Exciting Developmental Developments for Kent Union Volunteers

Exciting Developmental Developments for Kent Union Volunteers

I feel that one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of the work I do and also the most important is the development of our volunteers. Students at the University of Kent this year have already contributed over 70,000 hours through the K.S.C.V awards scheme which is a volunteering certificate awarded by Kent Union and the University of Kent, at its most advanced level this takes the form of a 15 credit module which can become part of your degree or can be taken for extra credit. The award covers a wide range of volunteering skills and types which like all volunteering has the power to develop the individual but also has the benefit of developing an academic understanding of the place that volunteering holds in society.

We all love Bursting Bubbles....

An interesting study was held dispelling some of the misconceptions about young people and volunteering called 'Bursting the Bubble.' I found it very useful and there are some real surprises such as the disparity between the assumptions that employers make about young people's reasons for volunteering and the reasons that young people gave. If you would like to read it you can check it out here http://tinyurl.com/6jgq4or. I highly recommend it.


The 'platinum award' has been offered at the University of Kent for some years, although it has recently been shortened from an 18 month course to a 12 month course making it more accessible for volunteers who start mid-way through their University experience. However, there are several exciting new developments that Kent Union has made for volunteers for the year 2012-2013 including the introduction of the new certificate in volunteer management. This new course will be made available to approximately 100 key volunteers representing students at Kent's Canterbury and Medway campuses with a curriculum including:

4 modules (1 compulsory plus 3 optional):

1.      Promote volunteering to potential and actual volunteers (compulsory) - ASSIGNMENT

2.      Provide leadership and direction for own area of responsibility  (optional) (include content around project management in the training)

3.      Build support and manage a team  (optional) (include content around conflict management in the training)

4.      Manage the motivation of volunteers (optional) - ASSIGNMENT

In order to achieve qualification:

·         Attend at least 2 mentoring meetings

·         Attend all 4 of the training days

·         Complete 2 assignments

·         Wednesday 13 - Friday 15 June, inclusive (modules 1-3)

·         EITHER Friday 5 or Saturday 13 October (module 4)    

Kent Union is A registered
investor in Volunteers

This is an exciting opportunity with a cash value of hundred of pounds, for volunteers working with teams of volunteers and as a professional level qualification is going to be invaluable on the CV for anyone who completes the programme.


Two of the groups that will be but through this training are the Volunteer committees at Canterbury and Medway who champion community and campus volunteering, monitor, develop and champion the KSCV volunteering certificate and help to distribute funding to any volunteering group that exist.  Societies Federation Committee who hold a similar role for societies at the Canterbury Campus also being responsible for working on issues such as facilities and policy surrounding societies will also be able to benefit from this training.


Nominations for these positions are open now! If you would like more information about any of the roles please contact:


Medway Volunteering Committee (Kent University Students only) David d.coldwell@kent.ac.uk 
Canterbury Volunteering Committee Steph s.l.j.hughes@kent.ac.uk
Canterbury Societies Federation Committee Union-activities@kent.ac.uk

Many other roles exist in Representation and Democracy and there are still some vacant positions so drop Mel Sharman an e-mail if you are interested. As I will also be going on this training programme I am looking forward to meeting the new volunteer leaders (and managers) of Kent Union!