A Discussion with The St Andrews Voluntary Service

St Andrews is known for its eclectic mix of societies, fashion shows, and performances, making up the vibrant student community that we’ve all come to know as the “bubble”. With so many opportunities, it can be easy to forget that there is a world outside of university commitments and essay deadlines. To find out more about how students can get involved with the local community of Fife, I interviewed the Animals and Environment officer of The St Andrews Voluntary Service (SVS) about their various projects, and how to sign up.

Could you briefly explain what SVS does and how to get involved?

“SVS is a network of the student’s association, and we work to connect students with organizations and the community for volunteering. We have all sorts of opportunities from tree-planting to coding clubs. It’s super easy to get involved; all you need to do is to go to the graduate attributes portal where you can see all the projects that we offer, you click sign up and then we will be in touch about the next steps.”

What is the most rewarding part of volunteering?

“Feeling connected to the community in St Andrews. On a more practical note, it looks really good on the CV! I was first drawn to SVS because it had a lot of projects that aligned with what I was studying. In one of my Sustainable Development courses, we learned about blue carbon, which refers to the storage of carbon dioxide in coastal and marine ecosystems. This led me to the project Green Shores, which aims to restore salt marshes in order to protect blue carbon, thereby mitigating climate change. We worked on planting in the salt marsh and maintaining the polytunnel, so it’s a great way to get outside, learn new things, and meet new people!

While I mostly volunteer on environmental projects, there are plenty of other projects which can help you gain relevant experience in your area. If you’re interested in teaching, for example, there are so many opportunities in schools, such as helping in after-school clubs or sports practice sessions.”

Credit: Green Shores Saltmarsh Restoration

How do you balance university work and volunteering?

“Most people don’t realise how flexible volunteering with SVS actually is- we have so many projects where you decide when you volunteer, such as Cambo Estates and the Tree Warden projects. Alternatively, there are some projects which are regular, usually every week. This can be more motivating, as there’s more consistency in the work you’re doing, so you can really see the impact you’re making on the community. Every Thursday, we have community gardening, so it’s in town and really easy to get to. It’s amazing to see how a space that was previously neglected has been transformed into a garden.

Credit: St Andrews Environment Network

What do you do on the committee? Is it easy to get involved?

“I mainly perform administrative tasks, such as communicating with the charities, volunteers, and generally making sure things are running smoothly. During the summer before the semester, I connect with the charities and see if they want volunteers and what capacity. It’s really rewarding to be part of the committee, as in addition to the projects I help to organize, I get to hear about all the other projects SVS is working with and be part of the community among the volunteers themselves.”

SVS forms the vital link between St Andrews and the wider community. You can work among a variety of different age groups, engage in new activities, and make a positive impact on both a local and global scale through community care and environmental conservation. While it can be easy to get lost in the endless stream of essay deadlines, it is important not to lose touch with the world outside the “bubble”. Even if you volunteer for just one hour a week, your help will make a difference, and you can sign up to volunteer at any point in the year.