Meet our next volunteering case study, Jie Luo, an MA Game Design student at Teesside University. Jie joined the Volun-tees platform in October 2025 and has already recorded an impressive 103 hours of volunteering.

We remember the first time Jie approached the volunteering stall during one of our roadshows. Full of positivity, Jie shared hopes that volunteering would open the door to new connections and friendships. Over the past few months, we have seen Jie go from strength to strength and become a valued member of our Do Good, Feel Good projects run by the volunteering team.

Jie brings wonderful energy to everything they do and has truly embraced a wide range of roles both on campus and in the local community. We are delighted to share Jie’s volunteering journey with you, read on to find out more.

I chose to volunteer because I wanted to become more involved in my local community while gaining meaningful and enjoyable experiences. I have always enjoyed connecting with others and contributing to positive environments, so volunteering felt like a natural way to do this. Opportunities that combined creativity and care particularly appealed to me, as I enjoy singing and have a strong affection for animals. Being able to volunteer with organisations that reflected these interests made the experience feel rewarding and motivating.

On a typical volunteering day, I begin by checking my schedule and planning my journey, either travelling on foot or by public transport depending on the location. My activities vary depending on the organisation I am volunteering with. With Volun-tees, tasks change each time and often involve campus-based or community activities. At North East Opera, I usually take part in training sessions and occasionally assist with performances. At the Unicorn Centre, my role involves supporting supervised horse-riding sessions for children, which includes helping with preparation, assisting during sessions, and caring for the horses before and after activities.

Through volunteering, I have learned the importance of responsibility, communication, and adaptability. Working across different environments has helped me become more organised and confident when interacting with people from a wide range of backgrounds. I have developed strong teamwork skills by supporting others during activities, as well as patience and empathy, particularly when working with children and caring for animals. These experiences have helped me better understand how to contribute positively to a community while developing both practical and interpersonal skills.

What I enjoy most about volunteering is the variety of experiences and the welcoming, inclusive atmosphere within each organisation. Every role offers a new opportunity to engage with the community, try different types of work, and meet new people. Feeling part of a supportive and understanding environment has been especially valuable, and the sense of connection and belonging is what makes volunteering so enjoyable for me.

For anyone considering volunteering, my advice would be not to worry about feeling inexperienced or unsure at the beginning. Choosing an opportunity that genuinely interests you makes a big difference, and once you complete your first experience, the sense of achievement often encourages you to get involved even more.

Alongside volunteering, I have also taken part in several opportunities offered by Student Futures. The Work Experience and Placements team supported me by sharing interview opportunities, which helped me secure a voluntary intern role with Lab Session Studio. I have attended a CV Clinic, joined the Talent Pool, and had a one-to-one appointment with a Careers Consultant. These experiences have been extremely helpful in improving my employability, building confidence, and clarifying my career direction.

Overall, volunteering has helped me develop strong communication, teamwork, organisational, and problem-solving skills, as well as confidence, adaptability, and empathy. Looking ahead, I plan to pursue a game design-related role in the UK where I can continue developing my creative and technical skills. In the longer term, I hope to establish my own independent game studio focused on creating original and meaningful game experiences.

Denise Sisk, Volunteer Coordinator at the Unicorn Centre would like to add this:

Jie recently started volunteering regularly with the Unicorn Centre after volunteering her time to help us in December, setting up our arena for our pony rides to Santa event. She is eager to learn new skills and engages well with our staff, participants and other volunteers. Jie is learning skills in the day to day care of the horses including grooming, tacking up for lessons, mucking out and general yard duties.  She is also learning to lead the horses in lessons with our disabled riders and side-walking, supporting our riders and keeping them engaged.  Jie is always cheerful and friendly, it’s great to welcome Jie as a member of Team Unicorn.