This post was written by Maisy Vincent, a postgraduate student at HCRI, discussing the benefits of the Volunteering Bursary and her experience combining study with volunteering.
My name is Maisy and I’m doing MA Humanitarian and Conflict Response at HCRI. I graduated in 2024 from the BSc International Disaster Management and Humanitarian Response programme so this is my fourth year in the department. I was inspired to continue my studies at HCRI after developing a research interest in lived experiences of migration, border abolition, and alternative forms of support for people on the move beyond traditional humanitarian aid. I hope this Masters is the next step towards a PhD in the near future.
The Volunteer Scholarship has allowed me to continue my voluntary roles in Manchester while studying, easing some of the financial burdens of these endeavours. I strongly believe all students should try and find even an hour in their week to volunteer their time to support others in the community. Especially during a Humanitarian Studies degree, volunteering helps you to remain grounded in the political reality of those living in precarity while actively combatting systems of oppression and experiences of suffering. It is important to remember that humanitarianism and disasters happen right on our doorstep. The skills and knowledge you learn at HCRI can help respond to crises in our local communities. More importantly, our communities are full of knowledge on how to survive and find joy despite structural crises such as poverty and exploitation. This knowledge is deeper and more complex than that in textbooks and journal articles and can only be experienced through forming connections with those in the community. Volunteering can be the first step in forming these relationships.
The Volunteer Scholarship then provides a great way you can continue volunteering while pursuing your studies further. Your volunteering role will definitely enhance your studies and could also help you develop skills which lead to meaningful employment. I would encourage all those who are currently volunteering to apply!
For more on HCRI bursaries and scholarships, visit: https://www.hcri.manchester.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/