City St George’s celebrates Student Volunteering Week 2026

City St George’s, University of London joined other universities across the UK to mark Student Volunteering Week.

A range of events took place across the week, encouraging students to get involved in volunteering opportunities across London from knitting to gardening to protecting citizens’ rights.

The School of Health & Medical Sciences (SHMS) Volunteering Fair was a success, with over 130 students engaging with organisations with specialised healthcare roles including the NHS, stem cell transplant charity Anthony Nolan, social enterprise Proud to be Me and homelessness charity Social Links.

Over in Northampton Square at the University’s Clerkenwell campus, staff and students came together to prepare the garden area - which is enjoyed by students and local residents – for spring. Students also took part in a knitting and crocheting event, creating squares that will be sewn together making a blanket to be donated to a homeless charity.

Citizens Advice Haringey held an engaging and empowering guest talk for students with information on their volunteering opportunities. Citizens Advice staff shared the ways the charity helps the public by offering free, independent and expert advice on money, housing, energy and more.

Second year sociology student Halle Gale joined the gardening session and said volunteering is important as it benefits our local communities. She added:

I really enjoyed gardening in Northampton Square - in just a couple of hours, we were able to make a noticeable difference. The area is always busy, so it is rewarding to know that people will be able to enjoy the green space even more as we approach springtime.

A panel event focussed on accessibility in the voluntary sector discussed what charities can do to remove barriers and support students and other volunteers.

Panellists included:

• Michel Salamouni, an advisor from UniCares - the dedicated service supporting care leavers, estranged students, young adult carers and Sanctuary scholars at City St George’s
• Dr Angela Ellis Paine, Lecturer in Voluntary Sector Management at Bayes Business School
• Steph O’Neill-Winbow, Head of Community Programmes from Art Explora, a charity that brings the arts to care homes

Michel shared the barriers to volunteering for underrepresented young people who access support from UniCares. Angela spoke about her research on informal and formal volunteering and Steph spoke about accessibility in the cultural sector.

The panel explored why students face barriers to volunteering, how the voluntary sector can lessen these barriers and why, in the wider community, we see fewer male volunteers.

Steph from Art Explora said: “It was great to be involved in the panel and to hear from peers. This is such an important, nuanced conversation and volunteering has so many benefits for society."

We frequently see volunteer roles that are inflexible and inaccessible, failing to create space for those who are underrepresented in the sector. It's important for the University to facilitate this conversation, actively exploring how volunteering can be more accessible and inclusive for their students.

On the week of engaging activities, Senior Community Volunteering Officer, Sammy Alcock, said:

“Although we champion student volunteering all year round, this week gave us the opportunity to spotlight the incredible impact volunteering can have. Whether it’s students taking their first steps into volunteering or celebrating the ongoing dedication of volunteers and the charities they support, this week reminds us just how much we can achieve in our local community and beyond by spending our time on the issues that matter to us.”

If you are student interested in volunteering opportunities at City St George’s or if your organisation is interested in partnering with the volunteering team, visit the University’s volunteering website.