difference to the student experience today visit Christ Church Volunteering Platform, or email volunteer@canterbury.ac.uk for more information.