Homework Clubs is a long-standing initiative led by Queen’s Students’ Union and coordinated by SU Volunteer. Since its launch in 2011, the programme has partnered with schools, youth groups and community organisations across Belfast to support children and young people living in areas of educational underachievement.

Each year, student volunteers from Queen’s provide valuable support to help children and young people improve their study skills, build confidence, and raise aspirations for further and higher education. In 2024/25, 140 student volunteers supported around 400 children and young people across 16 Homework Clubs, hosted by 12 community partner organisations.

The initiative works closely with a wide range of partners, including:

• Belfast City Council (4 clubs)

• Belfast South Community Resources (2 clubs)

• Cregagh Primary School

• Divis Youth Project

• Donegall Road Primary School

• East Belfast Mission

• Horn of Africa Peoples Aid Northern Ireland (HAPANI)

• Lagan Village Youth and Community Group

• Northern Ireland Somali Association (NISA)

• St Malachy’s Youth Centre

• The Vine Centre

• Whiterock Education Project

These partners are responsible for the weekly delivery of their clubs, while SU Volunteer recruits, trains, and supports Queen’s students to take part. The diverse make-up of the student volunteers provides local children with positive role models and promotes intercultural understanding and acceptance.

Homework Clubs place value not only on academic support but also on informal learning, conversation, and recreational activities. Children and young people benefit from one-to-one and subject-specific support, helping to boost confidence and motivation. For students, the initiative offers meaningful opportunities to contribute to local communities while developing skills and experiences that enhance their wellbeing and employability.

In June 2025, SU Volunteer conducted a focus group with student volunteers and a survey of club co-ordinators. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with volunteers highlighting the personal growth and community impact they experienced, and co-ordinators emphasising the added value of involving Queen’s students in their work.

In 2024/25, Homework Clubs received funding from Queen’s CiviContribution Fund, which strengthened the programme’s capacity and impact. With this support, the initiative was able to:

• Recruit and train volunteers, providing skills development sessions throughout the year

• Organise celebration and recognition events for student volunteers

• Host three on-campus graduation events for participating children, including science activities, meals, and certificates

• Provide learning resources and stationery to support club activities

• Strengthen relationships with key community organisations, including those supporting refugee and asylum-seeker communities such as NISA and HAPANI

As a well-established model of civic engagement, Homework Clubs continues to grow. Plans are underway to expand the initiative in 2025/26, with discussions ongoing with new potential partners. The initiative has also developed stronger links with the Civic Engagement Team at Queen’s, opening up further opportunities for collaboration and impact.