Making a Difference: Opportunities for Volunteering

We're now in April which can be a busy time for students. It the not-too-distant future though is the summer. This may seem like a ridiculously long way away at the moment, but it could be something to aim for as it is an opportunity for a lengthy, well-earned rest. It could however be an opportunity to do other things as well, especially as the summer break is so long. One of the things you may consider doing during this summer break is travelling, or maybe even volunteering.

Travelling is something with obvious appeal for many. Volunteering on the other hand has a lot to offer in terms of acquiring skills and experiences, and, in a way incorporates some of the adventure that travelling offers. What you stand to gain from volunteering has the potential to be really beneficial to your forthcoming academic year as well as life after your university course comes to an end.

What Do You Want To Get Out of It?

A good place to start with this is, unsurprisingly on the web, as there is quite a lot of information available on this subject.

For students at the University of Birmingham and therefore members of the Guild of Students, there are a good number of opportunities to volunteer. Some of these volunteering groups work in aid of various charities such as Oxfam and Cancer Research UK, while others are based around work that takes place within specific communities. There are also 'one-off opportunities' that require less of your time which may be something to consider if you are unsure about volunteering or are new to it. They also have opportunities to volunteer within the Guild itself, enabling you to give help to other students who need it.

Going International

In addition, there are a multitude of opportunities to work as a volunteer overseas. These opportunities can encompass environmental conservation, assisting those with disabilities, public health work and more. Offering your help to countries overseas, especially where the help may seem most needed, is probably what comes to mind when you think about volunteering. It is certainly a terrific chance to combine memorable learning experiences with the possibility of making hugely beneficial changes to the lives of people in the communities that you are lending a hand to.

There will usually be costs involved in venturing-out on an international opportunity for volunteering. Some preparation will also be required. In addition, it is a good idea to double-check the kind of opportunities that appeal to you most when doing your resarch into volunteering. Doing this helps you to avoid being tricked by any possible scams.

Staying Put

Volunteering doesn't have to mean making journeys of vast distances across continents. There are some other great volunteering options here in the UK for you to take into consideration. You could find yourself providing assistance to a scheme like LinkAges which brings student volunteers into contact with elderly people in local communities, or even taking part in fundraising efforts. There are some excellent options that allow you to make a definite difference to people's lives.

Unihousing Student Accommodation

At this time of the year, as a student, something you may also be giving some thought to is your accommodation. For students in the city of Birmingham, high-standard student accommodation with superb locations can be discovered with Selly Oak based registered lettings agents Unihousing.

Unihousing ensure that each of their student homes is equipped with the kind of essentials that are vital to daily student living. All of their properties are available at reasonable prices to suit most budgets, and the cost of bills and internet is often included within the price of rent. Providing accommodation that is tastefully laid-out and adequately spacious, Unihousing also boast their own team of qualified tradesmen, meaning that any issues with properties can be responded to quickly and effectively. And with their Selly Oak student homes placing tenants within a short distance from shops, supermarkets, pubs and restaurants as well as public transport that can take you to other Birmingham towns and the City Centre, you will be close to the things you need and not too far from the places you want to get to for fun, day or night.

 The Future Ahead

Volunteering is a brilliant way to get the kind of experiences you probably wouldn't by simply sticking to the pattern of studying and socialising that tend to dominate the university lifestyle. And it also acts a great way to take a break from the repetition of doing the kind of things you would expect from week-to-week. While there's numerous aspects to be considered as you progress through uni', volunteering is something that can give you an immediate boost on both an educational and personal level, whilst benefiting you massively when you leave university as well.

Hunting For The Ideal Student Accommodation

It's about this time of the year when the search for Birmingham student accommodation can really heat up. This might be a great opportunity to get ahead of everybody else. By reading through this blog you can learn all you need to know and make an informed decision. This way you will be ahead of the pack in terms of finding that perfect student property that will be your home for the coming academic year.

If the hunt for the student accommodation in Birmingham is your top priority, then make Unihousing the focus of your energies. Registered lettings agents based in Selly Oak, Birmingham, Unihousing are providers of high-standard student housing that consistently meets the needs of today's students.

What Sets Unihousing Apart?

A number of things, really. Unihousing offer student houses as well as studios and both come with the kind of furnishings that facilitate comfortable, convenient living.

The accommodation on offer at Unihousing is built and maintained to a high standard. Tenants can expect spacious bedroom/living room spaces, fully fitted kitchens with appliances, attractive shower rooms, washer/dryers, additional TVs and kitchenettes with microwaves and fridges. In addition, some properties feature en-suite bathrooms. 

As added bonuses, Unihousing have their own team of engineers and electricians, so any issues with your accommodation can be dealt with quickly and effectively, and all our accommodation comes with full gas central heating. Also, all Unihousing studios include internet and utility bills within the rent price.

Selly Oak

Another thing that gives Unihousing an edge when it comes to providing Birmingham student accommodation is the Selly Oak location of their properties. By being situated in Selly Oak, Unihousing's student accommodation is ideal for students as it places them within a conveniently short distance from the University of Birmingham Edgbaston campus. It is also an area that is well-served by public transport links. 

