The University has joined forces with over 30 local organisations to develop an online course for volunteers - which is now available absolutely free.
Essential Skills for Volunteers is an open access course aimed at existing volunteers and anyone who may be considering volunteering but doesn't know where to start.
Learners who complete the course will receive two digital badges - Volunteer Explorer and Volunteer Skills Builder - which will be recognised by partners across the city. These badges are a step towards supporting the city's aim to create a 'volunteer passport'.
The course has been created by the University's Lifelong Learning Centre and Digital Education in partnership with Voluntary Action Leeds, Leeds City Council, community organisations and volunteers.
It's a fantastic example of Universities, cities and the community coming together to develop something for the people in their area.
The idea was born following the 2023 Leeds Volunteering Strategy which highlighted that organisations across the city were finding it harder to recruit, train and retain volunteers following COVID.
The Lifelong Learning Centre, which aims to create opportunities for adults to access higher education, became aware of this challenge through their long-established partnerships with community organisations. Together with the local voluntary and community sector, they began exploring how to encourage more people to volunteer.
Co-creation of the course began in April 2024 when the Lifelong Learning Centre and Digital Education met with city partners and student volunteers to determine the project's aims.
The course development has included consultations, workshops and stakeholder reviews with over 30 local and regional voluntary sector organisations, the city council and volunteers.
Key topics
Essential Skills for Volunteers will cover four key topics:
- Confidence building
- Teamwork and communication
- Safeguarding (developed with support from NSPCC and Childline)
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The course takes just two and a half hours to complete and can be done in multiple sittings.
At the end of the course, participants are supported to explore their next steps, with signposting to regional and student volunteering and information on accessing further adult education, including the Lifelong Learning Centre's impartial advice and guidance service.
Collaboration
Louise Banahene, Director of Student Success and Educational Engagement at Leeds, said: "We believe that learning is for everyone and that it's never too late to learn a new skill, plant a seed of interest or build your confidence. Our dedicated staff at the Lifelong Learning Centre are passionate about supporting people in their journey.
"Collaboration with our partners Leeds City Council and Voluntary Action Leeds has been absolutely crucial in developing this course. It's a fantastic example of Universities, cities and the community coming together to develop something for the people in their area.
"Universities have such an important role to play in their regions – it's about giving something back, and working together to make sure it's a great place for people to live."
Andrina Dawson, Volunteering and Capacity Building Manager at Voluntary Action Leeds, said: "We are incredibly excited to be partnering with the University of Leeds Lifelong Learning Centre on this important and inspiring project. The benefits of developing an accessible and interactive volunteer induction programme that can be used by organisations across Leeds are far-reaching.
"This programme will be a vital resource, helping both current volunteers and those considering volunteering to feel more confident and well prepared. It will also provide charities with a strong foundation for their volunteer inductions, which can be built upon and tailored to reflect the specific needs of their organisation and the communities they serve."
Dawn Hall OBE, Executive Manager Employment and Skills at Leeds City Council, said: "This has been a journey of true collaboration, co-production and a common set of purpose and vision.
"We now have an excellent online learning platform, courtesy of the University of Leeds and a pathway of Digital Badges which endorses that the learning is of a high quality and meets the standards of our framework."
