Monday 03-02-2020 - 17:39

Student Volunteering Week will be taking place from Monday 10 – Friday 14 February. In recognition of this, Bristol SU Volunteering President Jude d’Alesio sheds light on the variety of ways to get involved for the benefit of the local community and one’s own mental wellbeing.

-

When my Duke of Edinburgh teacher in secondary school told me that I had to complete ten hours of volunteering, I thought that I would not learn a single thing. Five years later, I am now Bristol University’s President of Volunteering and could not imagine a way better than volunteering to enhance my wellbeing, education and employability. This blog will explore how volunteering has helped me achieve three of the Five Ways to Wellbeing.

Connect

There is strong evidence that indicates that feeling close to, and valued by, other people is a fundamental human need and one that contributes to functioning well in the world. 

In my final two years of secondary school I volunteered weekly at my local care home, listening to the experiences of residents completely different to mine. In Clifton there are four care homes, all in need of volunteers, and I would encourage anyone with an hour to spare to visit these places as the communication, leadership and empathy skills you develop will be useful in whichever field you decide to work in. 

Also, individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy, and from my volunteering experiences there is truly no feeling comparable to the satisfaction gained from helping others. 

Give

Giving can take many forms, but in a volunteering sense, I see giving as participating in social and community life. 

Since arriving at Bristol, I have served on the governing body of a local school, advising the headteacher on ways to improve teaching standards, the curriculum and child safeguarding. This is a highly rewarding volunteering project and given that only 1% of school governors are under 25, many schools are eager for a fresh and youthful contribution. To become a school governor simply sign up to the Inspiring Governance website and express an interest in schools of your choice.

Even though the general election is long finished, local council elections in Bristol will occur in May. Anyone with a political eye or simply keen to learn about politics in practice will find no better experience than volunteering with a political party of your choice and canvassing houses, as I did in the general election. This exposes you directly to the concerns of local people, and if you truly believe in the cause of your party then your volunteering can impact the lives of so many if you are successful. If you are not party political but are nonetheless interested in the democratic process, then I would suggest registering as an Electoral Observer as I have also done. Observers oversee the counting of votes during elections to ensure no malpractice exists, and it is a great feeling to know that you are giving your time to ensure democracy in the country.

Be active

Finally, I cannot stress the importance of keeping physically fit; it really is true that a healthy body helps make a healthy mind. Exercise stimulates the brain to release endorphins which create a sense of enjoyment and improve mental wellbeing.

A considerable proportion of volunteering in the community involves getting outdoors and using your body, especially as spring approaches. On the Wednesday of Student Volunteering Week, Bristol SU are teaming up with Bristol Parks to organise an afternoon of conservation at three locations: Clifton Downs, Eastville Park and Ashton Court. These are an excellent chance to discover the city’s beautiful open spaces, meet people who help to maintain them and take a healthy break from your studies.

For something more regular, Roots Community Gardening are a student-led project that meet weekly in locations around Bristol to preserve these precious and often overlooked areas.

I do hope that this blog has been beneficial and provided a few ideas for volunteering and wellbeing in Bristol. Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact myself or the SU Volunteering team.

-

If you are stuck for inspiration and want to find out more in person, the Volunteering Fair is happening on Wednesday 5th February 4-6pm in the Anson Rooms of the Richmond Building.