And, as a tenant in this part of Birmingham, you will be close to the kind of amenities that you need such as shops and supermarkets. You will also not be far at all from places to go to for a fun night-out, either. Selly Oak offers pubs such as The Goose and The Bristol Pear and if you want to get a tasty bite to eat, you can head to one of the various restaurants to be found here. And then with a full stomach, you could wander over to Circo club and sip on a drink whilst taking in the vibrant atmosphere around you.

Beyond Selly Oak

It is not just the immediate surrounding area of Unihousing accommodation that adds to the appeal of this letting agents' properties. Whether you go by car or take the public transport that connects Selly Oak to neighbouring towns, you will discover that being in Selly Oak puts you within an easy distance from other areas that are well worth a visit. Places such as Harborne, Moseley and Kings Heath each have their own interesting and unique characteristics, making them ideal for satisfying the taste for the cultural and artistic. They are also great places to go and just relax in for the afternoon.

If you really want to experience the full excitement of Birmingham student life, you can easily make your way to the City Centre. Birmingham City Centre is terrific for keeping you entertained in the daytime as it is home to a number of cinemas, theatres, shops and museums. And when the sun goes down at the end of the day, it is perfect for a night out with friends.

What Are You Looking For?

Now really is a good time to start thinking about this. You generally have two options: a house or a studio. On the one hand, a house is a great option for student accommodation; it allows you to live with a group of friends, and enjoy some fun times together between all the lectures and studying that comes with the whole university experience. 

On the other hand, a studio is ideal for those that really appreciate their privacy, along with the level of peace and quiet that living on your own affords you. There can also be other issues to consider though, such as cleaning and household chores - in a shared house these tasks can be split amongst yourselves, but in a studio, they're all your responsibility. 

So this decision is one that is really just dependent on personal taste. No matter which way you choose to go on this issue, Unihousing can accommodate your choice.

Planning Ahead

The next phase of your academic journey isn't a million miles away. And while it may seem a little early to start thinking about it now, this period has the potential to become very busy, very quickly. With accommodation hungry students searching for the perfect property, it may be wise to take this opportunity to get ahead of the queue and settle on the property that suits you best.

Its Your Choice

When it comes to finding somewhere to stay during your time as a student, there's a lot to consider, and the decision isn't always easy. Hopefully, as you will have noticed through reading this blog, there are some very good options out there. And to make the most of the opportunities for finding student accommodation in Selly Oak, Birmingham, Unihousing are the people to go to. Visit our website to find out more and contact our team. 

Maintaining a Healthy Balance at University

As you may already know, living as a student in 2018 can be difficult, with the cost of student accommodation ever rising it can be hard for students to maintain a healthy lifestyle alongside paying for their student living. So, how you may ask do students effectively use what they have available to them? Well, there are some little known secrets that could help you not only save money but also provide you with a happy and healthy experience at University.

Although you may not be used to giving much thought to everything you eat on a weekly basis, it is crucial that you take your student eating habits very seriously. It pretty much goes without saying that the life of a student is one that is often associated with less-than-healthy eating habits. The student lifestyle can often be perceived as one dominated by too many take-aways and a generally poor standard of eating.

Food and Exercise

It may sound completely obvious, but a good starting point for healthy eating is simply making sure you have a balanced diet. This should generally be one that is rich in fruit and vegetables and low in sugary, fatty foods, and accompanied by plenty of water. Plus, a good amount of regular exercise is advisable, too: the NHS recommends keeping active on a daily basis and doing 150 minutes of exercise on a weekly basis as well as strength exercise on at least two days a week that work the major muscles, including chest, shoulders, legs, arms, hips, back and abdomen.

Obviously, though, it doesn't have to be this way. If you are beginning your academic experience in the not-too-distant future, or even if you are or have been for some time a student, making the right kind of effort to ensure your eating habits do not become unhealthy, is something you should definitely be looking into. 

Good Planning

In terms of direct, practical advice for healthy eating, one sensible tip you may wish to employ that could make a big positive impact on your eating habits is to plan ahead. This may sound at first like a very simplistic idea, but preparing for the meals you will be eating in the coming week is very helpful in ensuring that you get enough of the right things and less of the things that aren't so good for you. Failing to plan for the week's meals can also result in choosing meals that are done quickly and easily, which can quite easily mean just ordering a takeaway at short notice.

Once you begin planning a week in advance, you can start constructing a schedule of meals that incorporate healthy ingredients as well as tasty flavours, which will also make going to the supermarket easier, as everything you need in terms of food will all be clearly written down.

Doing this means as well that you can start having fun exploring the possibilities for delicious meals that are good for you. In order to learn about the kind of things to put together that are both appealing and healthy, maybe have a look online as there's plenty of information to be found. It's possible that some students may be concerned that eating well won't suit their tight student budgets. Eating well can be affordable and performing the right kind of research should demonstrate how this can be done.

