Benefits to University Students Through Volunteering in a Health Context: A New Model. Issue 3 (3rd July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Williamson, Iain; Wildbur, Diane; Bell, Katie; Tanner, Judith; Matthews, Hannah
• Is Part Of: British journal of educational studies. Volume 66:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 383
• Page End: 402
• Publication Date: 2018-07-03
• Subjects: volunteering -- university students -- psychological well-being -- grounded theory -- interviews; Education -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 370.5
• DOI: 10.1080/00071005.2017.1339865
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1005

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Individual interviews explored 50 British University students' accounts of sustained volunteering within health settings and a model was developed using grounded theory. Phase one – 'Getting involved' – outlines 'motives and catalysts' for students starting to volunteer wherein altruistic motives of compassion for others are juxtaposed with perceptions of enhanced employability. Phase two – 'Maintaining commitment' – includes three components ('Making connections', 'Developing resilience' and 'Keeping the balance'), which represent important aspects of continuing volunteering participation. Phase three – 'Reaping the rewards' – focuses on the benefits of volunteering including self-development. Our findings have implications for the training and support of student volunteers.