What are the King's Volunteering Fairs?
On Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 February 2025, King’s Volunteering hosted its annual fairs during Student Volunteering Week, drawing nearly 500 students and staff eager to make a difference.
The event connected participants with local charities, offering a variety of causes to explore. For the first time, the fair was expanded to take place across both Strand and Guy's campuses, focusing on health-related opportunities. With 28 community partners such as St Joseph's Hospice, Refugee Education UK, The Felix Project, Housing Justice, and the Royal Ballet the fairs provided valuable insights into making a meaningful impact. The overwhelming turnout highlighted the strong enthusiasm within the King’s community for meaningful volunteer work.
Our Student Volunteering Ambassador, Amy Smith, spoke with students, staff, and charities to hear their experiences of the fairs and explore the powerful impact of volunteering in changing the world for the better.
Jasmine, one of our King's Volunteering Ambassadors, shared with a smile how proud she was of the event's diversity and the wide range of opportunities available:
From teaching English to fighting homelessness and encouraging social mobility, the event is so diverse, with an opportunity for everyone– Jasmine (King's Volunteering Ambassador)
Why do these volunteering fairs matter?
It was inspiring to see charities collaborating and coming together to share their volunteering opportunities with the King's community.
When asked why these events matter, Fred from Housing Justice reflected on his own journey. He only got into volunteering after university, partly due to the lack of similar events and volunteering infrastructure when he was a student. He now finds volunteering not only a way to meet new people and give back to the community but also a way to build confidence and a sense of purpose. He thoughtfully described volunteering as the key to unlocking a sense of community in the concrete jungle:
Even in central London, there is still a strong sense of community– Fred (Housing Justice)
At the King’s Climate and Sustainability stall, Hussain, a Sustainability Engagement Ambassador, emphasised the importance of visibility and accessibility:
There are lots of students at King’s with passions, but people don’t really know where to go, or how to contribute. That’s why these events are so important, allowing people to connect with one another so that we can grow both individually, and as a King’s community– Hussain (Sustainability Engagement Ambassador)
One of the highlights of the fairs was seeing attendees actively engage and seek out opportunities to make a meaningful difference. This enthusiasm reflected the strong desire to contribute and create positive change within the community.
Nadira from In-Deep shared the story of a King’s student who began volunteering with them after attending a fair four years ago. That student has continued with the charity ever since, showcasing the lasting impact of face-to-face connections at these events and how they can lead to long-term, meaningful engagement.
Luisa, a King's Volunteering Ambassador, spoke about her experience with Climate Ed, a charity teaching schoolchildren about climate change. She shared how leading workshops in schools has been empowering and fun, with over 100 students taught so far.
Working with children in schools to share my passion for the environment has been an incredibly fun and empowering experience. The students are really enthusiastic, and it’s inspiring to see them come up with ideas to protect the planet. I have taught over 100 students so far and am so glad that King’s Volunteering brought me to Climate Ed!– Lisa (King's Volunteering Ambassador)
Luisa’s story highlights how volunteering at university not only makes a lasting impact but also helps develop valuable skills for the future.
How you can help to make a difference
The King’s Volunteering Fairs provided valuable connections for both charities and attendees, showcasing the impact of volunteering. It was fantastic time to hear how both attendees and our community partners benefit from such opportunities and how this positively impacts society. It was clear that both charities and attendees gained something truly valuable from these connections.
Volunteering is a great way to step outside your career path, gain some skills, help those in need and make the world a better place. If you missed the fairs, explore ongoing opportunities on the King’s Volunteering platform.
Get involved, log your hours, and earn badges and certificates to share on LinkedIn. Join today, support the community, unlock the impact of volunteering, and become the change you wish to see.