Volunteering

London Metropolitan Students’ Union (LMSU) exists to empower students to make the most of their time at London Met and transform their lives for the better. Volunteers are a crucial part of making that happen, and we are committed to providing high quality, well-supported volunteering opportunities that are accessible to all sections of our diverse student body. 

 

Why volunteer?

Volunteering allows you to give back and be part of something bigger than yourself.  It's is a great way to get involved in something you’re already passionate about or to try something new.  All of our volunteers make a difference, helping to create change and improving the experience of students at London Met and beyond whilst also gaining valuable experience and developing skills that will help to improve your career prospects and get ready for what comes next. 

Your volunteering experience is a great addition to your CV and you can refer to it during an interview. It may help you answer those tricky interview questions, for example, being asked to demonstrate when you have worked as a team, organised events or used excellent communication skills.

You also get to meet lots of lovely people and join a community of committed fellow student volunteers. Volunteering enormously benefits mental and physical wellbeing. From the friends you make, the fun you have, that great feeling you get when you realise that you're making a positive difference to someone else's life. We hear time and time again from students how their volunteer work has massively enhanced their student experience and made their time in London Met so much more enjoyable.

 

In our most recent volunteer survey:

  • 79% of respondents reported that being a volunteer had enabled them to contribute to improving the student experience at London Met
  • 86% agreed that their experience as a volunteer was meaningful and rewarding
  • 88% said that being a volunteer had provided them with the opportunity to meet new people
  • 82% agreed that their volunteer role had helped them to feel part of a community
  • 82% reported that their volunteer role had provided them with opportunities to gain new and develop existing skills

 

What our volunteers say:

  • “The student union is a community not just a building, it allows students to play an active part in university life, and not just be a passive consumer, it gives all students a voice”

  • “There are so many opportunities to learn new things and gain skills for the future, I love that it will be written on my degree transcript – it shows that volunteering is taken seriously and is a valuable experience alongside your academic achievements”

  • The Students' Union “created a second family environment for me, they were there welcoming me right from the day I arrived”

  • “I’ve learnt a lot, listening, networking skills, time management, the importance of safeguarding...organisational skills and conflict resolution, I will definitely be talking about my volunteering at future job interviews”

  • The Students' Union "is a very warm community, like a family, there is always someone who can help and guide you”

 

Go LMSU!

LMSU has now been awarded Investors in Volunteers (IiV), a national quality framework accreditation that recognises best practice in volunteer management and involvement.

We are very proud of this achievement that recognises all the work that we put into ensuring that all students have an opportunity to get involved in volunteering opportunities and that all of our volunteers have the best possible experience.

For more information about IiV, please see their website and for a slideshow that outlines how we meet those standards, see here

 

So what are you waiting for?  Get involved and become a volunteer today!
 

Here at LMSU there are lots of opportunities for you to get involved in volunteering.  All of our volunteer roles are safe and provide training, ongoing support and additional development opportunities.  Volunteers are provided with regular social opportunities, receive a certificate at the conclusion of their roles and have their contribution formally recognised on their degree transcript.  We also encourage volunteers to help shape their roles and provide opportunities to inform improvements. 


Join us for our next social:  Every year we hold a number of social events to thank all of our wonderful volunteers for their amazing contributions.  The next volunteer social is our End of Year Volunteer Pizza Party on Monday 20th May, 4-6pm. If you are a volunteer, access the link below to get your ticket!


LMSU Volunteering Policy and Handbook

LMSU Volunteering Policy

Our Volunteering Policy aims to demonstrate LMSU’s commitment to our volunteers by setting out how volunteers should be treated, what you can expect from the Students’ Union and what we expect from you.  

Have a read of our Volunteering Policy here.

LMSU Volunteer Handbook

Have a read through our Volunteer Handbook, which contains loads of information relevant to all of our volunteers including:

  • Information about the Union, it’s vision, mission, values and strategic aims

  • What to expect from your volunteering opportunity and what we expect from you

  • Information about recruitment, induction, training and support, reward and recognition

  • Key policies, processes and procedures that you need to be aware of

  • What to expect at the end of the volunteering opportunity

  • Key contacts

You can read the LMSU Volunteer Handbook here.

