Students at Robert Gordon University (RGU) are being encouraged to get involved with volunteering next week.
RGU’s Students’ Union (RGU:Union) is holding its first dedicated Volunteering Fair on Thursday, February 25 at the university’s Garthdee campus which will feature a range of local and national organisations, including Barnardos, Childline, Cornerstone and Marie Curie, keen to chat to students about volunteering roles they have on offer.
Students who attend ‘RGU:Union’s Big Volunteering Fair’, which has been organised as part of national Student Volunteering Week, will have the chance to hear from over 40 organisations with opportunities across a range of areas including environmental, healthcare, befriending, sports, arts, media, IT, design and social work.
Stevie Kearney, student development and volunteering coordinator at RGU:Union, says: “We are organising the fair as the main event of the week where students and organisations offering volunteering opportunities can meet face-to-face to chat about the range of roles on offer.
“It's a great chance to find out more about the people and the stories behind the many amazing organisations working across the region, and to sign up for volunteering roles to really enhance your skills, confidence and employability after graduating.
“Students who fundraise and volunteer are not only helping the many worthwhile causes but they are also making a massive difference to the way employers look at their job applications, especially at a time when the labour market isn’t as buoyant as in previous years.”
Another highlight taking place throughout the week is the launch of the SocialErasmus at RGU on Monday, February 22, a European initiative supported by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) which aims to promote positive change through volunteering while providing international students with an opportunity to integrate into the local community.
A ‘Give the Gift of Life: Blood, Organ and Bone Marrow Drive’ is also being organised on campus by RGU:RAG for students on Thursday, February 25 from 11am to 3pm. Supported by the NHS and the Anthony Nolan Foundation, the triple donor drive will give students an opportunity to donate blood and sign up to organ, blood and bone marrow registers.
RGU’s Mental Wellbeing Society is also organising a ‘sock it to eating disorders’ event on Friday, February 26 where members of the student-led society will be on University Street to fundraise for BEAT, a national charity which supports individuals affected by eating disorders.
Stevie adds: “The week intends to showcase that there is a huge range of volunteering opportunities so there is something for everyone and we match up students with roles which suit them. RGU:Union works hard with the university and the community to continually generate new and exciting opportunities for our students.”
Now in its 15th year, the national Student Volunteering Week, which this year runs from Monday, February 22 to Sunday, February 28, has become a fixture in many university calendars across the UK and is designed to inspire and enable more students to get involved with volunteering.
For more information the ‘RGU:Union Big Volunteering Fair’, which is taking place from 11am to 3pm on University Street at the Garthdee campus, visit www.facebook.com/events/722618731172892/