A new Certificate in Volunteering has been launched to enable volunteers to use their experiences within the third sector to gain a formal qualification.

The course, from Birkbeck University of London, is open to volunteers, staff and trustees of not-for-profit organisations and involves 40 hours of volunteering, monthly tutorials and one written assignment. In order to build on the core module of the certificate, students are also able to choose modules relevant to their volunteering interests. For instance, someone working with Age Concern might choose modules in social studies or gerontology.

“Volunteering is in itself an important learning process, and volunteers are people who have interests and concerns beyond their own immediate needs,” says course tutor James Simister, a former volunteer director of CSV Volunteer Partners. “This certificate gives people the opportunity for critical reflection about social and global problems, and about how their commitment is valued and regarded.”

Birkbeck University of London is a specialist in providing higher education to people with day-time commitments so is specifically geared towards part-time studying. It also has a wide range of contacts within London’s not-for-profit sector and can arrange volunteering opportunities for students if required. For more information call 020 7631 6699 or email j.simister@bbk.ac.uk