Giving back to society is a really important habit to get into, and if you can establish this as part of your life during your time as a student it will set you in good stead to continue this into adulthood. There are many opportunities to give back as a student, and we’ll share some in this blog post to give you an idea.
Volunteering
There are a lot of places you can volunteer and give back to the community; from food banks to animal shelters, this is a great way to spend your time. You’ll feel a great sense of self-worth, and you’ll be genuinely helping to improve the lives of the people around you. It also looks great on your future CV or resumé!
Donating
Even if you’re not in a financial position to regularly donate money to charity, that’s not to say you can’t donate at all. Even picking up an extra tin of beans and putting it in the food bank collection point at your local supermarket helps – and you can donate clothes or books you no longer need to charity shops. Recently, volunteers collected unwanted food and clothing from our Blackfriars Residence in Gloucester to be donated, all unused or unopened. It’s a great way to give back as a student!
Shopping second-hand
In terms of giving back, shopping second-hand is a great idea. It means you can get your fashion fix, but shopping at a charity shop means you’re also donating to a great cause be it a local hospice, animal sanctuary, or medical research purpose. You can find some fantastic gems, especially with older fashion trends coming back ‘in’. Plus, it works out cheaper than heading to Primark or logging into ASOS.
Litter picking
Cleaning up the local area is a great way to give back to the community as a student. With so many fun events, especially outdoor ones during the summer months, there tends to be an increase in the amount of rubbish and mess around. By helping to pick it up and dispose of it responsibly, you’re doing a great service to where you live.
Improving your sustainability
Making sure you live a more sustainable lifestyle is a brilliant way to give back as a student, and there are so many little improvements you can make which you’ll barely notice. From taking reusable bags to the supermarket with you to cutting down on the amount of meat you eat, it doesn’t have to be difficult at all. Walking instead of taking taxis, being conscious of the electricity you use, and investing in reusable cotton pads instead of repeatedly buying disposable ones… there’s so many easy ways to be more sustainable!
Tutoring
One final way you can give back as a student is to tutor other students or young people. This one requires some hard work, but it can be really helpful to people who are struggling. It is also another thing which looks fantastic on your CV, showing you are a skilled individual who is keen to support others.
Giving back as a student is a really valuable part of the university experience, and hopefully this blog will have helped inspire you to start doing so!
