For students, volunteering is more than a great way to build up a CV, it rewards on a personal as well as professional level, as Anglia Ruskin University grad Vicky Boyne and her careers adviser, Magdalena Mucha, explain…
It started as a way to accrue credits for a module in her Psychology degree. But for Vicky Boyne, 23, volunteering for ACT quickly became something much more: a chance to make a real difference, not only to other people’s lives, but also her own.
“Part of it was to build up my CV – I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t part of it – but I also I wanted to do something that made a difference,” explains Vicky, who’s just completed her degree at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU). Working at ACT’s hospital hubs, including in Oncology, Vicky says: “some people will be going in there and getting the worst news, and you’re there as a friendly face,” she says.
“My dissertation covered mental health within the workplace and what I learned from that – from my whole course – is an understanding of people. I know what a big difference small connections can make,” continues Vicky. “Hospital is not a nice place to be in most cases. I was in hospital myself recently, and it was the staff and volunteers that made me realise I wanted to do something extra.”
Aiming to join the police force in due course, ideally working within victim support, Vicky says she’s always wanted to help others. But she has been surprised by how much volunteering helps her too: “I find it hard to start new things; change is such a big thing for me. So even though it’s only a day a week, or a couple of days a month [that I’m doing with ACT], I am pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. The team are all so friendly, like a little family.”
It was Vicky’s careers adviser at ARU, Magdalena Mucha, that suggested she volunteer with ACT, the charity supporting not only Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, but also the new Cambridge Children’s and Cambridge Cancer Research Hospitals. Working as an Employability & Careers Adviser at the university since 2022, Magdalena says: “Primarily, I encourage students to volunteer because gaining experience beyond their academic studies is an essential part of developing employability skills, professional confidence, and career readiness.
“From an employability perspective, I consider volunteering no less valuable to students than paid employment, and this is increasingly recognised by employers as well. It offers students the opportunity to experience a professional environment, develop transferable skills, build confidence in interacting with others, and gain greater self-awareness around their strengths, values, and vocational interests.”
Vicky’s sense of personal, not only professional, gain, is also a key benefit, continues Magdalena: “It offers something that goes beyond career development alone – it allows students to contribute their time and energy towards causes, communities and individuals in ways that can have a very real impact. That experience of being able to make a meaningful contribution and see the difference your presence can make is often deeply valuable in itself, particularly at a stage in life where many students are still shaping their sense of identity, purpose, and direction.”
Magdalena feels working with ACT is “particularly valuable” thanks to the wide variety of ways in which they can get involved, from raising funds and awareness and supporting the charity’s events to manning the in-hospital hubs.
“Students sometimes assume that volunteering linked to a healthcare provider is only relevant to those pursuing healthcare or clinical careers, but organisations such as ACT offer opportunities that help students develop a much broader range of transferable skills and experiences,” she explains. “Roles linked to fundraising, public engagement, events, communication, coordination, and community support can all contribute meaningfully to a student’s professional and personal development, regardless of their long-term career goals.”
Vicky is now encouraging more of her contemporaries to volunteer. “It’s nice to give up some of your time to help someone else,” she says. “People think they’re too busy, but if you want to find the time, you will. And if you can be the reason someone smiles? That’s the reward, right there.”
Find out more about volunteering with Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust here.
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