Have Limits

Being careful about want you drink is, in many ways, just as important as what you eat. So if you want to make sure that you are doing what you can to stay in good health during your time as a student, monitoring alcohol consumption is a good idea.

There are times though that we can allow ourselves to have a little treat and enjoy something that we perhaps wouldn't eat or drink on a regular basis. Take-away food, for example, can be a delicious treat every now and then but is something that we shouldn't eat too often. Similarly, food from restaurants can make for a fantastic meal, but probably shouldn't be indulged in too often, either.

Down To You

There's no shortage of suggestions on the web and elsewhere for helping people to stay in good shape. The student lifestyle isn't often thought of as being healthy. But with these tips, a little extra research and a little effort, you can easily stay in good shape, which can only be a good thing.

Searching for Student Accommodation?

If you're looking for student accommodation in Birmingham, Selly Oak-based Unihousing can help you. Unihousing offers studios and houses for very agreeable prices. Their properties are furnished with pretty much everything that is needed for modern student living, while the locations of their Selly Oak accommodation are excellent for access to local amenities, such as shops and supermarkets, not to mention the local pubs and clubs. In Selly Oak, you just need to head to the train station for a quick ride to the City Centre where there's plenty to see and do. Find your ideal student let in Selly Oak today. 

Getting Ahead With Student Life

Although being a student is an enjoyable time, there is obviously a lot of work involved. Even though the workload that is part of being a uni' student can be fairly extensive, it is worth thinking about choosing to volunteer or participate in activities on a community level. There are several reasons for this, with one of the biggest being the positive difference it could make to you and your future.

 What You Can Gain

The prospect of taking part in community work or other volunteering opportunities may bring to mind the thought of putting in a lot of hours and for no pay, which may be particularly unappealing when you already have mounting university projects and assignments that are already placing huge demands on your time. However, when you realise that you generally have the freedom to choose where you look for places to volunteer or get involved, you may see that this idea has plenty of potential to be both enjoyable as well as an all-round rewarding experience.

One massive benefit to getting active in this way is that it can give a real boost to your studies at uni'. If you choose to put some of your free-time into something that has clear parallels with the course you're studying, you can easily enrich and expand the knowledge you are gaining through your academic experiences. It also gives you the chance to put what you are learning into practice, perhaps helping to demonstrate the value it has in the everyday world. This will also help you become more effective in any future professional positions that utilise these skills.

Going Forward

Also, on the subject of future positions, volunteering can be a real advantage for your chosen career. Volunteering is something that can often be a great enhancement to a CV. This will therefore make you more appealing as candidate to potential employers and increase your chances of securing the job you are looking for. And on a personal level, getting first-hand experience relevant to the subject you are studying or what you are aiming for as a career, is surely going to help you get a better understanding and deeper appreciation of your area of study.

Where To Start?

It's probably best to do some research into the kind of things that interest you or are most relevant to you or your studies first. Then, if you are considering how to get some experience of working in a related professional environment, it might be best to get in touch directly with places that could offer this kind of experience; just a polite, professional phone call or email could get things started.

Part-Time Employment

Sometimes working for free isn't quite feasible, mainly due to the financial restrictions of being a student. It is not unheard of for students to have a part-time job alongside their studies as a way to boost their financial situation. Whilst being employed on a part-time basis can always be a source for some very good experience for life after you have graduated, it is not impossible to merge a part-time job with the gaining of experience that is directly related to what you are studying. So maybe give a little thought to how you can do this.

Birmingham and Student Accommodation

There are a fair few opportunities out there for those wanting to improve their skills, enhance their learning and heighten their prospects following graduation as they proceed through their university years. And being a Birmingham student is a great start when it comes to finding somewhere to volunteer or gain work experience.

As well as that, Birmingham is a place that's ideal for the student of today. It is more than well-equipped with things to see and do, meaning that, whatever your interests are or whatever it is that you like to do when you're not at uni', Birmingham will keep you entertained. It boasts first-rate student accommodation, too, such as that which is provided through Unihousing.

Registered lettings agents based in Selly Oak, Unihousing student accommodation is situated conveniently close to local public transport links that will get you around Birmingham and into the City Centre. Unihousing's Selly Oak student accommodation is also within a short distance of the University of Birmingham Edgbaston campus, which is another nice, convenient touch. And by being in Selly Oak, access to the necessary amenities is quick and easy, in the same way that getting to one of the Selly Oak pubs or restaurants for a bite to eat or fun night out with friends is.

The City for Students

Overall then, it is not hard to see that Birmingham is the perfect fit for the modern-day student. Filled with loads of opportunities for volunteering, community work, as well as the social activities that generally form part of the student experience, Birmingham is a stand-out student city.

Unihousing

Unihousing offers all types of student accommodation in Selly Oak and other surrounding areas of Birmingham. Both student studios and shared housing are on the market for the new academic year in 2018. We could have your ideal student accommodation, head to our site and book a viewing so you can find your ideal student accommodation.