{"id":4567,"date":"2026-02-09T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/olioapp.com\/en\/?p=4567"},"modified":"2026-02-16T10:59:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T10:59:27","slug":"student-volunteering-5-reasons-why-to-do-it-with-olio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/olioapp.com\/en\/students\/student-volunteering-5-reasons-why-to-do-it-with-olio\/","title":{"rendered":"5 reasons you should volunteer with Olio as a student"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Student life can be busy, exciting\u2026 and expensive. Between lectures, part-time jobs, deadlines and trying to have some kind<\/em> of social life, volunteering can feel like just another thing on the to-do list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what if volunteering actually fitted around your life \u2013 and helped save you money too?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Student Volunteering Week<\/a> in full swing (9-15 February), it\u2019s a great time to discover opportunities that are flexible, meaningful and genuinely rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we get into the five reasons why volunteering with Olio is such a good fit for students, let\u2019s quickly cover what the role actually involves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to volunteer with Olio?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Food Waste Hero<\/a> is a volunteer who rescues surplus food from local businesses and shares it with people nearby using the Olio app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means collecting unsold food, from groceries to chef-prepared meals from caf\u00e9s, supermarkets or even film sets and then sharing it for free with neighbours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collections are local, don\u2019t take much time, and can easily be done on your way home from uni, work or the library. You choose when and how often you volunteer, with no minimum hours and no long-term commitment – it\u2019s totally flexible!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sound like a good fit?  Here\u2019s 5 reasons to get involved!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Feel great rescuing unsold food \ud83c\udf0d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every day, huge amounts of perfectly good food go to waste \u2013 even while people nearby are struggling to afford their next meal. According to WRAP,<\/a> the UK wastes an estimated 10.2 million tonnes of food every year, most of which is still perfectly edible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an Olio volunteer, you can help stop that food from going to waste!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s quick, flexible, and incredibly rewarding.Our volunteers love knowing that a short collection has helped both people and the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \u201cI started using Olio while I was at university. Each week, I\u2019d collect free Pret food that would otherwise have gone to waste, and this year I\u2019ve been doing the same with Tesco Express. As students, we really appreciate the chance to save money while helping prevent food waste at the same time. \r\n\r\nI\u2019ve also loved meeting the volunteers along the way \u2013 popping by their houses, having a quick chat while I collect my pick-up, and getting to know people in the community. \u201d <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Food Waste Hero Rebekah, from Birmingham<\/h4>\n\n
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2. Keep food for free and save money \ud83e\udd55\ud83d\udcb8<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s be real \u2013 student budgets are tight, especially with the cost-of-living crisis still hanging around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the unique things about volunteering with Olio is that you\u2019re allowed to keep some of the food you rescue \ud83d\ude4c <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the collection, that could be anywhere from 10% to 100% of the food<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That could mean free fruit and veg, bread, sandwiches, ready meals or even chef prepared treats! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olio helps stretch your budget so there\u2019s more left over for the fun stuff \u2013 whether that\u2019s a night out or simply not having to check your bank balance every time you tap your card. (We\u2019ve all<\/em> been there\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, one student was able to slash her grocery bill to a whooping \u00a35<\/a> A MONTH. Goodbye instant noodles! \ud83d\udc4b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Gain skills and experience for your CV \ud83c\udf93<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Volunteering with Olio doesn\u2019t just feel good \u2013 it looks good too \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a student volunteer, you\u2019ll build transferable skills that employers value, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Time management and reliability<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Communication and community engagement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Organisation and problem-solving<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Sustainability and social impact awareness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re applying for internships, part-time jobs or graduate roles, volunteering shows initiative and real-world experience beyond your degree. And yes \u2013 it absolutely deserves a spot on your CV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Make a difference in your local community \ud83e\udd1d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

University life can sometimes feel like its own little bubble \u2013 lectures, group chats and meal deals on repeat. Volunteering with Olio is an easy way to step outside that bubble and feel part of the community you\u2019re actually living in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll be sharing food with neighbours, meeting other local volunteers and supporting people just around the corner from you. It might be a quick hello at the door, or recognising familiar faces \u2013 small moments that add up to something meaningful \ud83e\udd70 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s community action that\u2019s local, human and genuinely uplifting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Boost your wellbeing and improve your mood \ud83d\udc9a<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Volunteering has been shown to support mental wellbeing \u2013 and 76% of our users report<\/strong> improved mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volunteers tell us that volunteering with Olio helps them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Feel more purposeful and less stressed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Build confidence and routine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Feel connected rather than isolated<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Add a positive moment to their day<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing something small that helps others can have a surprisingly<\/em> big impact on how you feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinking about volunteering?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Volunteering doesn\u2019t have to mean giving up loads of time or signing your life away. With Olio, it can be as simple as a short walk, a quick pick-up and a rescued bag of food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no better time to give it a go than this  Student Volunteering Week  (9th – 15th February).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how to do it with Olio:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Download Olio<\/a> and create an account (if you haven\u2019t already) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\uddb8 Sign up as a Food Waste Hero<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcd6 Complete our short food-safety training on the Volunteer Hub (because safety matters!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udf71 Claim your first collection and see how easy it is to make a difference \u2013 on your terms and with some free food as a bonus!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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