Volunteer with Us
Durham University offers all staff members the opportunity to volunteer for up to 5-days a year during work time, subject to line manager approval (pro-rata for part time members of staff). The Staff Volunteering team will facilitate opportunities and support members of staff who wish to engage with the University's employer-supported volunteering scheme.
Why volunteer?
Volunteering enables Durham University staff to support local community organisations and other areas of the University, by sharing skills and knowledge, providing additional support to community groups. For staff, volunteering supports personal and career development, offers an opportunity to become more immersed in our local communities and enables staff to meet colleagues from across the University.
What can I do?
Volunteering comes in all forms and there are endless opportunities. You may already be a volunteer, for example: a school governor, a board member or trustee of a charity, a youth club leader, a first aider with St John's ambulance or perhaps you lead a local youth football group? If you already volunteer, the Durham Staff Volunteering scheme can support your work, by enabling you to take time to attend meetings or particular events. If you would like to know more please get in touch.
Individual volunteering placements involve working with one of our registered community partners to support their work and the types of roles available vary enormously. Some organisations seek volunteers with particular skills and experience to support their work; for example expertise in marketing, communications, finance, event planning or research. Placements may be on-going requiring regular availability throughout the year, while other projects may require a shorter but more intense period of commitment. Organisations may now offer 'virtual volunteering' enabling you to carry out the project from wherever is convenient for yourself. Mentoring and coaching opportunities are plentiful, and require you to offer practical support to individuals from a wide-range of backgrounds in different environments. Please take a look at the latest vacancies to see the types of opportunities we currently have available or get in touch to discuss your interests further and we will be willing to find suitable project partners.
Team Challenges are one-off events, usually a day or half a day and involve a groups of staff members either from a particular department or from across the University who come together to complete a practical task. This may be outdoors, for example; gardening, hedge planting, scrub clearance, dry-stone walling or supporting a community allotment or indoors, for example; decorating, creating murals, putting together craft packs for toddler groups or providing administrative support for a charitable organisation. Our community partners come up with all sorts of requests! For more information about Team Challenges please take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions.
If you are interested in setting up a Team Challenge for your department either speak to your Engagement Advocate or get in touch with us. If you would like to join a pre-existing Team Challenge day, take a look at the latest opportunities.