Student volunteering opportunities at Oxford
University of Oxford outreach and peer support
UNIQ is the University’s flagship access programme for students from backgrounds that are underrepresented at Oxford and other universities. They’re looking for Graduate Assistants to help with teaching on courses, workshops, and flash research talks.
UNIQ+ is a programme of summer research internships aimed at talented undergraduates from under-represented groups, to support and encourage their transition into postgraduate study. Their volunteer Graduate Access Mentors help by speaking to interns about their research, holding online one-to-one and Q&A sessions, or providing feedback on personal statements or CVs.
Black Academic Futures recruits volunteer DPhil Student Mentors to advise and encourage graduate offer-holders and new students.
The university Disability Advisory Service employs graduate students as paid support workers, providing various kinds of academic assistance (such as taking notes, editing captions or acting as a guide or lab helper) to disabled students.
The Oxford Students Sustainability Network runs campaigns around the university and offers training, support and networking if you have ideas for initiatives on sustainability and the environment.
Local community engagement
Oxford Mutual Aid is a volunteer-run community organization providing non-means tested food parcels, meals, baby supplies and other forms of essential support to people across Oxford. You can volunteer to help in a range of roles, and there are flexible shifts and delivery routes.
Citizens Advice provide free, confidential and independent help and information to the public on issues such as benefits, consumer issues, debt, employment, housing, immigration and the law. They provide training and professional support to their volunteer advisors and advice assistants; this can be especially useful for building a CV in law or social work. Eight hours a week minimum commitment.
Refugee Education UK recruits volunteer educational mentors who are trained and matched with young refugees and meet with them for an hour a week for at least six months, acting as role models and helping to combat isolation and loneliness.
The Brilliant Club recruits, trains, and pays PhD-level students as tutors on its Scholars Programme, to share their subject knowledge and passion for learning with small groups of pupils aged 8-18 at state schools across the UK, helping them to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to secure a place at a competitive university.
Oxford Conservation Volunteers organize work parties every Sunday (and some Saturdays) to carry out nature conservation work around the Oxford area – from hedge laying to fence building, tree planting, and conserving chalk grassland habitats by scrub clearance. Just turn up at one of the minibus pick-up points on St Giles.
