Want to volunteer as part of a student consultancy team to assist a charity in addressing an organisational challenge?
If so, the Community Engagement Programme (CEP) 2024 is for you! It runs from 29 November 2023 – 20 March 2024. The programme is open to all LSE students. We are particularly keen to receive applications from students who want to volunteer for the first time.
Projects
You might be devising new fundraising strategies for a charity, identifying how a charity can attract younger audiences and volunteers, advising on a charity’s social media, or conducting a literature review on a topic to inform a charity’s advocacy work. This year’s projects are from charities operating in fields concerning women and girls’ empowerment, Black British history, educational equity, homelessness, the creative industries, racism, health, gender and generation, conflict and memory, support for veterans, and human rights and technology.
Rewards
‘My experience with the Community Engagement Programme was by far unlike any other volunteering experience I had done before. I really appreciated the more formalised nature of it, being facilitated by the LSE Volunteer Center and supported by other members of the LSE Community. In this sense, the very nature of the programme (independent of the actual consultancy project) fosters a greater sense of belonging, support and community. The project itself presented a challenge as none of us had undertaken such a task previously but this was the perfect opportunity to go beyond our pre-existing skillset and expand our technical, problem-solving, teamwork and communication skills… I could not recommend this programme enough to people as it is a great way to experience consultancy work, expand your network and meet new people.’
Anna Monro, MSc in Gender, Development and Globalisation
The Community Engagement Programme offers all volunteers the chance to fight for a cause they’re passionate about, make a real difference to our communities, and develop vital personal, professional, and academic skills – all within a supportive environment.
Support
You’ll meet with your assigned charity every 1-2 weeks from the middle of January. Each team will also receive support from the LSE Volunteer Centre, the wider LSE, and an LSE Alumni Mentor.
The LSE supports every team with resources on all aspects of the project from research methodology to presenting; workshops; and research ethics and safe data management training.
Our LSE Alumni Mentors are incredible individuals who work in professional fields including consultancy, the non-profit sector, the civil service, higher education and the UN system.
‘A brilliant programme which allowed me to work with students in different years and from a variety of departments. Taking part in the CEP provided both a valuable insight into consulting and enabled us to deliver useful recommendations to a charity in the process. It was a fantastic experience that I would recommend to any student at LSE interested in consulting, and having our findings taken forward to potentially make real change feels very rewarding…’ – Koshiki, First-year undergraduate student
How to apply
To apply, complete an application form on CareerHub before 12 November 2023.
More information
To learn more, sign up to attend an information event about the programme:
Alternatively, reach out to volunteer@lse.ac.uk
