Discovery Days

Discovery Days offer local Nottinghamshire school children the chance to experience University life first hand through a varied range of fun sessions, including sporting activities.

Discovery Days

Run in partnership with the University of Nottingham's Widening Participation team, the events offer young people the inspirational opportunity to visit a University, increase awareness of higher education options, meet current students and to stay healthy and active. They take place throughout the year – October to July, with an outdoor version during the summer months.

The programme offers University of Nottingham students an ideal opportunity to develop important leadership skills and gain real work experience in the education and sporting sector.

The role

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Volunteers will deliver sport specific taster sessions, usually hosted at the David Ross Sports Village

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Alongside other members of your sports club, you will deliver the basics of your sport during an introductory session with the schoolchildren ranging from 9 to 17 years old. You'll use fun drills and games, which we can support you to design.

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To compliment the on campus Discovery Days, there is also adhoc in school delivery which you may be invited to support.

Your commitment

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Discovery Days generally run from 9am - 3pm on weekdays. Exact dates are set at the start of the academic year

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Volunteers will be required to deliver between 1 – 6 hours depending on the exact format of the day.

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Volunteers are asked to a minimum of one Discovery Day per year.

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School delivery is more varied and will be discussed with volunteers on an individual basis.

Volunteer benefits

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Training from our Volunteering and Leadership Academy team.

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Support from a member of UoN sport staff.

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Lunch provided during a Discovery Day.

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A Volunteering and Leadership Academy T-shirt.

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The opportunity to trade your volunteer hours for rewards via our Hours Trade incentive scheme.

How to apply

To register your interest in our Discovery Day programme please email Bex Alexander at Bex.Alexander@nottingham.ac.uk.

Being part of this program allowed me to work with a variety of different ages and year groups. It gave me the opportunity to work on my communication and teaching methods as the way you would teach a 18 year old is completely different to the way you would teach an 8 year old. I found the whole programme enriching and fulfilling. I felt that I made a difference in each young person’s life and gave them the opportunity to do a sport they may have never done before.

UoN Sport Volunteering and Leadership Academy Student Ambassador

This programme taught me how to be a better session leader and built my confidence in leadership but also more broadly within the university community.

UoN Sport Discovery Day Student Volunteer

Frequently asked questions

You will need to be confident delivering your chosen sport to the schoolchildren visiting campus. To get involved you can express an interest to your club committee, or if you're not a member of a club or your club is not yet involved, please contact Bex Alexander at bex.alexander@nottingham.ac.uk.

Students delivering on campus will not be required to have a DBS check. Volunteers that visit schools will be required to complete a DBS check. Our team will help you with this process and it is at no cost to you.

All volunteers are requested to complete online safeguarding training before delivery. We also offer various other workshops to help support your general leadership skills. We ask that you are suitably qualified or experienced in the delivery of your sport.

Discovery Days generally run 9am-3pm with up to 180 children experiencing a rotation of sports throughout the day – you may deliver up to 6 x 30 minute sessions during the day.

Yes - the programme is suitable for anyone with accessibility needs. All our venues are accessible and we can adapt your role to suit. Please get in touch with us to discuss any requirements.