Amy Wells

University: University of Birmingham
What are you studying? BSc Sport and Exercise Science

I am a Volunteer Coordinator & Sport Volunteer for UBSport. As a sports volunteer I get to lead after school extra-curricular sport sessions in a local Birmingham school. You really feel like you are giving something back to the community, and the children  love it too. They are really enthusiastic and love meeting students from the university. I have gained strong communication skills whilst volunteering at the school and have worked with a wide variety of different people. These are very transferable skills to take into the workplace where you will work with many different people, knowing how  to best communicate with them all is vital.
 

 As a Volunteer Co-ordinator I act as a mentor to 1st and 2 year students who volunteer locally as part of the UB Sport passport scheme. This involves keeping in regular contact with my mentees and arranging progress meetings with them throughout the term to offer support and guidance on their volunteering roles. I have been able to work greatly on my organisational skills whilst in this role, making sure meetings take place whilst fitting it all in with my studies. Acting as a mentor is one of the key roles a lot of employers are looking for you to have experience in. It shows an ability to empathise with and motivate others around you. 

I would advise volunteering in some capacity, whether it is through a club or society, or through your academic department whilst at University. Volunteering greatly improves many skills that are useful throughout your degree, and it also offers the opportunity for you to harness and develop skills transferable to the workplace. Not only that it’s something you can really enjoy doing, you meet many new people, and it can be a great break from work when you really need it!