Volunteering

Volunteering for academic year 2011-2012 and School Placements

Please note: Recruitment for 2011-12 volunteering has now closed.

The Access Academy provides a range of opportunities for students and staff to volunteer in educational settings across Leeds and some parts of West Yorkshire.

Each year an average of 400 volunteers support or run a range of exciting projects to help raise the aspirations and academic achievement of pupils of all ages, while simultaneously developing their own skills and improving their CV.

“You don't have to be a teacher to make a difference...
I believe that it just takes someone to say the right thing at the right time and it can change a child's life forever.”

Teacher, Little London Primary School

Whether you enjoy working on a one-to-one basis, or prefer to be part of team; whether your skills and interests lie in mathematics, textile design, languages, cooking, chess, sports or astrophysics, there is a project for you!

Please use the link below to find out more about projects and then get involved.

How to register for a volunteering scheme

In order to register for a volunteering scheme you need to do the following:

Complete an application form
Complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check
Attend training in October

1. Complete an application form

The Volunteer application form is available to download from the menu on the left during recruitment times. Please ensure you complete all sections. You will be required to give names and addresses of two referees who can comment on your suitability for working with children. These cannot be friends or family members, and they must have known you for at least 12 months.

Applications should be sent to the Access Academy at:

Access Academy
177 Woodhouse Lane
Leeds
LS2 9JT

or e-mailed to accessacademy@leeds.ac.uk

2. Complete a CRB check

The Criminal Records Bureau check is a compulsory part of the registration process for a volunteering placement. Once you have submitted your application form you will be sent two emails - one containing your login details for the online CRB site, the other with guidance on how to complete the form correctly. Please ensure you read the guidance before starting your check!

Once you have submitted your online form you will need to visit the Access Academy office with the documentation stated and to sign the physical copy of the form. This needs to be done as soon as you have completed the online form, as CRBs can take about a month to process.

You will not be allowed to take part in a volunteering placement if you do not have an Access Academy CRB check.

3. Attend training in September / October

All volunteers must attend a training session before starting their placement. Sessions run in September and October and cover child protection, the role of the volunteer in the classroom, health and safety, communication skills and the Widening Participation agenda. Project-specific training sessions also take place, giving more in-depth support for tutoring, mentoring, EAL support etc.

If you have any questions about the volunteer application process please contact the Access Academy at accessacademy@leeds.ac.uk