Students at De Montfort University, Leicester (DMU) can now volunteer in their community while earning academic credit, thanks to a pioneering new module.

In partnership with local hospice LOROS the ‘Making a Difference: From Campus to Community’ module connects classroom learning with real-world impact, marking the first time DMU students can gain credits towards their degree through structured volunteering.

The pilot, which launched last month, is currently open to Business Management students, who spend one day a week supporting LOROS across areas including marketing, HR, IT, fundraising and events.

Daniel Katula, a DMU Business Management Student and one of the first ever students on the module, said: “I’m working with the volunteering team at LOROS, updating job descriptions and website content. I’m really excited to step into something new and challenge myself by doing things outside my comfort zone, so I can adapt and grow for the future.

“I want to go into real estate, so learning to communicate with different people is really important, and LOROS is helping me do that. I’m especially interested in hearing people’s stories and learning from their experiences.”

He added: “It feels really meaningful to be doing something with a positive impact, and I hope this module keeps pushing me into new situations so I can grow into a better version of myself while giving something back to LOROS.

“I hope I can do as much for LOROS as they can do for me.”

The module was created in response to student feedback around barriers such as time, confidence and competing commitments, providing structured volunteering opportunities that build employability skills while supporting community partners.

Anjneet Kaur, a second-year international Business Management student, is gaining hands-on experience in a marketing role.

She said: “My role at LOROS is working in marketing. So far, I’ve been tasked to interview volunteers, its great gaining real workplace experience.

“As an international student, this is a great opportunity for me because we don’t usually get this kind of experience, especially not until after finishing education in my home country.

“I believe working with LOROS will help me become more confident, improve my communication skills, and give me the chance to meet and learn from lots of different people while helping the organisation.”

The launch of the module reinforces DMU’s longstanding relationship with the hospice. Rayhana Brydson, Volunteering Manager at LOROS, said: “We are incredibly excited to be working with DMU on this innovative volunteering partnership and the opportunities it creates for students to experience different areas of charity work.

“The work roles range from events to fundraising and marketing, while also helping us build stronger links and future collaboration across the university.”

Andrea Casey, Senior Civic and Community Engagement Manager at DMU, added: “The module was designed to turn academic learning into real-world experience while addressing student barriers to participation.

“The volunteer module gives students a great opportunity to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in a real-world setting, students gain confidence, networks and employability skills, while organisations benefit from time, expertise and fresh perspectives.”

DMU hopes the pilot will strengthen long-term partnerships and give students a valuable, experience-led route into employment.

Posted on Tuesday 2 June 2026