Alex Webb

Active Student - a volunteer's experience

Alex studied an MA in International Event Management. He volunteered through Active Student at The Rockinghorse Appeal and co-ordinated other students to run the VIP area of Pride in 2007.

What made you want to volunteer?

I wanted to gain more experience within the events industry. I feel that it has given me a competitive advantage over others who have the same qualification. As a newcomer to Brighton, it was a great way to meet new people and to get involved with an important community project.

Where did you volunteer, and why did you choose these particular opportunities?

I was involved in helping to organise the Pride festival. For a budding events manager, it was great to see how an event such as this is organised. Pride also raises money for a host of worthy causes and is a fantastic community event that I was proud to be involved with.

What have you learnt from volunteering?

Organising and planning is key when planning an event, especially one on the scale as Pride. I was involved in one small aspect of the festival and even that took 3 months to plan and implement. It's been fascinating to watch the event being planned and has brought home to me the need to communicate with all the parties and stakeholders involved with the event. 

Do you have any advice for students interested in volunteering?

Get involved!  Courses and academic qualifications are a good way to get ahead in life but to truly understand what it's like to do a job, I believe that you need to have a go yourself. I would also say that to truly get the most out of volunteering, you should try to immerse yourself in the project as much as possible.

Since volunteering with Active Student, Alex has formed an events management company with some people from his course called Triptych Events UK. In August 2008, Triptych Events managed the St James Street Party in Kemp Town, Brighton, which takes place after the Pride celebrations in Preston Park. The event was attended by over 10,000 people.

“Without my volunteering experiences at Pride with Active Student, I would not have been in a position to tender for the St James Street contract.”