Online Safeguarding Training

This 30-min online training module will build your confidence and enable you to identify and report safeguarding issues. It’s intended for students looking to volunteer with children, young people, the elderly or vulnerable adults. This training is compulsory for those wishing to volunteer on a Bristol SU student-led project.

Face-to-face Training

We offer a wide range of face-to-face training all year round. Please visit our training calendar to sign up for future events.

If you'd like to know more about how we can help you with volunteering, drop us a line at bristolsu-volunteering@bristol.ac.uk.

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Bristol SU Volunteering Instagram Account

For all the latest volunteering photos

Here’s some key information that will help you run your project. For more information visit our Group Safety page or email us at bristolsu-volunteering@bristol.ac.uk. 

Finance and Grants

Volunteering projects can now have the tools to manage their finance in the same way as societies and sports clubs. If you hold treasurer responsibilities, please learn about our finance processes, including setting a budget and managing expense claims and invoices.

We offer drop-in sessions every Monday between 3-5pm and Wed 11am - 1pm to cover the following:

• Using the eXpense365 app

• The process for project coordinators to make expense claims, and how you can approve them

• How you can pay money into your SU bank account

• Requesting to withdraw a cash float

• Handling invoices

If you'd like to meet with us, please submit this form.

To fund your volunteering activity, you are eligible for the Bristol SU Volunteering Grant and the University’s Alumni grant. Please learn about the application process to make sure you don’t miss the deadline.

Training and support

If you need specific help with something, come to have a chat with our team. Email us at bristolsu-volunteering@bristol.ac.uk to book an appointment.

We can help with a wide variety of things including but not limed to training opportunities, grants, budgeting, events, wellbeing, volunteer recruitment. We can also connect you with a broad spectrum of local charities for running events together or sharing training resources.

Keep an eye on our training calendar with the year-round training sessions on how to be an effective project coordinator.

In June, we organise Committee Fest, which is Bristol SU’s annual training festival, providing you with everything you need to know to run your group for the year ahead! If you are a project coordinator, you will receive an email invitation nearer the time.

Attracting volunteers

Don’t miss an opportunity to promote your group and attract new volunteers in our exciting annual events. You are eligible for a stall at:

• Welcome Fair in October

• Volunteering Fair in February

• Refreshers Fair in February

• Give it a Go Programme

• Other ad-hoc outreach events

You will receive an invitation nearer the time to reserve your place.

We can also publicise your events and help you recruit volunteers on the Bristol SU opportunities portal, volunteering Facebook page and volunteering newsletter.

Room Booking

Like other societies and sports clubs, you are eligible to book an SU room for community events and volunteer meetings. Please read about our booking process and view the room booking calendar for availability.

Why not use the SU Living Room for your meet-ups?

End Your Year

Make sure you leave your project in a good place for your successors. The most important step is to register your group for reaffiliation with Bristol SU between April and July. You will be asked to provide information about your group in order to continue receiving the benefits and support from Bristol SU.

Depending on the nature of your project, you may want to appoint or elect new project coordinator. We can advise you on how to run an annual general meeting and committee elections. If you prefer to appoint new committee members, we can help you advertise committee positions and support you with setting up an interview. Email us at bristolsu-volunteering@bristol.ac.uk for advice.

Health and Safety

Please read carefully about our health and safety requirements and practices before you organise a volunteering event.

Before your volunteers can work with children and/or vulnerable adults, they will need to complete our online safeguarding training. Your volunteers are likely to require a DBS check which our team can provide.

You can get recognition for volunteering, as well as a variety of other Students' Union activities through the Bristol PLUS Award, run by the Careers Service. The award provides a framework to reflect on the skills you have gained and learn how to articulate them effectively to future employers.

1)   Checking you need a DBS Check

• Not all Volunteering projects/Bristol Hub projects require a DBS check. If the position you are undertaking requires one your project coordinator will submit a request to our DBS application system.
• Once this has happened you should receive an email with a link to a form. This form will ask you to agree to the DBS privacy policy, and also provide you with log-in details for submitting a check with our external provider – Disclosure Services.

2)  Lived outside the UK in the last 5 years?

• If you have lived outside the UK in the last 5 years, you will need to also show us a certificate of good conduct / criminal records check from your country of residence before you proceed with your DBS check. It is always advisable to obtain this before you arrive in the UK.
• In most cases a family member can obtain this from your local police station with your permission.

3)  Submit an application via Disclosure Services

• Once you have received the log-in details via our form, you can submit your initial application on the Disclosure Services website.
• Once this is complete we will need to check it over for you. If we are happy with it, we will invite you to attend an ID verification meeting at the third-floor Welcome Desk in the Richmond Building.
• Your form must be checked in person by a member of Bristol SU staff. It cannot be processed by anyone else.
• You must bring three forms of identification with you (see below).

4)   Track your Form

• After your ID verification check we will submit your application to the DBS.
• Make sure you have made a note of your Application Reference Number, you can use this to track your progress on www.gov.uk/dbs - ‘Track Your DBS Application Process’
• Registering online will mean being able to use your DBS again! And it’s free for volunteers. Visit the DBS website to find out more! 

5) Completed Checks

• Once your check is completed by the DBS, we will be notified of your results. Your project coordinator will be notified that you are ready for volunteering, and we will email you a link to a form for you to upload a copy of your certificate.
• It is crucial that you submit your completed certificate to the form linked in the email your received after your check. If you are unable to find this email, please get in touch with us at bristolsu@bristol.ac.uk and we can send you the link.

You need to provide 3 forms of identity with for your ID check meeting; please check this up-to-date list of acceptable forms of identity. You will need to provide 1 document from Group 1 and 2 further documents from Group 1, 2a or 2b; one of which must verify your current address. 

If you have any further queries or questions, please visit an applicant's guide to completing a DBS Form. Alternatively, you can ring the DBS Customer Service Call Centre on 0870 90 90 811.

You are now able to track your DBS check online; this will enable you to reuse your DBS. Better still, the online service is free for volunteers. Find out more about tracking your DBS.