Celebrating Cambridge volunteers
Volunteers at the Campaign launch
This Volunteers' Week we are celebrating the fantastic work of our volunteers
Thank you to those of you who choose to give your time to Cambridge, whether as ambassadors and advisors to the University, as mentors to current students, or as coordinators of our global alumni network
Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz
Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK – and it’s taking place from the 1-12 June 2016. We're celebrating the many ways in which over 3500 of our volunteers contribute to the Collegiate University community - both at home and abroad.
In Cambridge
Our upcoming roles include volunteering at the annual Alumni Festival - a flagship event, which offers visitors a chance to return to Cambridge, think about the world and be inspired by the transformational ideas created at the University. Find out more about being a ‘Meet and Greet’ Volunteer or ‘Lecture Assistant’ by emailing volunteers@alumni.cam.ac.uk.
Why not volunteer at a degree ceremony and help make the day special for new graduates. Located in the grand surroundings of the Senate-House, you will be the first person to congratulate new graduates and participate in an ancient University tradition.
Find out how to volunteer and register your interest
The Collegiate University is bursting with opportunities for volunteers, from assisting with largescale events such as the Science Festival and Festival of Ideas to helping museums and collections day to day.
Cambridge's global network
Beyond the city, Cambridge alumni form a worldwide network built upon the work of committed volunteers offering events, advice and other connections to each other, students and staff. Recognised Alumni Groups regularly hold events for those in their area, including Welcome to Cambridge events for those students who are about to start an undergraduate or graduate course at the University.
You don’t have to be in Cambridge to stay connected - Sally Topley (Murray Edwards, New Hall, 1975) runs the Alumni Group in Western Australia and explains why volunteering matters to her:
"I love Education, discussing ideas, socializing, organising events and having fun with others. So the role of President of the Cambridge Society of Western Australia was made for me! All our members are passionate about Education and as Cambridge Alumni, are aware of the value of a Cambridge education.
Our current focus is on mentoring local students to apply to Cambridge, both as undergraduates and as postgraduates. We have recently become part of the PRISM Alliance, (Prestigious International Scholarship Mentoring Alliance) to guide the finest postgrads from WA to Cambridge. It's all very exciting, and it's what I love to do. How lucky am I that other people can benefit from that?
I have found what I love doing, and am blessed with gifts that are useful. And to make the whole thing perfect, I can weave quite a lot of chocolate and champagne into our programme!”
Get involved
If you can offer careers advice to current students and recent graduates, find out how to help (in person and/or online) through the University's Careers Service.
If joining an alumni group is more to your taste, find your nearest one online; there are more than 440 alumni groups across 115 countries offering events from group walks to informal dinners and pub nights.
Dear World... Yours, Cambridge
With the recent launch of our campaign, we hope to draw even more support for the University’s priorities. Our launch events could not have happened without volunteers and we thank them for their time.
Edward JYL Ma (Jesus, 2000) has volunteered in Hong Kong and speaks about his experience:
"It was a wonderful evening from a volunteer’s perspective and a warm reminder of how an energetic group of people from different parts of the world can come together and make things happen. My simple belief was to give back in every way I can, sharing the joy of being part of the action, and seeing the reaction of a smile on every face. It is of course a great feeling to stay in touch, and to learn that people with shared memories so treasured go on to accomplish breakthroughs and make important contributions to the world we know today."
Jolyon Martin (St John's, 2010) talks about his time volunteering at the Campaign launch event:
"At the launch event the team of volunteers were on hand to facilitate the evening of the guests, as well as to offer insight into a current student's perspective. In practical terms we accompanied them between the various stages of the evening and discussed our studies and Cambridge experiences. Many guests were not alumni and so it was a rare insight into student life at the University, an opportunity they enthusiastically seized. Given that The Chancellor is exceptionally well versed in University life, my time with Lord and Lady Sainsbury was mostly spent discussing the importance of evenings and projects such as these, alongside ways friends and colleagues of mine have benefited from similar fundraising efforts. It was an honour to discuss the projects with two people so central and committed to them."
Join in online
Tell us about your volunteeering on Twitter by using the hashtag #camvolunteer - you can find us at @camalumni
About Volunteers' week
Volunteers Week is organised by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). They can be found on Twitter at @NCVOvolunteers using the hashtag #volunteersweek.
Find out more at volunteersweek.org