Connecting Students with Community: The Annual Volunteering Fair
Each year, UCL SEVA hosts its volunteering fair to bring together students, local charities, social enterprises, and community organisations under one roof. It's one of the most practical and energising events in the UCL calendar for anyone looking to make a difference beyond their degree.
Whether you're a first-year student exploring volunteering for the first time or a seasoned volunteer looking for a new challenge, the fair offers something genuinely valuable. Here's everything you need to know to make the most of it.
What Happens at the Volunteering Fair?
The fair typically features:
- Organisation stalls: Representatives from charities, NGOs, social enterprises, and community groups present their work and available volunteer roles.
- Live talks and panel discussions: Hear from experienced volunteers, charity leaders, and social entrepreneurs about their journeys and the issues they're working on.
- Skills matching sessions: One-to-one conversations to help you identify which opportunities best align with your interests, skills, and availability.
- Sign-up opportunities: Many organisations accept expressions of interest or even applications on the day.
Who Attends?
Organisations at the fair typically span a wide range of causes and working styles, including:
- Homelessness and housing charities
- Youth education and mentoring programmes
- Environmental and sustainability groups
- Mental health and wellbeing support services
- Food poverty and community kitchen initiatives
- Refugee and asylum seeker support organisations
- Arts, culture, and heritage projects
This breadth means that regardless of your academic background or personal interests, you're likely to find something that resonates.
How to Prepare for the Fair
You'll get far more out of the event if you arrive with a little preparation:
- Think about your 'why': Reflect beforehand on what draws you to volunteering and what kinds of communities or causes you feel most connected to.
- Know your availability: Have a rough sense of how many hours per week or month you can realistically offer.
- Prepare a few questions: Ask organisations about their training, the day-to-day realities of their volunteer roles, and how they measure their impact.
- Bring your contact details: A simple business card or a note with your name and email makes it easy to follow up.
- Keep an open mind: Some of the most rewarding opportunities come from organisations you've never heard of before.
After the Fair: Following Through
The fair is just the beginning. The real value comes from following up promptly with the organisations you connected with. Send a short, personalised email within a few days expressing your interest and referencing your conversation. This shows initiative and sets a positive tone for your volunteering relationship.
Stay Connected with UCL SEVA
UCL SEVA shares updates about the fair — including the date, venue, list of attending organisations, and any pre-registration requirements — through its newsletters and social channels. Make sure you're signed up to receive communications so you don't miss key details. Events like this are free to attend and open to all UCL students.