Degree Plus

Prestige Volunteers recognises volunteering efforts of students through certificates, endorsed by Queen’s Students’ Union, for 50, 100 and 200 hours of volunteering.

Students must register for Prestige Volunteers.  They will then be given access to a record book allowing them to record their volunteering hours.

Students must complete 200 hours of Prestige Volunteers (these hours will be verified by a volunteering supervisor) over the course of their studies.

Upon successfully verified completion of 200 hours, students must submit a 500 word essay to volunteer@qub.ac.uk detailing how volunteering has impacted on their personal and professional development.

Both the 200 hours and the essay elements must be completed by 1 April (summer graduation) or 1 November (winter graduation) on the students’ year of graduation.

Homework Clubs aims to raise the educational attainment and aspirations of children and young people living in some of the most educationally underachieving areas of Belfast.

It also gives Queen’s students (volunteers) the perfect opportunity to gain hands on experience in tutoring and supporting young people while also aiding their own personal development, raising their social insight and improving their employability prospects.

Students must complete the following:

• Mandatory induction training session with Queen’s Students’ Union
• Specific Homework Club local induction
• Completion of Safeguarding Check (Access NI) for majority of Clubs
• Volunteer at a minimum of 5 homework club sessions
• Participate in at least 2 follow-up specialised workshops
• Write a 500-word reflective journal about their experience of participating in the Homework Clubs initiative

Students can contact homeworkclubs@qub.ac.uk for more information.

Handy Helpers aims to respond to the immediate needs of the local community through a diverse range of one-off volunteering activities, such as community gardening, litter-picks, supporting local residents’ community projects and assisting local charities with one-off projects. The initiative is a great way for students, who do not have the time to make a regular commitment to volunteering, to make new friends, gain new skills and have fun while actively supporting their local community.

The diverse range of opportunities on offer combined with the short-term/episodic nature of the projects ensures that there is a Handy Helpers activity for everyone, whatever their interests and time-commitments. The programme also allows students to try out new activities, giving them a taste of volunteering in different charities without committing to them long-term.

To obtain Degree Plus through Handy Helpers, students must complete the following:

• Participate in a minimum of 7 Handy Helpers community volunteering activities.
• Participate in at least 2 out of 4 specialised training sessions.
• Write a 500-word reflective blog post about their experience participating in the Handy Helpers initiative.
• Submit Volunteering Logbook as evidence of the hours they have committed to volunteering as a Handy Helper.

Students can contact handyhelpers@qub.ac.uk for more information.

This route offers students the opportunity to create their own personalised award by combining a range of smaller extra-curricular activities (volunteering can be one of these).  There are lots more examples here. 

Complete DegreePlus Induction and submit the Combined Activity Application Form before 1st November (for those graduating in winter) or 1st April (for summer graduates).

Find more info here.