Classroom support from student volunteers

• Available on request
• Flexible

Our student volunteers are available to offer classroom support to both primary and secondary schools. We can also support pupils aged 16+ to take up volunteering opportunities.

Primary school volunteering

Our volunteers currently support six local primary schools and we are looking to set up partnerships with more schools.

You will be able to ask student volunteers to support with a wide range of activities, for example:

• listening to readers
• help with group work
• helping to facilitate play during school lunchtimes.

Volunteers are looking to gain an insight into the classroom environment and the primary school curriculum.

This project runs from September to July.

Secondary school volunteering

Our student volunteers are currently working with several local secondary schools to provide classroom assistance. We are looking to partner with more schools.

Volunteers support pupils who might need extra help with GCSE revision in English, maths, art or photography. They can also help you with general support in the classroom and around the school.

We have set up more specific schemes with some of the schools that we work with. For example, our Children’s Literacy and Numeracy Scheme (CLANS) offers one-to-one support to secondary school pupils through paired reading sessions and maths support. Pupils who need help to improve their reading and literacy have really benefited from this chance to get extra support.

Student volunteers are studying a variety of degree subjects and have different A-level and GCSE backgrounds.

This project runs from September to July.

Make a Smile

All children deserve a childhood and we understand that illness or disability can make this very difficult for some children. Make a Smile is a project that hopes to help. Any university student or sixth form pupil can get involved as a volunteer, doing:

• hospital visits
• large event appearances
• community events appearances
• fundraisers
• events with older people
• book readings
• arts and crafts
• individual character visits.

Volunteers are professional, forward-thinking and well trained but fun is always the number one priority for both children and volunteers. Volunteers dress up as Disney characters or magic makers and attend events and hold classes.

Volunteers are closely supervised during a 20 hour probation period when they will receive support and feedback. All our volunteers are DBS checked and trained in character studies and working with children. They are also offered training in British Sign Language, autism awareness, confidentiality, non-verbal communication, improvisation and more.

This is a great opportunity for anyone who is 16+ years old and who would like to gain experience working with children with extra needs. It is also an exciting opportunity for schools to bring safe and vital play opportunities to children who may not of otherwise had this.

Make a Smile’s founder and lead volunteer Luke has won the Prime Minister’s Point of Light Award for his efforts with Make a Smile. The project also came third place at the Whatuni? Choice awards in the giving back category. The project has also won Cardiff University Students Unions awards for outstanding contribution and best new project.

Find out more about Make a Smile.

About us

Cardiff Volunteering is the in house charity of Cardiff University Students' Union. We aim to give opportunities for students and the local community to work together to bring the best opportunities to the area.

We have over 30 volunteering projects in community centres, primary schools, secondary schools, play centres, parks, canals and allotments.

We coordinate several projects for school pupils from the age of 4 to 18 and we can provide DBS checks for our students before they start volunteering.

Projects, events and activities can be run in schools, hostels, hospitals and community centres. All our projects are free to get involved with.

Find out more

For more information about the activity, please visit our website.

About the organiser

This activity is organised by Cardiff Volunteering. Contact Hannah Snape or Lauren Dovey at volunteering@cardiff.ac.uk or +44 (0)29 2078 1419 for more details.