Minna Ruohonen, volunteer centre manager

The centre is designed to offer a focal point for advice and support. Based in the Imperial College Union and funded by the Higher Education Active Community Fund, the joint project is managed by the College and the Union, and is seen as an essential link in developing volunteering opportunities for both students and staff.

"We recognise that there is a long tradition of running different types of volunteer projects within the College and the new Imperial volunteer centre aims to become a focal point for all these activities," explained Minna Ruohonen, volunteer centre manager.

"This is an excellent opportunity to encourage both students and staff to get more involved in volunteering. There is a lot of work already going on and it will be important to harness the current activities and volunteers as a catalyst to generate new initiatives and volunteers.

"We also want to expand these activities and set up new initiatives internally and externally, and I need to know what is happening out there - who is already doing some volunteering and who is planning to start a project or thinking of getting involved."

Detailed information about volunteering will be available during a mini-exhibition in the Students' Union Dining Hall between 10am-2pm on 6 February, providing an opportunity to speak directly to external volunteering organisations about their projects. The exhibition will also showcase how internal projects, organised by both staff and students, have been arranged.

"The centre will support volunteers with training sessions, arranged mostly during evenings and covering topics such as first aid, project management, coaching and presentation skills. Volunteering experience can later be used as part of personal and professional development planning," added Minna.

"Volunteering is not about 'charity and giving' but about working together for mutual benefit. This means more than just giving a few hours of your time - it's more about learning something new in a two-way learning process which will benefit both parties."

Contact Minna Ruohonen on 020 7594 8133 or email m.ruohonen@imperial.ac.uk.