UJS announces the launch of a national student volunteer scheme

Vscheme is the culmination of 18 months of hard work by the creator of the scheme, Ricky Kaplan, a student in Nottingham, in partnership with UJS.

Vscheme began life in Nottingham last year where more than 50 students volunteered on a regular basis for a range of Jewish and non-Jewish charities.

Working with Richard Verber, UJS' Professional Development and Leadership Director, the scheme is launching this autumn in Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester and going into its second year in Nottingham.

Plans are underway to expand Vscheme to all other J-Socs wherever students wish to run the initiative.

There are a number of volunteering opportunities through Vscheme across the current cities: Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester and its flagship city - Nottingham.

Opportunities for Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester students will include working with elderly people in care homes and in after school clubs with children with special needs. Nottingham students will also be able to work with children at Cheder and in a homeless centre.

Getting involved is easy - students need to contact their Vscheme coordinator, tell them which opportunity suits them best and the coordinator will make the connection with the charity.

Signing up usually involves a CRB check but this process is simple and we are able to guide you through the process.

Richard Verber said: "The student survey UJS has just initiated showed that 65% of Jewish students believe that being Jewish is about volunteering to support a charity. Vscheme is a wonderful way to provide that opportunity for Jewish students and is a perfect example of peer-led activity which UJS passionately believes in.

Ricky Kaplan said: "I'm so, so excited to see Vscheme launch on four different campuses. This has been a dream of mine for some time and I really believe Vscheme will provide a way for Jewish students to get involved who might not have done otherwise. There is always room for more J-Socs to join and more charities to be included!"

To find out who your Vscheme coordinator is, or to see how you can run Vscheme in your community, e-mail rickykaplan789@gmail.com or richard@ujs.org.uk

Volunteer testimonies:

"As a medic I never thought I'd have to the time to volunteer, but Vscheme makes it so easy - it's amazing". Vicki

"By making regular visits to speak with the elderly Jewish residents of Nottingham at both MK House and now Abbeyfield, I have enriched my understanding of both the past and current world. I have found that giving even a small part of my week to visiting the elderly is a welcome break from the hectic schedule of student life and enables me to learn lessons away from the lecture theatre." Matt