Get the most out of volunteering.

Essex has a strong history of supporting students with volunteering activities, but we want to do more. In this learning community, you will gain access to exclusive workshops, talks, volunteering opportunities and year-round support for your projects.


Build and nurture relationships and gain valuable experience by joining our volunteering learning community with access to exclusive opportunities and support from the Student Union’s VTeam.

Living in this learning community comes with a comprehensive package of benefits that are specifically tailored to support your volunteering endeavours.

Benefits

  • Welcome Packs full of exclusive VTeam merch, freebies, and information about the broad range of voluntary opportunities and activities available at Essex.
  • Exclusive talks by VTeam members and student ambassadors where you’ll learn everything you need to know to get the most out of volunteering through the Students’ Union.
  • Opportunities to take part in one-off bespoke projects at the beginning of each term.
  • Workshops for Learning Community students around how to get recognition for volunteering and information on local and national awards.
  • Invites to VTeam meetings and socials, a direct line to VTeam’s staff and project leadership teams, and a heads up on future recruitment for VTeam Regular Project Committee roles.
  • Early registration on big events like Beach Cleans and SU Fireworks night. You’ll also be informed first about new projects and the list of events for Student Volunteering Week.
  • Monthly check-ins with a designated lead from VTeam. These check-ins will be a chance for you to hear about key dates for the coming months, as well as an opportunity for you to ask questions and provide feedback on your current projects.

How to apply

If you would like to apply to live in Volunteer Square, the you will need to select South Courts as your area preference in your accommodation application. Please also select the option to live in Volunteer Square on the application form.


New student applications    Returning student applications

Please note that contract lengths vary in line with course dates. Undergraduate courses are normally 39 weeks, however, some courses start earlier or finish later than others.

VTeam

VTeam is the home of volunteering at the University of Essex. The Students' Union VTeam offers wide-ranging volunteering opportunities across campus and in our local community for students and staff, aiming to ensure that you gain transferable skills for the future through ambitious projects.

Find out more about Volunteering

About South Courts

South Courts is near lots of green space to enjoy a walk or jog and only a five-minute walk to the centre of campus. This accommodation is ideal if you want the perfect balance between your academic studies and social life.

Each of the eight courts, Rowhedge, Thaxted, Manningtree, Brightlingsea, Harwich, Alresford, Frinton, and Walton are arranged into flats with shared kitchens for four to fourteen students, providing a great social hub to make friends and chat about your day. The larger flats accommodating up to fourteen students have two or three kitchens shared between the flat.

South Courts accommodation were built at different stages and, therefore, can be different in appearance, as well as the size of flat. Equally, rooms may slightly vary in size and layout, depending on where they are situated in the building.