The Research Volunteering Scheme is a volunteering scheme organised by the LSE Volunteer Centre that provides opportunities for LSE postgraduate students to use their academic knowledge and skills to assist a charity by answering an academic question!

We are particularly keen to receive applications from LSE students who are interested in critically engaging with the charity sector’s dominant discourses or exploring alternative ways of operating.  For example, your research might engage with conversations surrounding accessibility, representation, decolonisation or power, to name a few.

‘The Research Volunteering Scheme has been such a rewarding and enriching experience! It is a real privilege to be able to work on a project that aligns with my values and academic interests. But more importantly, it is very exciting to know this work holds the potential to have a tangible impact! I’m grateful for this opportunity to contribute towards issues I care so deeply about alongside other passionate students. It’s been a real pleasure, and I would highly recommend participating in the scheme.’ Research Volunteer, Research Volunteering Scheme 2023-4

The task

This is the second round of questions, which need to be answered by the end of March 2024.  Please note that the LSE CareerHub opportunity advert contains some further information on the projects:

• What is the relation between poverty and educational outcomes for school children in England? What evidence is there for the impact of interventions that improve educational outcomes for pupils living in poverty? Answer with reference to 3 case studies at least one of which should focus on London. 
• Critically analyse sport for development’s empirical impact on the health and/or wellbeing of young people. Answer with reference to 3 case studies that focus on sub-Saharan Africa. 
• Proactive vs reactive: How can development charities effectively communicate to donors the importance of investing in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction projects? Answer with reference to Afghanistan and/or a selection of other ‘lower income’ countries. (‘Donors’ = include general publics; higher value donors such as trusts and foundations; and corporate donors; exclude institutional donors like the EU or SIDA.)
• Critically engage with non-interventionist services OR peer support services OR active listening services in the mental health sector. What benefits do they offer? What are their limitations?  
• How are charities and volunteering understood in different cultural contexts? Answer with reference to three cases studies from three different parts of the world. 

Think you can answer one of these questions by the end of March 2024, and present your argument in an accessible way to one of our charity partners?  You’ll need to produce a research/discussion paper and/or presentation based on secondary research (i.e. a literature review).

The LSE Volunteer Centre will provide you with academic and professional support.  A training workshop will be held on 14 February 2024 (1-2pm) to help to set you up to begin your research!  We’ll check in with you for the scheme’s duration.

‘The Research Volunteering Scheme is the perfect opportunity for students interested in research to apply their secondary research skills to address a real-life question, while also helping a charitable cause and gaining knowledge about a topic that they might never have considered examining before. It motivates you to build links and spend time with LSE students from completely different departments, years, and levels of study, as well as allows you to connect with an organisation (a charity) outside of academia. The programme offers support on all stages, which is a great way to try yourself out in a real-life project before plunging into the workforce.’ Elizaveta Dubova, MSc Media and Communications

How to apply

Applications must demonstrate existing or developing expertise in the topic you choose.

You can apply via CareerHub individually, or in ready-made pairs or small teams!  There’s also a space on the application form to say if you’d like to be connected with others to form a completely new team.  Many of the questions lend themselves to interdisciplinary enquiry, so this could be useful, and it’s a great way to make new friends!

Apply to the scheme 29 January – 7 February.

If you have any questions we can help with, or any adjustment requirements at any point during or after the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out at volunteer@lse.ac.uk

‘The RVS scheme has been great. I have been fortunate to have a great project and work with a team from a few different disciplines. This is refreshing… I would highly recommend this program to anybody looking to add to their CV, work with a significant organisation, or take a break from essay writing and write for more tangible impacts. There is a direct translation of these projects into charity/IGO client work, and in that sense it is quite different to most curricular exercises.

The freedom of the projects is really generous, and this allows you to really tailor the research to how and what you would like to explore within a given project brief. Take enthusiasm from this.

I thank the organisers of this scheme accordingly, and am highly grateful to have been a part of the first pilot – I see it expanding in years to come.’ Colm McDaniel, Research Volunteer, Research Volunteering Scheme 2023-4