Going the Extra Mile: The Importance of Volunteering in Less Connected Places
In this blog, our Volunteering Manager Lois Plummer explores the specific value of student mentors in communities which are further away from a university.
At IntoUniversity, we support young people across the UK on their educational journeys. The communities we support are sometimes geographically isolated from universities and major employers, and often lack strong public transport links. These factors can create significant barriers to opportunity.
The young people we support have all the ambition and talent they need. What they often lack is access to opportunities, and our volunteers play a vital role in helping to bridge that gap.
When geography becomes a barrier
For young people who don’t live near a higher education institution, university can feel distant in both a physical and aspirational sense. Even when a university is not far away, young people may not see others from their community pursuing Higher Education, which can make it harder to imagine it as a pathway for themselves. In our least connected centres, these challenges often reinforce the sense that university is not for “people like me”.
In Grimsby, Centre Leader Emma sees this first-hand:
“Talented and capable students from Grimsby often face a disproportionate number of challenges… largely due to the geographical location of the town. Public transport links are limited, and it can be very hard to travel to places which are actually not that far away.”
Similarly, Bridlington Centre Leader Olivia shares:
“We are an hour away from our nearest universities. This means young people don’t always see university as an option. They need to hear from people like them who have taken the plunge to move away for education.”
In these communities, volunteers can help young people imagine a different future and make it feel achievable.
What showing up can achieve
At Bristol South where the centre sits just outside city limits, yet remains isolated from higher education institutions, Centre Leader Tom highlights the power of mentoring:
“Students [who take part] in mentoring are often our highest attenders. One of our University Student Mentoring pairs has been meeting for so long that they recently transitioned to a Corporate Mentoring pair. It shows how mentoring can give young people role models who truly believe in them.”
The value of mentoring is widely supported by research. According to MENTOR, mentoring positively impacts multiple areas of a young person’s life, offering consistent support that evolves with their needs.
It’s especially powerful for career and education guidance. Many young people have specific ambitions but lack adult role models outside of their home and school with relevant experience. As DYW notes, mentoring boosts confidence and helps young people take practical steps toward their goals.
For students in rural or isolated communities, mentoring can be crucial to a successful transition into adulthood (YouthREX). Gowsica, our Mentoring Coordinator in Great Yarmouth, agrees:
“By choosing to volunteer in [more remote] areas, your time and effort can make an even more meaningful and lasting contribution. Sometimes travelling a little further is worthwhile when it means creating a greater impact in people’s lives.”
Bridging the gap, shaping futures
Volunteering in one of our centres furthest from universities might require a longer journey or a bit of extra effort, but the impact is often greater. You’re helping bridge not just a physical gap, but a gap in confidence, awareness, and aspiration.
You don’t need to have all the answers; just by showing up regularly, listening, and encouraging, you can change the way a young person sees their future.
Join us
We’re grateful for every volunteer who supports our young people, so if you’re open to volunteering at an IntoUniversity centre that’s a little further afield, we encourage you to get involved.
Because for many young people, your time, effort, and encouragement could be the turning point for their future.