5 Mental Health Benefits of Volunteering at Uni
Like all international students, I came to Swansea ready to start a new chapter in my life. I knew there were incredible volunteering opportunities available for Swansea University students, made possible by the reputed charity on campus named Discovery SVS. So, as soon as I’d settled in, I ventured out to experience the world of volunteering for myself. It’s safe to say that it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made!
As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week, let me share the top 5 mental health benefits of volunteering I experienced as a university student……..
- Connecting with the cosiest community!
Alongside the support services available at the University, the volunteering community provides a personalised touch of home away from home, where one can always safely open up and be gracefully accommodated. When stress crept into my academic life in ways I didn’t know I had to prepare for, being an active volunteer led me to and let me rely on the support and guidance of Discovery’s staff and fellow volunteers. Starting from the friendliest “hi, lovely” to the softest hour-long discussion on personal struggles in the botanical garden, from the focused-work silence in the office when the staff and office volunteers are busy to the curiosity-filled silence as everyone animatedly waits to hear the student volunteers’ experience when they’re back from volunteering sessions, from the popular snack-box in the office to having more familiar faces in the crowd outside the Discovery office and feeling that spark of excitement as we both go “hey!”… the little things kept me tethered to my environment and in the process, kept me intact. In the diversity of the student volunteering community, it became easier for me to recognise that sense of connection, so much so that, even amidst all my internal chaos, I knew I had a place where I belonged.
- Inspiration to keep showing up!
On the toughest days, my mind proved to be my fiercest enemy. And what helped me overcome those days of spiralling thoughts was showing up for available one-off volunteering opportunities at Discovery. Remembering that there is a non-judgmental space and a group of sweet people worth meeting and spending time with, doing the simplest acts such as creating kindness cards or painting plant pots for care homes, which meant a healthy break from everything else in my life, helped me choose to step out into the outside world from the confines of my bed and my room. And I left each of those sessions fully rested and rejuvenated in my entire being. Volunteering gifted me the breathing space I needed whenever I needed it the most, while also showing me that I had so much to contribute even when I felt the smallest.
- Sense of purpose and fulfilment!
One of my favourite volunteering memories is reading letters from school children as part of the Penpals project. Reading a handwritten letter for the first time is like opening a treasure chest of lilac summer evenings, overflowing with innocent beauty. It’s like the combination of a cup of hot cocoa, a gripping book and a window-side view on a rainy morning. Sometimes it takes a moment like that to remind ourselves how much of an impact one tiny act of kindness can have. And volunteering does just that – it opens a world of potential for one to be 1% kinder than they were yesterday, to others and themselves. Whether it means weeding before getting the garden bed ready as part of the Vetch project, singing carol songs at a care home during Christmas time, or having a crafts session with the supported volunteers, volunteering allows everyone to be seen and heard in any way they can. It taught me that what’s mine to give to the community is priceless, indispensable and only mine to share. What better way is there to find that sense of purpose in being alive, and what better fulfilment than knowing you’ve made someone’s day?
- Learning new skills with new friends!
I was lucky to be one of the Project Co-ordinators for the Penpals project, for it equipped me with a variety of transferable skills – scheduling and prioritising tasks, time management, problem-solving and multitasking, session planning, social media management, handling official email communications, and the list goes on. And the best part? I made friends from across the world – people I would’ve otherwise missed out on, even though we attended the same university. I also developed my photography, creative writing and people management skills. Additionally, I had the first-hand experience in understanding more about the voluntary sector as a hub of potential employment. In conclusion, volunteering took me out of my head, broadened my network and worldview, and recalibrated my vision to reveal novel opportunities for anyone interested and willing.
- Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable!
When I first started, I was wary of interacting with people I didn’t know, but by the time I’d wrapped up my Project Co-ordinator role, I’d shared my experience in front of a large audience at the Discovery AGM 2024. When I first started, I was wary of my amateur creativity, but by now I’ve partaken in creating everything from cards, letters, social media posts, blog articles, to love spoons! Volunteering has instilled in me confidence, by which I now have solid reassurance about my skill set and what I bring to any person, place, team, project or organisation. Thanks to volunteering, I got to know myself better in the most fun ways imaginable, and my university experience ended on the brightest note. Now, I get to carry that light, wherever I go. 😊
Thanks for reading
Haritha