The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is a charity that has always been close to my heart having grown up with parents who worked in related fields – my father in childcare charities and my mother as a primary teacher. You hear from everyone that volunteering is such an enriching experience, but it can feel a little daunting trying to work out where to help and understanding how much of a time commitment it will be. As I am in my final year, I was looking for something that would not take up too much time but still felt rewarding and like I was genuinely making a difference.
NSPCC’s Young Community Advocate Role was the perfect fit. The key goals of this role are to fundraise, raise awareness, and encourage others to give their time, which are simple but really effective ways to support the charity. 90% of NSPCC’s income is from donations, so every penny counts! There are so many different ways you can get involved, so I’ve compiled a list of 3 ways so you can find a way which suits you:
- For the busy bees
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The aforementioned young community advocate role is perfectly suited to busy people. With a minimum commitment of an hour a month, it is super flexible and can easily slot in around your other commitments, be that a job or education. I am currently writing my dissertation, but have also been doing this role and have never felt as though it means I have to sacrifice my uni work time. It is also a nice way to take yourself away from the stress of uni, as it feels totally separate from arduous essay writing. You can use your personal social media platforms to share posts to encourage your network to get involved, and with regular (optional) meetings you really feel part of a community. It’s totally up to you, but you can also be matched up to other students from your university or people in your local community so you can brainstorm ideas together and connect with other like-minded people, which really helps provide a sense of community that we are all missing in this long lockdown.
- For the budding athletes
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A great way to fundraise is by setting yourself a sporting goal. These can be anything, from walking 10,000 steps a day for a month, to running a marathon! The NSPCC website has so many brilliant resources to help you start fundraising. You can complete these challenges on your own or with friends and family, but they’re brilliant because you feel such a great sense of achievement when you’ve completed them, not only improving your physical health but also your mental wellbeing in knowing you’ve raised money for a fantastic cause. Young Community Advocates and other volunteers can get discounted entry to some of the sporting events, so why not sign up?
- For the hostess with the mostess
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We’re all missing the joys of hosting and visiting friends for food and drink at the moment, so why not try hosting a zoom event? These can be anything, from a classic pub quiz to a wine tasting. Invite friends, family, peers and ask them to make a donation to NSPCC – as little as £1 – for their ‘ticket’ and then let the fun start. We all are bored of zoom meetings, so let’s try bringing the fun back to zoom!
There you have it, three simple ways to get involved with NSPCC. For me, the Young Community Advocate role has been a perfect way to round off my university career, and I’ve loved working with the friendly South West Team. Tabs Haydon is the contact for Bristol University, so get in touch with her here if you’re interested in finding out more. Happy Volunteering!