Post on 01-Jan-2016
transcript
Enriching Lives:the story of Warwick Volunteers
Enriching Lives:the story of Warwick Volunteers
Community Volunteering as Work Experience
Martin Christ & Peter Rose
Offers students the opportunity to develop a complex range of skills, along with a more holistic experience during their time at University
Ensures a distinctive educational experience for our students
Ensures that the University has a positive impact on our local community
2,300 members, 10% of student body
The volunteer perspective
Aaron Middleton
“Being a technology volunteer demonstrates commitment and enthusiasm in science and technology in addition to the interpersonal skills I have developed. As a result, I have used my experiences as a technology volunteer extensively in job interviews and applications…….
Being a technology volunteer has also given me theopportunity to influence young students to getinvolved in technology and initiate that curiosity,something that I wish I had done at an earlier age!!”
The volunteer perspective
Imogen Lockyear
“Volunteering has been a really valuable part of my university experience as it has not only been a lot of fun and allowed me to contribute to the community, but has also enabled me to fit a great deal of work experience around my studies.
As a direct result of my volunteering I have achieved a place on a primary PGCE course, since at my interview they were particularly impressed with the concept of the Fun with Numbers project, and talking about it was a great way to show my enthusiasm for teaching."!”
Our observations
‘Student-led’ ‘Community-led’---------------------
Our observations
‘Community-led’ activities:Do not always fit well with student availability
Do not always make best use of students’ talents , interests and abilities
Can leave some students feeling like ‘second-class’ volunteers
Do these things matter?
Our observations
‘Student-led’ activities:Can sometimes lead to ‘doing to’ rather than ‘working with’ the community
Do not always properly assess community needs as part of the development process
Can be difficult to sustain
Can risk favouring students’ experience over that of the community
Do these things matter?
Our observations
‘Student-led’
‘Community-led’
Our observations
‘Hybrid’ activities:Can be more robust, sustainable and balanced
Can enhance the student experience, for example with support and mentoring
Can enhance outcomes for the community
Do not represent a compromise?Offer something qualitatively superior?
Key Community Partners
Identified ‘key community partners’ as potential hubs of student volunteering
Community partners and volunteers worked together to identify activities
Matched volunteers’ skills and interests with community interests and needs
Focussed on the (long term) relationship rather than the (short term) activity
Key Community Partners
CollaborativeFlexible
EquitableEmpowering
CreativeSupportive
Sustainable
Pooled Resources
So what did we find?
Enabled lots of volunteering- some unusual
Very positive feedback from volunteers and partner organisations
Partner organisations keen to continue this way of working
Higher quality volunteering opportunities
Has increased the value organisations place on our volunteers, and encouraged creativity
Has enabled flexibility, responsiveness and efficiency
Music Matters
Employer views*
Employers wants students with ‘a good degree from a good university’
Who have participated fully in University life, and
Who have work experience, and
Who have reflected upon, and can articulate their achievements, ‘tell their story’ to demonstrate their uniqueness*Employer consultation, King’s/Warwick Project, 2009-10
Warwick Advantage Award
Supports reflection
Develops articulation
• The Warwick Advantage Gold Award not only gave me the skills and confidence to succeed during interviews, but my current employer cited it as the clinching factor in their final decision in offering me a job. Twelve months after their original job offer, I progressed to a managerial position with the world's leading sport for development charity." (Leo, 2009 History & Politics graduate)