Skip to main content

2018

Making a difference: UCC volunteers beat the stats

27 Nov 2018
The newly-launched Making A Difference report is an initiative of the University College Cork Civic and Community Engagement Committee.

New research launched in UCC shows that 46% of UCC students volunteered with local community organisations, clubs and campus groups in the last six months.

Ian Power, a UCC Graduate and Executive Director of Spunout.ie, Ireland’s leading youth information website, said that during his time in UCC:

“[] This learning experience has followed me into my life today, and I greatly appreciate the opportunities UCC gave me to get involved and contribute to the world around me.”

Over 2,000 students were surveyed from March to June 2018. Only 9% of respondents said that they had never volunteered with a huge 85% saying they aimed to volunteer after college. 

The research also shows that 32% of UCC’s student volunteers contribute over 10 hours a month to volunteering.

There is no greater satisfaction than realising you have made a difference...”

A PIECE OF YOU

UCC student Vera Stojanovic, the founder and coordinator of BetterTogether, a not-for-profit organisation working to empower women seeking asylum in Cork City and County, said that:

There is no greater satisfaction than realising you have made a difference, no matter how small, to the life of someone else. Giving your time to help others is giving a piece of yourself [..].”

Yvonne McKenna, CEO of the national President’s Gaisce Award, said the report:

“[] provides useful insights in relation to the levers and barriers to young people volunteering.. it is a central element of the Gaisce programme, precisely in recognition of the impact community action has both on wider society and individuals.”

She also suggested that academic institutions, policy makers and a broad variety of organisations support young people to be active in their community by engaging students as volunteers.

The research report is an initiative of the University College Cork Civic and Community Engagement Committee. The full report ‘Making A Difference’ can be accessed at: https://www.ucc.ie/en/engagement/researchreportonstudentvolunteering/

Want to volunteerStudentvolunteer.ie an easy to use one-stop-shop portal connecting higher education students with civil society organisation volunteering opportunities. 

University College Cork

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

College Road, Cork T12 K8AF

Top