Want to make a difference to the world, or do you want to get involved with the local community? Then the Volunteering and Social Justice Fair is the place for you!
On Tuesday 16 October 2018, up to 100 volunteering organisations will be showcasing their work and inviting you to volunteer. There will be a wide range of sectors including cultural, environmental, health, sport and social inclusion, both from the wider community and within the University and Students’ Union.
Each organisation provides a different way for you to get involved in the Manchester community and meet a variety of new people. Not only are you helping shape society, you’ll develop lots of new skills and make plenty of new friends.
You will also be able to find out about the Social Justice Challenge, the Ethical Grand Challenge for second year undergraduates, as well as the other Ethical Grand Challenges and Step Up and Leadership roles, all helping you to achieve the Stellify Award.
The University’s Social Justice Photography Competition will also be launched on the day.
Previous student Ruwani Uyange helped volunteer with the George House Trust, a charity supporting those living with or affected by HIV. She ran a project raising the awareness of HIV and HIV testing to other students.
“I would definitely recommend volunteering to all the students at the University. It really does challenge you and makes you look at things in a totally different way. Furthermore I have developed some great friendships through my volunteering projects. The people that I volunteered alongside on the projects were the most interesting, dedicated and nicest people I have had the pleasure to meet!”
In 2016, student Caitlin McWilliams went to Sri Lanka and Bali with graduate-led volunteering organisation SLV Global, spending time in schools teaching English and running therapeutic activity sessions for individuals suffering with mental illnesses. “I loved every minute of it and I’ve learnt so much! We worked on a variety of projects so I learnt a lot of different skills, trying out art, music, drama and movement therapy and teaching English.”
Check out the event’s website for more information, or you can go to the Volunteering homepage to take a look at all the volunteering opportunities you can get involved with through the University.