Winning the competition has done so much for my youth club, I really encourage you to enter and try for yourself, as the time you spend filling in the form could make a big difference. All you need is a change that you are passionate about.

The most common perception is that this means staying at school until 17, which will suit some young people, but the opportunities are broader than that. From 2013, Year 11 pupils will be required to continue in education or training for at least one more year, but this doesn't mean they will have to stay in school.

I am convinced that we can only achieve real impact, sustainability and genuine benefit if our volunteers have the skills needed and the motivation to keep coming and to consistently give it their best shot. For sure, volunteers should walk out of it at the end and think 'I made a difference'.

Picture this, first year of Uni. Cabin fever in halls. Too many conversations that went "what A-levels did you do?", "where did you go on your gap yah?" I was searching for normal people who woke up before 4pm. For people who didn't smell of stale beer and a garlic kebabs.

There are thousands of student volunteers across the country. They all have different motivations. Some students volunteer because they want to do something positive with their spare time, others volunteer because they want to help people. I volunteer because I want to change the world I live in.

The NUS/Student Hubs nomination is an incredible privilege and a mark of how SHH has been a great success in 2013. Schools, charities and media are st...

I really like the quote that appears when you first log on to the student volunteering week website: 'We don't wish things were better. We make it better'. This phrase sums up for me what I think volunteering is about making a difference and taking things into your own hands.

I am studying to be a Children's Nurse in Edge Hill University, but outside the class room I am a Jujitsu Instructors Assistant, A Beaver Leader, Cub Leader, Scout Leader, a Mentor, a 1-2-1 tutor and a Childline counsellor - I am just hugely passionate about getting involved.

A gap year is all about doing something new and exciting. It's about experiencing new cultures and societies, experiencing new sights and attractions,...

It may not be for everyone but the work that volunteers do is extremely inspiring. Whether you do it at home or abroad, for a few weeks or a few years, the value of volunteering is enormous. You can have a truly significant impact on the lives of others.

'I am the change' is a project which encourages students to make positive changes and where others can vote for which change they want to make. Little did I know that day what a huge difference the five minutes I took to fill out the online form would make.

More and more people are beginning to despair at the exorbitant costs of volunteering abroad. Is wanting to donate your time and skills to a worthwhile project without paying any more than you have to such a ridiculous idea? After all, you are working for free.