University life can be overwhelming for some students, and it isn’t always easy to meet people and make connections. If you are someone who thinks you could lend a helping hand to a fellow student who is struggling form friendships by meeting up and having a chat over a coffee on campus, exploring the city together, or being someone who can go with them to social events they may be nervous about attending alone, we would love to hear from you and talk to you about becoming an SU Buddy volunteer!
What’s new with the SU Buddy Scheme?
This year, the SU Buddy Scheme has evolved so that students can meet and socialise with even more likeminded people through group activities and events, allowing students to establish a core group of friends that can share interests, introduce one another to new hobbies, and help each other navigate life as a student at the University of Plymouth!
The SU Buddy Scheme is designed to be very informal and is open to all students at the university. It is simply an opportunity to be introduced to others looking to form friendships, find peer-to-peer support, and have fun doing a range of activities at the SU and in Plymouth!
Find out more about the SU Buddy Scheme here.
Could you offer a student 1-1 support?
We are looking for compassionate, friendly students who are willing to volunteer their time to help support another student to settle into university life and find their feet here in Plymouth!
As an SU Buddy volunteer, you will be paired with student who is looking for 1-1 peer support who has similar interests or shared hobbies as yourself to allow you find common ground and enjoy activities together. Once you have signed up to be an SU Buddy volunteer, we will be in touch to talk you through the next steps, including having a quick chat in person, sharing any training you will need to complete online, and answering any questions you may have about this role. Once these steps are complete, we will match you with a student based on your shared interests!
Why volunteer for the scheme?
Volunteering as an SU Buddy means making a real difference to someone's life. It is about making an impact through a selfless act, helping your peers potentially overcome isolation, social anxiety, and being the friend they need to flourish whilst at university.
Being an SU Buddy is a great way to grow your confidence by meeting new individuals and supporting them in a variety of different ways to meet their specific needs. You will be able to access subsidised trips to local hot spots and visit new places in the city. We hope the individual(s) you are matched with blossom into friendships that last throughout your university journey, or even friends that go beyound your university days!
Plus, volunteer work is an amazing addition to your CV and will help you to build transferable skills for the future!
Other information you need to know about becoming an SU Buddy Volunteer:
- Volunteers must sign up via the online form. Please add as many details as you can about your interests, hobbies and reasons for volunteering! This is how we match you up with students, so we want to get to know you!
- We will need to meet with you before we can send you any links to training. This is to explain the scheme in more detail and check that it’s the right fit for you!
- All volunteers must complete the online training module before they can be paired up. Once this is complete, we will get in touch with you with the details of your student you’ll be supporting. You will get their name, email, and a bit of info about them. The student will get the same information about you, and you can then reach out to them.
- We have a soft/hot drink voucher to use in the SU, which you can collect from the Hive. These are here to support in that first meet up, so you can get you and your student a free drink.
- Throughout the year, we will send out feedback forms, to check in on how you’re doing, and see if you or your student need any support. Please make sure you fill these in, as they help us tailor the scheme to suit your needs!
- If you are struggling to get hold of your student for any reason, please get in touch. We will reach out directly and re-match you if they no longer require support.
