Volunteering with BCS
In volunteering with BCS you are part of a wide network of people you can collaborate and share learning with.
New to BCS volunteering?
Welcome to life as a BCS volunteer. To help you start your volunteering journey with us, you should first book yourself onto a Volunteers Meet & Greet session. This will help you to decide what you want to get out of volunteering, what opportunities are available to you, and how you can achieve your volunteering goals.
What is BCS volunteering?
BCS volunteers are a cohort with shared values on a mission to ‘make IT good for society’. Our volunteers perform a variety of roles across the organisation – from joining boards and committees driving change, to organising events for member groups, and working with BCS Policy to form white papers on the hottest issues in IT.
In this video, Rebecca George explains why you should volunteer.
Member Group volunteer roles
Discover the different roles you can play on a member group committee. Here, BCS volunteers share their experience of being on a member group committee in various different roles.
The Chair of a member group leads and unites the committee, ensures that group activities are aligned with the BCS strategy, and helps the Treasurer to secure funding for activities.
They also work closely with the Treasurer in making sure the group is continuing to make IT good for society through our four strategic pillars; growing the membership of the group, inspiring others through events and activities, helping IT professionals at all levels to progress in and develop their career, and influencing society by working closely with the BCS Policy team.
“I volunteer with BCS to help the IT community in different ways. I believe in BCS’s mission and consider it my second home.”
Soheir Ghallab, Chair of the BCS Business Change Specialist Group
Treasurers look after the member group’s finances – submitting budget proposals, requests for additional funding, and ensuring the group stays within their planned spending allowance.
They also help the Chair in making sure the group is using their funds to make IT good for society through our four strategic pillars; growing the membership of the group, inspiring others through events and activities, helping IT professionals at all levels to progress in and develop their career, and influencing society by working closely with the BCS Policy team.
“I want to help the industry maintain best practice and ethical standards in what and how we deliver IT for the community”
Phil Hopkins, Treasurer of the BCS South Wales Branch
Early Careers Advocates represent young professionals or those in the first stages of an IT career, always helping the member group to consider how best to attract new early careers members and get them involved in BCS activities.
“I believe our profession needs people with experience and vision about what ‘good IT’ could be, from professional development and the contribution to society perspective.”
Elena Beratarbide, Early Careers Advocate for the BCS Health and Care Scotland Specialist Group
The Inclusion Officer makes sure that everyone can be involved in BCS activities and events, irrespective of their age, class, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, ability or any other important characteristic that might otherwise affect their experience.
BCS Member Group Committees often have additional committee members such as Events Officers, Secretaries and Email Coordinators too.
Volunteering FAQs
View our frequently asked questions about volunteering with BCS
