Which volunteering programme are you on & what does your role involve?
I am one of the Student Content Creators for Leeds Sport. My role involves getting out and working alongside many of the sports teams to help promote Leeds sport and the activities that students can get involved with.
How much time do you commit to volunteering per week and how do you manage this alongside your studies?
I commit between 3-8 hours a week on average; some weeks are busier than others but I have full flexibility when deciding when to volunteer and how much I do. I manage this alongside my studies by making sure my calendar is always up to date. Ensuring there are as few clashes between my studies and volunteer work.
What made you want to volunteer?
Photography is a passion of mine, being able to get out and get some shots while also helping to promote the various sporting activities seemed like a win-win.
What is the best thing about volunteering?
I particularly enjoy meeting new people. I also enjoy developing an understanding of a broad range of sports at the university. There’s also the added bonus of expanding my portfolio; a lot of my recent work has featured on the BUCS Instagram which is always a bit of a nice morale boost.
What are the challenges?
The difficulties are balancing the range of sports that I shoot. I find it hard to turn down a sports club when they ask if I can take photographs, particularly as they’re always super friendly. But I know that from a Leeds Sport point of view it’s good to have a range of different sports.
Would you recommend volunteering to others?
I would absolutely recommend volunteering to others. There’s a plethora of different opportunities so there’s certainly something that suits everyone’s interests and skills.
How does it feel to win Volunteer of the Month?
It feels nice that my work is valued and recognised. I hope that in seeing a range of different people volunteer that more people will consider finding out how they can get involved.
View some of Rae’s work here
If you are interested in finding out more, check out all of our volunteering opportunities.
