Student Volunteering Week is an annual national celebration in the United Kingdom that recognises the invaluable contributions made by students through volunteering. It highlights how young people are driving positive change in their local communities while gaining personal and professional benefits.
The event is taking place from 9th to 15th February 2026, with universities, colleges, and student groups across the country organising activities to promote and encourage participation.
This week-long initiative, led by the Student Volunteering Network, encourages students to engage in community service, fundraising, environmental projects, and more. It serves as both a celebration of existing efforts and an invitation for new volunteers to get involved.
History of Student Volunteering Week
Student Volunteering Week was founded in 2001 by the Student Volunteering Network (previously associated with Volunteering England and later evolving into its current form). It was initially promoted as “Student Community Action Week” to spotlight the work of student-led community action groups that had been active for decades. The event built on a longer tradition of student volunteering in the UK, which can be traced back to the 18th century with religious and evangelical societies, through the formation of the National Union of Students in 1922, and into the post-war period when student social service groups expanded.
By the early 2000s, increased government support for initiatives like Student Hubs and student fundraising (“rag”) groups helped formalise and grow the week. Over the past 25 years, Student Volunteering Week has become a fixture in the higher education calendar, with thousands of students participating annually through local events at institutions such as the University of Manchester, Loughborough University, King’s College London, and many others. The focus remains on celebrating student contributions to social issues, including poverty alleviation, environmental issues, mental health support, and community cohesion.
Today, thousands of students across universities like Glasgow, Manchester, and Loughborough participate, fostering a culture of civic engagement.
https://assets.uea.ac.uk/f/185167/x/e29ab00336/svw-history-final-web.pdf
The Benefits of Volunteering for Students
Volunteering offers substantial advantages for UK students, extending far beyond simply helping others. Research and reports from various sources consistently show improvements in personal development, career prospects, and well-being. Key benefits include:
- Skill Development: Volunteering builds transferable skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. These are highly valued by employers and complement academic learning.
- Enhanced Employability: Participation strengthens CVs and job applications. Many UK employers prioritise candidates with volunteering experience, and it can improve prospects in competitive fields.
- Mental Health and Well-Being: Engaging in meaningful activities reduces stress, boosts confidence, fosters a sense of purpose, and combats feelings of isolation; particularly important during university life.
- Civic Responsibility and Empathy: Students gain a deeper understanding of societal challenges, develop empathy, and build connections with their local communities.
- Networking and Exploration: Volunteering provides opportunities to meet new people, discover passions, and explore potential career paths through hands-on experience.
How to Get Involved in Student Volunteering Week
There are many ways for students to participate during the week:
- Organise or join a fundraiser, such as a bake sale, fun run, or charity event.
- Volunteer locally with charities, community groups, or services like Citizens Advice or hospices.
- Start a campus or neighbourhood clean-up initiative.
- Share skills by running workshops on topics like coding, arts, or wellness.
- Host a volunteer fair to connect students with local organisations.
- Collaborate on larger group projects, such as building community gardens or staging events.
- Raise awareness through social media campaigns, posters, or discussions.
- End the week with a celebration event to share stories and recognise efforts.
You may want to host activities based around these themes each day, but the network is committed to support all SVW related activity, so we’ll still be re-sharing and promoting all activity from institutions across the week.
- Monday 9th – Micro-Monday Micro-volunteering opportunities are a great way to give a small amount of their time and make a difference. Could you host a micro-volunteering event on your university campus or share online some micro-volunteering opportunities with students.
- Tuesday 10th – Transferable Skills Tuesday We’re all aware of the many benefits of student volunteering, so we’re encouraging you to showcase the employability benefits of getting involved in volunteering.
- Wednesday 11th – Wellness Wednesday You might want to showcase or spotlight a wellbeing related opportunity students can get involved in, advertise a mental health charity or work on a campaign to spread the message that volunteering is good for mental and physical health.
- Thursday 12th – Thankful Thursday Thank and recognise your volunteers today and celebrate the amazing work of student volunteers.
- Friday 13th – Friendly Friday Friendly might mean recognising and celebrating student volunteer work in the local community, or encouraging students to get involved in community volunteering opportunities. Or you might want to showcase the volunteer work students do on the University campus, supporting their student community (e.g. academic reps or society leaders).
- Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th – Sustainable Saturday and Sunday Encourage students to get involved in a green opportunity, whether it’s planting, gardening, tree planting, litter picking or a beach clean – anything on the sustainability agenda is welcomed.
Students can find opportunities through their university volunteering services, the Student Volunteering Network website, or by following #StudentVolunteeringWeek on social media. Whether you’re a first-time volunteer or a seasoned participant, Student Volunteering Week offers a chance to make a tangible difference while enriching your own university experience. Get involved this week, your community and future self will thank you.
Official Website: studentvolunteeringnetwork.com/student-volunteering-week studentvolunteeringnetwork.com Hashtag: #SVW2026 or #StudentVolunteeringWeek
References
(Note: Additional university-specific pages were reviewed for event confirmation but are not individually listed here as primary sources.)
Brewis, G. (2012) Student Volunteering Week 1912? Voluntary Action History Society. Available at: https://www.vahs.org.uk/2012/02/student-volunteering-week (Accessed: 10 February 2026).
Days of the Year (2024) Student Volunteering Week. Available at: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/student-volunteering-week (Accessed: 10 February 2026).
National Today (2026) Student Volunteering Week – February 9-15, 2026. Available at: https://nationaltoday.com/student-volunteering-week (Accessed: 10 February 2026).
NCVO (n.d.) Time Well Spent: A national survey on the volunteer experience – Volunteer impacts. Available at: https://www.ncvo.org.uk/news-and-insights/news-index/time-well-spent-national-survey-volunteer-experience/volunteer-impacts (Accessed: 10 February 2026).
Royal Voluntary Service (n.d.) Benefits of Volunteering. Available at: https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/volunteering/why-volunteer/benefits-of-volunteering (Accessed: 10 February 2026).
Student Volunteering Network (2026) Student Volunteering Week. Available at: https://studentvolunteeringnetwork.com/student-volunteering-week (Accessed: 10 February 2026).
University of East Anglia (n.d.) A short history of student volunteering. Available at: https://assets.uea.ac.uk/f/185167/x/e29ab00336/svw-history-final-web.pdf (Accessed: 10 February 2026).
