I volunteer as a dressing volunteer with Smart Works Yorkshire, a charity that supports unemployed and out-of-work women to gain the confidence and skills they need to succeed in job interviews. I have been volunteering since the start of my second year at the University of Leeds, typically twice a month.
In my role, I work directly with clients during dressing sessions, selecting an outfit from the Smart Works donated wardrobe for them to keep for an upcoming interview. Smart Works truly is an amazing women-based charity focused on the greater good of the Leeds community.
Reasons to volunteer
I wanted to volunteer with Smart Works as a way of giving something back to the Leeds community that has supported me throughout my time as a student.
There is something so genuinely moving about watching a woman’s confidence visibly grow during a session, particularly for those who have never felt truly at ease in what they are wearing.
The fulfilment it brings is difficult to overstate.
On a personal level, the conversations I have had with clients and fellow volunteers from all sorts of backgrounds and life experiences have broadened my horizons and expanded my connections in ways I did not anticipate when I first signed up.
Building trust and confidence
Meeting new clients, women who are placing their trust in me to help them feel comfortable and confident, has done a great deal for my own confidence too. The role has deepened my capacity for empathy and compassion in ways I did not fully anticipate.
Over time, that sense of trust has extended beyond clients. I have regularly supported the training of new volunteers, who shadow me during sessions.
Every shift brings new faces and new conversations, and the connections I have made, with clients and fellow volunteers alike, have genuinely enriched my experience.
Beyond the dressing sessions
Beyond the dressing sessions themselves, one of the things I have valued most is the sense of achievement that comes with the role and the chance to be involved with Smart Works in other ways.
To mark the end of my final year of studies, and to give something back to an organisation that has given me so much, I took on the Rob Burrow Leeds Half Marathon, fundraising directly for Smart Works Leeds.
It was a personal challenge as much as anything, and the warmth and encouragement from the team throughout the fundraising process made every training mile worthwhile.
Advice for future volunteers
Fitting volunteering around my studies has been much more straightforward than I expected. Twice a month is very manageable, and Smart Works offer a flexible schedule with a minimum commitment of just one day a month, which takes the pressure off.
What I have gained in return goes well beyond that time investment: a genuine sense of purpose alongside my studies, and the feeling that I am contributing to someone else’s success as well as my own.
If you are considering it, I would encourage you to find out more about the charity and get in touch with the team. They are very welcoming and have a broad range of volunteering roles, so there are multiple different ways of contributing positively to the charity.
More information about volunteering
- Read more student profiles about volunteering
- Find out more about volunteering opportunities as a student at Leeds
If you’re a not-for-profit organisation in Leeds that would benefit from student volunteers, email the Volunteering Team at volunteer@leeds.ac.uk.