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Volunteering with the Plus Programme

Thank you for your interest in our work with Plus Programme students.

The Plus Programme is a scheme to support students who come from backgrounds that are less represented at university. It provides a space for participants to connect with other students and access exclusive opportunities and funding to enhance thekr experience at Leeds.

By volunteering on the Plus Programme, you could make a difference to the lives of students. In the video ‘Volunteering with the Plus Programme’, Abbey Tsang explains how your support has helped her.

Transcript: Volunteering with the Plus Programme

Ways to get involved 

30-minute mentoring

Can you offer insights into your industry, current role and previous work history?

In this mentoring scheme, Plus Programme students meet with an alum for a 30-minute mentoring session.

As a mentor, you will meet up to five Plus Programme students for a one-to-one session, over a day during term time. These sessions can take place either in person or online.

Next Steps Mentoring for Masters students

If you’re a postgraduate alumni interested in mentoring current masters students, we’d love to hear from you.

In this programme, students meet alumni in roles or sectors that align with their own goals. Students will gain:

  • A network of contacts in the world of work
  • Advice on how to break into their chosen sectors
  • Support on CVs and applications 
  • Any other relevant insights you can offer

Mentors would hold at least three 1-hour sessions.

Insight days

Can you host students in your workplace for a day?

Insight days give current students a chance to learn about the world of work. Hosting students to visit your workplace will be invaluable for students. They would:

  • Discover what to expect in the world of work
  • See what workplaces look like
  • Get a a taster of different jobs available
  • Reduce some of the mystery about the workplace

Our team can work with you to create activities that would benefit students.

Newsletter contributions

Are you able to offer opportunities of interest to students?

We are looking for contributions to our weekly newsletter for Plus Programme students. If you have opportunities that may be of interest to students we’d love to hear from you. Opportunities could include:

  • Internships
  • Placements
  • Graduate schemes
  • Graduate roles

This will give our students the chance to take part in new, exciting opportunities that they may not have engaged in before.

Articles and videos

We are looking for some short videos and written articles covering a range of topics. We will share these with our Plus Programme students via Instagram and LinkedIn.

To find out more, email the alumni volunteering team at alumnivolunteers@leeds.ac.uk.

Events

Social enrichment

Can you deliver a fun and engaging social in Leeds?

Our social events give students the chance to make connections and socialise with their peers. If this is something you can offer we’d love to hear from you.

Degree enhancement opportunities

Did you take part in any of the below opportunities?

We will be holding information sessions on:

  • Postgraduate studies
  • Laidlaw Leadership and Research Scholarship programme
  • Lead LUU campaign
  • Studying abroad

If you can share your experiences we’d love to hear from you. Your insight could inspire students to take the same opportunities.

Insights into managing money

We are looking for alumni to share their expertise in managing money. You would share tips with students including how to:

  • Save money
  • Budget
  • Avoid scams

If you can share experience of managing money, or expertise from a relevant industry, students could gain a lot from your knowledge!

Insights into student housing

We’re looking for people who have been involved in student housing, for example:

  • Unipol
  • Leeds University Union advice team

We’d like you to give tips to students on how to find housing for second year.

Housing help information sessions are important, especially for first year students.

Prepare for Postgrad

Are you a recent masters graduate?

We’re looking for volunteers to write or record case studies for students about to start postgraduate courses. They will help students prepare for their studies by offering an insight into what to expect. We’d love you to share your experiences, particularly focussing on topics such as:

  • Budgeting
  • Reflective study
  • Wellbeing
  • Time management
  • What postgraduate study is like
  • Life in Leeds

What next?

To register your interest for any of these opportunities, or to find out more, get in touch with us at alumnivolunteers@leeds.ac.uk.

Further information about the Plus Programme 

The University of Leeds is committed to providing equality of opportunity for students and helping ensure those from under-represented or non-traditional backgrounds have the highest chance of success.  

The Plus Programme works with a diverse range of students. It is open to students from a varied range of backgrounds including:

  • Those who completed Access to Leeds
  • Means tested scholarship recipients
  • Care experienced students
  • Those who are estranged from their family
  • Those from ethnicities under-represented at the university or within higher education more generally

In 2022 this was around 6,000 students across the University’s undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts.  

We demystify information for students and remove assumed knowledge. We help to build cultural capital for students who may be the first in their family to go to university, or may not have experience in particular areas. It’s also about students feeling seen and that they belong at the University. We’d love you, as an alumni of the Plus Programme, to contribute to our work in this area.  

Thank you again for your involvement! We really appreciate it and it will be so valuable to our Plus Programme students and their experience.