Discover how Linh uses her expertise in education research, programme evaluation, and fundraising to support With Insight’s mission to expand opportunities for Black-heritage students.
Volunteering isn’t always about learning new skills. Sometimes, it’s about finding a meaningful way to use the expertise you already have.
At With Insight, our volunteers contribute far more than their time. They bring professional knowledge, fresh perspectives and a shared commitment to creating opportunities for Black-heritage students.
From mentoring and programme development to research, fundraising and evaluation, their contributions strengthen the work we do with young people, universities and employers.
We caught up with Linh, a researcher working across the development and higher education sectors, to hear about her experience of volunteering with With Insight, the skills she has contributed and what makes the opportunity so rewarding.
Why you chose to volunteer with With Insight
As a researcher working at the intersection of development and higher education, I went from seeking insights into the education journey of Black heritage students to gaining much more than I expected through volunteering with With Insight. Being a With Insight volunteer has not only connected me with people who share a vision of a just and equitable world. It has also enriched my research perspective and deepened my understanding of the UK development landscape. More importantly, my brainstorming conversations with Christine have shown the organisation’s genuine commitment to putting words into action. This spirit is truly inspiring and closely aligns with my professional principle of creating programmes for and with young people.
Turning shared values into meaningful action
Linh’s experience highlights an important aspect of volunteering: the opportunity to connect professional interests with a cause that reflects your values.
Our mission is to advance the educational and professional prospects of Black-heritage students so society better reflects the talent available.
Our approach combines mentoring, skills development, research and collaboration to help young people navigate educational and career opportunities with confidence.
For professionals like Linh, volunteering offers a chance to contribute to this mission while gaining valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in the UK education landscape.
How you have used your time or skills to support our work
I have contributed to the development of With Insight’s programmes by drawing primarily on my expertise in designing and evaluating education interventions and student-focused initiatives. I have also supported fundraising strategy implementation by mapping funding opportunities, adapting social return on investment (SROI) models to different programmes and identifying potential collaborators for mentoring initiatives.
How skills-based volunteering supports our programmes
Linh’s contribution demonstrates the value of skills-based volunteering, where professionals use their existing expertise to support charities’ activities and objectives.
Her work spans several important areas of programme development, including education research, evaluation, fundraising and partnership identification.
For example, her programme evaluation work has helped us to better understand our social value.
What is Social Return on Investment (SROI)?
Social Return on Investment (SROI) is a framework for understanding and communicating the social value generated by an organisation’s activities.
In education, this can include examining outcomes such as improved confidence, educational progression, skills development and future employment opportunities.
Linh’s experience adapting SROI models supports With Insight’s evidence-led approach to programme development and impact evaluation.
This behind-the-scenes expertise is an important part of how volunteers can support charitable organisations, like ours, even when they are not directly involved in mentoring students.
Why you would encourage somebody else to get involved with With Insight
With Insight creates an environment where volunteers can explore, experiment, learn and grow throughout their journey. One of the most valuable aspects of my experience has been seeing how my contributions have been translated directly into practices and tangible impacts. Knowing that my input creates a meaningful difference has made volunteering with With Insight particularly rewarding!
The benefits of volunteering go both ways.
For Linh, one of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering has been seeing her professional contributions translated into practical activities.
Her experience shows how volunteering benefits both the individual and the organisation.
For professionals, skills-based volunteering can provide opportunities to develop new perspectives, build relationships, gain sector experience and apply existing expertise in a different environment.
For charities, it brings access to specialist knowledge and additional perspectives that can strengthen programme design, delivery and evaluation.
At With Insight, we value people who share our belief that educational and professional opportunities should reflect every young person's potential.
How can you get involved with With Insight?
Whether you have experience in research, education, fundraising, mentoring, communications or programme development, your professional skills could make a meaningful contribution to our work.
With Insight works with volunteers, universities, and employers to help Black-heritage students build the confidence, skills and connections to progress into higher education and professional careers.
As Linh’s experience shows, volunteering can be an opportunity not only to contribute your expertise but also to learn, collaborate and see your ideas make a difference.
Interested in making an impact?
Explore With Insight and get in touch to find out more about opportunities to support our work