Barnardo's After School Project (referral project)
Volunteers are needed to help local Primary School aged children with homework and in developing reading, writing and numeracy skills. Volunteers also help the children with transfer-test tuition.

The After School Project runs on weekday afternoons throughout the school term times in eight community areas throughout Belfast.

There are no specific skills needed to become a volunteer - training will be provided. You may even get accreditation for your time in the form of a recognised qualification!

The Project works in co-operation with parents and local primary schools and the children attend of their own choice. 

Volunteers can help with the Project from as little as one afternoon per week (during termtime).

Volunteers are needed in each of the following Belfast areas: Andersonstown, Donegall Pass, Ligoniel, Markets, North Queen Street, Shankill, Ravenhill, Whiterock.

Oxfam Bookshop (referral project)
Volunteers are needed to help in the Oxfam Bookshop at 52-54 Dublin Road, Belfast (near Virgin Cinema / Auntie Annies).

Nightline Listening Service (student-run project)
Nightline is an anonymous student-run listening and information service at Queen's which enables concerned individuals to talk over issues in their lives primarily over the phone but also in a secure face-to-face situation. 

Volunteers are expected to set aside one night (8pm - 8am) every three weeks of their time at their office in Fitzwilliam Street, Belfast (beside Queen's Students' Union).

Colin Glen Forest Park (referral project)
Volunteers are needed to help in the following areas of work for the Park Trust: Conservation, Environmental Education, Golf Course Management, Administration, Public Relations.

The park is located at 163 Stewartstown Road, Dunmurry, Belfast, BT17 0HW, which is one mile northwest of Dunmurry Village,  just 15 minutes from Belfast City Centre, and convenient to the M1.

RAG (student-run project)
Queen's RAG is a group of students dedicated to raising money for charity through a series of projects each year, including the infamous PTQ magazine. Their office is located on the 2nd floor of the Students' Union near the Beech Room.

Student Community Action Freshers' Week Activites (one-off project)
SCA needs interested individuals to help man the SCA stall and hand out leaflets at the Freshers' Bazaar in the new academic year.

Lee Hestia (referral project)
Volunteers are needed to help with the Street Outreach (to rough sleepers) and Day Centre projects. Training is provided. Work is based at 3-7 Brunswick Street, Belfast, Bt2 7GE.

Down's Syndrome Association (referral project)

The Association provides opportunities for volunteers to get involved in nights out, new parents weeken, the corrymeela holiday, share centre holiday, personal development weekends, duke of edinburgh award scheme and befriending activities.
 

Age Concern
Volunteers are needed to assist in the office, the four charity shops, a home visiting service, flag days, dementia carers' relief scheme, and also to drive the minibus.
 

Belfast Crown Court Witness Service
The Witness service provides practical information and emotional support to victims and witnesses attending court to give evidence. 

Volunteers would gain a great insight into courts and the legal system and meet lots of new people. The basic requirements are that you are a good communicator and have at least one day per fortnight free to help.
 

Meningitis Trust
The Trust is relatively new to Northern Ireland and therefore there are few, if any, students from Queen's working as volunteers for them. But they're definately looking to change that!

The sort of volunteering opportunities that they have include supporting awareness campaigns and fundraising events. Through wide-ranging opportunities, you could expect to gain a variety of skills in areas such as: event management, campaign design and management, marketing, fundraising, health promotion, etc.
 

War On Want
War On Want is a bookshop and fairtrade centre. Volunteering here can not only help our community and the poor people of the world, but you'll also be able to discover loads of cheap books on many module and degree topics, find cheap presents for birthdays, and have something really worthwhile to put on your CV!
 

Royal National Institute for the Blind - N.Ireland

RNIB wants a world where people who are blind or partially sighted enjoy the same rights, responsibilities, opportunities and quality of life as people who are sighted. We challenge blindness by empowering people who are blind or partially sighted, removing the barriers they face and helping to prevent blindness. Five thousand volunteers already help us in this vital work - will you? 

There are a number of opportunities available at the Institute...

(1) The institute, based at, 40 Linenhall Street, Belfast, is looking for assistants for  Family Weekends to accompany families with blind or visually impaired children on activity weekends at regional venues.

(2) The Institute also needs individuals to assist the resource centre in catering for the needs of groups of visually impaired people. This would require patience and the ability to demonstrate products. Product training would be provided. Groups come by appointment once or twice a month.

(3) Visually impaired children and their siblings attend a Summer Play Scheme, which usually runs for one week in July. Some of the children would have more than one disability. Volunteers are needed to supplement  staff in providing stimulating activity and play for the group. Apply early, subject to police checks.

Student Community Action

In 1997 Student Community Action went out of action owing to lack of participation. Since Christmas 2000 we have been actively looking for enthusiastic individuals to help us rebuild SCA into something useful for the Queen's student movement, and of pride to the student body. 

If you want to get involved in the administration and/or develop of SCA then please get in touch!
 

ADAPT

This organisation basically aims to enable the disabled through a variety of projects. 

They are currently looking for architecture and design students who could design disabled-friendly stuff! There's more info about this on request!

They're also looking for someone with a bit of IT experience who could donate perhaps a couple of hours each month to overseeing the development of their computer equiptment. 
 

Queen's Students' Union (Student Representative Council)

Well believe it or not, the Students' Union does need students to volunteer their precious time in order to make it work! The Student Representative Council is set to be elected this semester, so if you're interested then get a nomination form from the 2nd floor reception of the Students' Union and make sure that Queen's has a Council that actually has something worthwhile to contribute to student life!
 

Rape Crisis Centre

Belfast Rape Crisis Centre desperately needs volunteers to fundraise for them! This is a very worthwhile cause and any help would be appreciated, so get in touch as soon as possible!
 

Elderly People's Night Out

This is a SCA run project, which gets about 50 senior citizens from around South Belfast into the Students' Union for some drinks, some chat, and oh my god - some crazy crazy dancing!

We aim to run this program each year after Halloween and Easter, so if you want to get involved at either of those events then get in touch soon.