Social Impact Voluntary Placement Scheme
Spend your summer developing your skills by working with an innovative social impact organisation
Up to seven weeks over summer 2019
Cambridge, London, Bristol, Winchester, Remote
Looking for something meaningful to do with your summer? Want to make an impact and develop your skills? Applications for the Social Impact Voluntary Placements scheme are open from Monday 7th January until Sunday 24th February.
In 2018:
91% of students felt that they gained valuable work experience through the scheme
98% felt that they contributed to the creation of social impact
91% of students felt that they gained valuable work experience through the scheme
98% felt that they contributed to the creation of social impact
“Taking part in the programme by doing a voluntary placement gave me the opportunity to develop skills, and get an insight into a third sector organisation, while at the same time doing work that I felt had an impact.” 2018 Scheme Participant
We find students make the most of this opportunity if they have already been involved in some social action or volunteering, so we advise you to get involved in Hub activities to prepare yourself for a placement.
Why spend your summer doing a voluntary placement?
We want to help passionate and talented students get the skills, training and contacts they need to pursue a social impact career. We're trying to make it easier for students to get work experience in the sector so you can figure out what you want (or don't want!) to do.
The Social Impact Voluntary Placements Scheme (SIVP) places students who are passionate about social change with some of the most innovative social impact organisations in the UK. Successful applicants undertake a summer placement in which they are given the opportunity to take responsibility over an area of work, manage or a project or accelerate the development of a charity.
Many placements are exclusive to this scheme and provide unparalleled experience working at the heart of a brilliant charity.
Now in its tenth year, this is the biggest social sector internship scheme in the UK; last year we placed 86 students in 60 organisations.
Organisations providing placements are based in Bristol, Cambridge, London and Winchester. We also offer remote placements.
Alongside a placement, we provide training sessions designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in the social impact sector.
This is your chance to make a positive difference whilst gaining work experience, great contacts and new skills.
It’s a brilliant stepping stone to a career in the social impact sector and provides excellent work experience. Our partnership with graduate scheme Worthwhile also creates follow-on opportunities and a route into the sector for the most committed students.
Applications for placements will close on Sunday 24 February.
Information session on Monday 18th February
We're holding an Info Session on Monday 18th of February from 5-6pm in Murray Edwards College for those who want to learn more about the scheme. You'll learn about the types of placements we offer, the application process, and hear from a previous student on the scheme about their experience. Come with questions and we'll provide the answers!
For more updates click 'Going' to our Facebook event here.
How does the scheme work?
January - end of February: You can apply to the scheme from Monday 7 January. We’re looking for students who are passionate about social impact and dedicated to improving their skills and employability. We’ll ask you to submit a CV and let us know your motivations for doing a placement.
March: We'll let you know if you've been successful in your online application; if so, you will be invited to an interview where we’ll discuss your availability, preferred location and what you want to get out of the programme. If you're successful at the interview stage, we'll let you know that you've secured a place on the Scheme.
April: You'll receive pre-placement training and we’ll start the process of matching you to a host organisation. We invite some of the most innovative and inspiring social impact organisations in the UK to host a placement, providing students with a useful and meaningful project to complete over the summer.
May: Depending on your start date, you can expect to receive your match with a placement in May. We do our best to match the right student to the right project. We match you based on your location, availability, skills and interests.
June - September: As our placements are flexible, they can take place anytime between June and September, usually over seven weeks. We provide ongoing support to students and host organisations.
October: On completion of your placement, you will be invited to reflect on what you’ve learned from the experience and to give us feedback on the Scheme.
Previous participants have said:
“I've learnt so much over the eight weeks and my confidence has grown. I've realised I am capable of things that I never thought I was capable of.”
“It was a wonderful, enjoyable, eye-opening and educational way to spend the first weeks of my summer, I had a great experience.”
“It was a brilliant use of free time over the summer- I managed to gain meaningful and useful work experience whilst also contributing to a social cause.”
“My experience has broadened my horizons, looking into possible career paths for the future. Over this internship, I have met many like-minded people that have given me insight into the social impact sector. I have developed many skills such as organisation, time-management, leadership and team-work.”
“It gives a fantastic insight into how charities work”
What could I be doing?
Previously, student projects have included: event planning, working on marketing and publicity materials, research, report writing, drafting fundraising bids, managing social media and analysing data.
We can’t guarantee what kind of projects we’ll have available this year, but it’ll be challenging and an opportunity to create real impact. This scheme is most suitable for students who are open-minded about the kind of experience they’d like to develop and the thematic focus area of the organisation, as we match you on location and availability firstly.
Equal Opportunities
Cambridge Hub is committed to making our activities inclusive to all students. We can make reasonable adjustments to application processes, interviews, training sessions, and activities on a case-by-case basis. We help host organisations to make reasonable adjustments for students with specific health, wellbeing or mobility needs. We also provide ongoing support for the students we work with, so if you have particular needs, including special educational needs, please do get in touch.
Contact
If you have any questions about the Social Impact Voluntary Placements Scheme, please get in touch with Michael at michael.crowder@cambridgehub.org.
| Strategic Partner | Strategic Partner |  | |
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