Third sector and volunteers

Over 50 years ago, the Open University was established as a ‘university of the air’ – a place where people could work towards a degree having missed out earlier in life. At the heart of the OU’s identity is its social mission to open education and learning up to more and more people across Wales.

It’s because of this mission that we have a great relationship with charities and voluntary organisations in Wales, alongside the bodies that represent them. Through our work with the third sector, we’ve been able to create more routes into education for people who may not have thought it possible, regardless of their age, background or disability.

We know how volunteering can help people reach their potential. Because of this, we’ve supported events like the Welsh Charity Awards, and local volunteer awards.

Working with the sector

We are proud of the work we do with the third sector. Supporting communities across Wales is integral to our own civic mission. We've continued to show our support for the sector through our various award ceremony sponsorships over the years such as the Cardiff Volunteer Awards, as well as being the lead sponsor for the Welsh Charity Awards in 2024 and 2025.

In 2025 we signed a partnership agreement with Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), as a commitment to finding opportunities to benefit the wider voluntary sector and communities in Wales.

'This collaboration is built on a shared commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for learning, volunteering and sector development across Wales,' said Darren Jones, assistant director for strategic partnerships at the OU in Wales. 'By combining WCVA’s national reach and insight into voluntary sector needs with our higher education and research expertise, particularly relevant to the core audiences served by third sector organisations and community groups across Wales, we will work together with the aim of delivering greater access to higher learning for organisations, sector staff, communities and individuals and exploring joint research opportunities that benefit the sector.'

Get Ahead with Volunteering

This is a free eight-week training programme for volunteers created in partnership with Third Sector Support Wales. Partners include the WCVA and seven of the regional Voluntary Councils (CVCs) and helps volunteers improve their professional skills and develop their volunteering careers. It’s hosted online, so you can join wherever you are in Wales.

Register for Get Ahead with Volunteering here

Get Ahead with Volunteering helped me discover new skills I need for volunteering and has given me confidence. It inspired me to study for a degree with the OU.

Zaria Volunteer at CYCA, Llanelli

Delivered on Microsoft Teams, the programme consists of a variety of online workshops designed to help you get the most out of the online learning resources that are available through The Open University’s free OpenLearn platform. Workshop topics include leadership skills for volunteers, how to improve confidence, overcoming barriers to learning, and reflective practice. You’ll also have the opportunity to find out more about further study with the OU. During the programme, additional face to face support will be offered by County Voluntary Councils (CVCs) where possible. The Get Ahead With Volunteering programme starts on 21 April 2026, 10am - 11:30am, and runs at the same time each week for eight weeks until June.

To date, we have helped over 105 volunteers to develop their skills through completing the course, with 82% of participants stating that they found it very easy to participate in the programme.

OpenLearn Champions

We’re helping volunteers in Wales to get the best out of OpenLearn, our free online learning platform.

This training shows you how to pass on your own experience on OpenLearn to other learners. We have already helped over 600 people in Wales become OpenLearn Champions in order to better support their volunteers with the platform.

Openlearn helps people, whether they're volunteering or just looking to continue their education, because it allows them to try out different things and to fit learning in alongside their own schedules and their own priorities.

Kailee Cardiff Third Sector Council

Contact [email protected] to find out more about becoming an OpenLearn champion.

Our events