Some of our volunteering opportunities also have their own handbooks relevant to them, including handbooks specifically for Student Group Leaders, Student Reps, Student Council Members and Part-time Liberation Officers.  You will be given access to these handbooks as part of your initial training, or ask your Volunteer Coordinator.


LMSU is committed to ensuring our volunteering opportunities are accessible to all students. Please speak in confidence to your Volunteer Coordinator if you have any access or support needs that would make it easier for you to undertake your role and they will, wherever possible, make adaptions in order to support accessible volunteering.


Volunteer skills development

On Weblearn we have an 'LMSU Volunteers 2023-24' organisation which is full of resources to help you develop yourself as an effective volunteer.

To find out more, please visit this page

Volunteer Spotlight

Each month we highlight one of our amazing volunteers and ask them to tell us about their experience of being a volunteer. Have a look below to find out about some of the great things students do in their voluntary work with LMSU.

Image of Arjun alongside a caption that says Volunteer Spotlight November 2023 Muhammad Am

November Volunteer Spotlight: Arjun Jayagopal

Every month, we highlight the great work of some of our student volunteers.
This month, we spoke to Arjun who has shared her experience as a student volunteer and society leader at LMSU.

Image of Muhammad smiling alongside a caption that says Volunteer Spotlight October 2023 Muhammad Am

October Volunteer Spotlight: Muhammad Aman

Every month, we highlight the great work of some of our student volunteers.
This month, we spoke to Muhammad who has shared her experience as a student volunteer and society leader at LMSU.

Image of Chiemela smiling alongside a quote.

June Volunteer Spotlight: Chiemela Ndukwe

Every month, we highlight the great work of some of our student volunteers.
This month, we spoke to Chiemela Ndukwe, who has shared their experience as a Student Rep at LMSU.

May Volunteer Spotlight: Ibraheem Imran

Every month, we highlight the great work of some of our student volunteers.
This month, we spoke to Ibraheem Imran who has shared their experience as a society leader at LMSU.

Image of Chelsea smiling alongside a caption that says Volunteer Spotlight February 2023 Chelsea Obi

February Volunteer Spotlight: Chelsea Obiri

Every month, we highlight the great work of some of our student volunteers.
This month, we spoke to Chelsea who has shared her experience as a student volunteer and society leader at LMSU.

Volunteer Spotlight Jan 2023. Shows a picture of McCarthy with his hands crossed and smiling.

January Volunteer Spotlight: McCarthy Momoh

Every month, we highlight the great work of some of our student volunteers.
This month, we spoke to McCarthy Momoh who has shared his experience as a student volunteer at LMSU.

Image of Silvia smiling alongside a quote.

December Volunteer Spotlight: Silvia Librizzi

Every month, we highlight the great work of some of our student volunteers.
This month, we spoke to Silvia who has shared her experience as a student volunteer at LMSU.

May Volunteer Spotlight: Raul Tristao

Every month, we highlight the great work of some of our student volunteers.
This month, we spoke to Raul Tristao and his experience as a student volunteer at LMSU.

Volunteer Spotlight November 2022 Michal Larysz. Michal says "Helping others will give you so much m

November Volunteer Spotlight: Michal Larysz

Every month, we highlight the great work of some of our student volunteers.
This month, we spoke to Michal Larysz who has shared his experience as a student volunteer at LMSU.

Volunteer Spotlight October 2022 Ana Brito

October Volunteer Spotlight: Ana Brito

Every month, we highlight the great work of some of our student volunteers.
This month, we spoke to Ana Brito and her experience as a student volunteer at LMSU.

 

 

Contact us

If you have any questions about anything on this page, or suggestions about how we could improve our volunteering opportunities, please contact:

 

Director of Membership / Deputy CEO

jacqueline.molineaux@londonmet.ac.uk

Holloway

Harglenis Building

166-220 Holloway Road

London, UK

N7 8DB

United Kingdom



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The Students' Union is physically closed for Summer, if you want to contact us please e-mail studentsunion@londonmet.ac.uk or leave us an answerphone message on 020 7133 4171. E-mails will be picked up quicker by the team than answerphone messages. studentsunion@londonmet.ac.uk