Volunteering FAQs

Who can get involved with your projects?

Our programmes are open to everyone! Whether you are an Oxford University student, a long-term resident of the city or a newcomer just settling in, we welcome you to participate in our programmes and help build a better Oxford.

How will volunteering fit into my schedule?

We have activities taking place at different times on every day of the week. Some of our opportunities are a regular weekly commitment for 1-2 hours, others are far more flexible, and some programmes can be more intensive. You can find out more about different opportunities on our programme pages – or get in touch via our Contact page if you have any questions.

Will taking part cost me money?

No, volunteering with Oxford Hub is free. If you incur any costs as part of your volunteering (e.g. you travel by bus or buy equipment to be used as part of an activity) then we will cover this. We’ll explain how to claim back your expenses when you sign up for a programme.

Can you make adjustments to the opportunities you offer?

Absolutely – we aim to be an inclusive organisation and can make reasonable adjustments to application processes, training sessions and other activities on a case-by-case basis. There’s more information about this on our Accessibility and Inclusion page.

We regularly collect feedback from volunteers and are always looking for ways to improve our opportunities – if you have thoughts or ideas then do get in touch or pop by the office for a chat.

Is it possible to volunteer remotely?

Yes! Exact opportunities will vary depending on the project, but there are definitely ways you can contribute to our programmes regardless of your location. Examples include one-to-one English language support or supporting a local child with their school work over video call, or running an online fundraiser to support our work.

Do I need previous experience?

No. We welcome people from all backgrounds and we believe that you will bring a lot to the table regardless of whether you have prior experience. Training and support will be provided for everyone (see below).

For a small number of our opportunities, there will be an interview and selection process for participants. In these cases, previous social action experience will strengthen your application, so consider taking part in one of our other projects first, or talk to a member of staff for more advice.

Will I receive training?

We provide programme-specific training for all of our opportunities. If necessary, we'll also need to process a DBS check for you and arrange safeguarding training. Oxford Hub staff will also be on hand if you have queries.

You may decide you would like to take more of a leadership role and get involved in the running of a project. There are plenty of opportunities to pursue this, and we keen to support our members to take on more responsibility within projects – for example recruiting and coordinating other volunteers, fundraising and developing activities.

Sounds great, how do I get started?

Choose the programme you’d like to take part in, and fill out the short online application form on the relevant webpage. A staff member will then be in touch with details of the next steps. Depending on the activity, you might be invited to meet with a team member, or to attend some training at Oxford Hub, before you get started.

What’s the best way to stay up to date with all of your events and opportunities?

The best way to keep track of what’s going on at Oxford Hub is by signing up to our newsletter and following our Facebook page.