If you have a desire to help your community – whether that is people in your local area, fellow students, or other causes that resonate with your values – it can be tricky to know how to get started. KCLSU is here to help! Here’s a foolproof five-step guide to kickstart your volunteering project:
1. Get Inspired
The first step is to brainstorm. Just get your ideas out there, and start thinking about what causes genuinely motivate you to do better for your community. Maybe you want to work on projects that make educational opportunities more accessible, or you know about small practices that people can add to their daily routine to help the environment. No matter your interests, stay true to your passions and start thinking about how to put them into action!
2. Connect with the Student Volunteering Team
Once you’ve settled on your idea, it’s time to reach out to KCLSU’s Student Volunteering Team. They’re here to help you plan, set realistic goals, and answer any logistical questions you might have along the way. Their support will be key to making sure your project is well thought out and ready to go!
3. Complete a Risk Assessment
Ever heard of a Risk Assessment before? It may sound like a tedious piece of writing, but it’s actually an essential part of your projects! When you plan any kind of gathering during your volunteering journey, you want everyone to feel welcome and safe while attending your event. To do so, go to the Activities Dashboard on your KCLSU page and get ready to submit your Risk Assessment.
4. Prepare for Widening Participation Projects
If your project involves working with widening participation students (for example, those under 18), make sure you and your volunteers complete Safeguarding Training and have DBS checks. This is a vital step to ensure that your project is compliant with necessary regulations.
5. Launch Your Project & Report Back
Have you completed the checklist so far? Great! Now you’re ready for the exciting bit: you can finally run your Volunteering Project and start making a real impact. This also includes regular feedback sessions, where the Volunteering Team will get in touch with you every so often to check on your progress, ask if you need any additional support, and help you acknowledge your goals. We may even feature your project in a case study to inspire other students to get involved!
These are all the things you need to know to get started as a volunteer. If you’ve been thinking about how to sort out the financial aspect of your projects, remember that you can apply for KCLSU’s Volunteer Project Fund in September 2025. This can cover the costs of training, venues, books, crafting materials, and so on. Please take a look at our guidance to know what costs we can cover for you.
We’re so excited to see the incredible ideas and impact you'll bring. The KCLSU team is here to help you make a difference, so don’t hesitate to reach out!