History
Student Hubs was founded in 2007, originally in Oxford, by a group of students who had become frustrated at the lack of support for student volunteering and social action. A network of student groups formed, each focussing on different social and environmental issues - such as climate change, development, poverty, education, and homelessness. This network served to provide a space to share experiences, best practice and a support framework within which effectiveness, collaboration and sustainability could flourish.
Soon after, it became apparent that if Oxford Hub could function as a supportive network, that there was scope to reach out to more students to encourage wider participation in social action and volunteering. There was much need, focussed in three areas:
- Lack of awareness of and engagement with social and environmental issues
- Few opportunities through which to make a positive difference
- Limited funding and support for these activities, taking place in a disjointed environment
Read more about the need for Student Hubs here.
As such, Oxford Hub began to work through a holistic model to address these needs, leading with four key strategies:
- Informing students about social and environmental issues
- Inspiring them to be empowered to create positive change
- Connecting students to groups and opportunities through which they can effect change
- Support them with training and resources to be as effective and sustainable as possible in their efforts
It wasn't long before the Oxford Hub model was re-interpreted and tested in other universities, where students felt the need to boost the culture of giving back and social action. In early 2008, Cambridge Hub, Bristol Hub and Southampton Hub were founded and the academic year of 2008-09 was the first for the newly-created network Student Hubs, which brought together all the local Hubs.
Student Hubs began to work not only to support the local Hubs in their activities, but also in complementary national initiatives which would add value locally and open up the world of student social action to a wider audience. The first large-scale weekend conferences for students focussing on issues such as international development and social entrepreneurship took off at this point, and have since been steadily growing.
On the ground in Oxford, the scope of the Hub was also changing, taking into account the vast need for community volunteering incubation and support. Oxford Hub Community Volunteers was initiated in 2008, working to set up small-scale volunteering projects in the local Oxford community. By late 2009 the number of projects running in the first year had doubled, and now there are over twenty projects incubated by Oxford Hub delivering social impact in the local community.
The steady growth of the network has been charted through the addition of both Brookes Hub and Warwick Hub during 2010 and 2011, alongside the development of wider national programmes, such as the Ethical Internships scheme.
Most recently, our story has taken a new turn with the leasing of new premises in Oxford for the Student Hubs central office and sister social enterprise. The new multi-purpose space was opened in September 2011, and serves both to enhance the charity's activities and support it financially in the long term through a social business model.
To read about the impact Student Hubs is making, click here. You can also find out more about the broader history of student volunteering and social action here.
If you have any questions about Student Hubs, please do get in touch.
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