Volunteering FAQs

What sort of Volunteering Opportunities are there?

We offer a wide range of volunteering roles, you can browse current volunteer opportunities.

How do I search for volunteer opportunities?

To search for an opportunity, you should head to the Current Opportunities page. Details of all volunteer opportunities will be shown. Each volunteer opportunity will include a role description which specifies the details of the activity and what is involved. You can also search for activities based upon location (face-to-face or online) and you can save your preferences (when you are logged in). You can read more about the opportunities and if you think it is the right role for you, please continue to apply. You cannot apply for a role until you have registered as a new user and logged in.

I would like to volunteer but I am not sure which role is right for me.

New roles become available throughout the year, with various levels of commitment. All students are automatically members of the Association and may apply for roles that are live. To apply you must complete the application form and meet the eligibility criteria. If you would like to find out more, you can always send us an email oustudents-volunteer@open.ac.uk. We will reply to your email as soon as possible, but until then we recommend that you check out live current opportunities here. We can answer any questions and it would be great to get you involved with your Students Association. We like to keep our volunteers posted on the latest news, training and opportunities and ways to get involved in your OU Students Association, sign up to receive the latest Volunteer Newsletter.

Who can volunteer?

You must be 18 or over
Most of our roles are only open to members of the Students Association, although some are also open to alumni (please check individual role descriptions). All registered OU students are automatically members of the Students Association according to our Articles of Association
Disability and accessibility requirements – we are committed to ensuring that all our volunteer roles are accessible and will make reasonable adjustments where needed
Unspent criminal convictions - As an organisation we need to ensure that volunteering that will not put volunteers, staff or our service users at risk and we ask student volunteers to declare any unspent criminal convictions in their applications. However, if you do provider details of any unspent criminal convictions this will not automatically mean you won't be able to volunteer and we work on the assumption that our students volunteer so that they can help others, meet new people, develop new skills, and make a difference, having no ulterior motive. If you would like an informal discussion prior to applying, please contact Allan Musinguzi , Head of Volunteering and Representation.

How do I know if my application has been successful or not?

All applicants will receive a reply by email, so please add oustudents-volunteer@open.ac.ukk to your safe senders list. We reply to all applicants regardless of outcome. This may take longer depending on the number of applications we receive, but generally you should hear from us within 3 weeks of applying. We respond to everyone on an individual basis, and we aim to let you know about any key dates, including information about training in the opportunity description before you apply.

I submitted my application before the deadline, but I have not received a decision.

All applications are reviewed once the application deadline has passed. You will receive an email from us with the result of the application and we respond to all applications on an individual basis regardless of outcome. Please add oustudents-volunteer@open.ac.uk to your safe senders list, we will be in touch...

Are there any expenses associated with volunteering?

Reasonable expenses for travel, accommodation, and subsistence associated with volunteering will be paid (in advance if necessary). Volunteers should familiarise themselves with our expenses policy before making any purchases or bookings and speak to the budget holder. If you aren’t sure who the budget holder is, contact the Volunteering and Representation Team and they can assist you.

Do I need previous experience to volunteer?

There is no requirement to have experience in any area that you volunteer, although for some roles we might ask for evidence of the skills that are essential to carrying out the role. These could be skills that you have developed as part of OU study, your day-to-day life, or other work/volunteering. We have a dedicated staff team that will be on hand to support you. Students tell us that they learn new skills and find that they get to bring their own life experiences too. Everyone is welcome to get involved - there is space for everyone!

Can I start my own project or work with a group?

Student-led Projects and submission windows are currently on hold though we hope to be back up and running as soon as possible. We will communicate this once Student-Led Projects are available again.

What support do I get?

Whether you are volunteering, working on a Student-Led Project or a Student Representative, you will receive dedicated support from the Student Association Staff Team. When you take part and get involved, we will provide role specific training and information to help you have the best experience. We know how it feels to do something new, so we make sure that we are there for you.

How much time will volunteering take-up?

There can be a significant difference in time commitment between some of our roles, and whether you would like to volunteer your time online or face-to-face. Whether you have several hours a week or one day a year, there is something for everyone. The amount of time that is required will depend on the nature of the role or project that you are involved with. It is possible to volunteer time that fits around your timetable and home life. We display the number of hours that are required to fulfil a role within the volunteering opportunity display. If you would like to discuss a role or have questions about the time commitment required, we would be happy to help answer any questions you may have by contacting us.

Where does Volunteering take place?

Roles are available throughout the year whether you have several hours a week or one day a year, there is something for everyone. We offer roles throughout the year that can be carried out online from home, as well as roles that give you the chance to travel and meet other OU students face to face. All volunteer opportunities will state where the role will take place. When you browse opportunities, you can select your preferred Activity Type and filter your search by ‘in person’ or ‘online’. You can save this as a preference too. We also state the location of the volunteering opportunity in the opportunity display, some roles require you to live within a specific area, region or even number of miles from a location, so please check this in the opportunity description.

What do I need to do if I need to pause or resign my volunteering?

We understand that our students lead busy lives, that things can change, and that not every role is right for everyone. If you need some time to step back from volunteering or feel that you would like to step down from volunteering completely, we will support you in whatever you decide – all that we ask is that you just let us know by completing a Stepping Back Form.. We are also happy to discuss adjustments to a role or alternatives which might be more suitable.

How do I access training for my role?

To access training you will be sent a link by email, to the email address you used to apply for the role. If you are unable to access the training or require the training in an alternative format, please make us aware by contacting oustudents-volunteer@open.ac.uk.

What if my questions are not answered?

If any of your questions are not answered please get in touch at oustudents-volunteer@open.ac.uk