Case study (2005) University of Leeds Infrastructure

Context

The University of Leeds through its Access Academy provides a comprehensive infrastructure and dedicated staff resource to support volunteers, working in local schools, in all aspects of their placement. A team of nine staff ensure the service to over 500 volunteers continually improves and evolves every year to enable the University to provide the best student experience and provision to local schools.

Programme detail

Access Academy staff administer the entire volunteer programme from marketing, recruitment, training, CRB checking, placement, ongoing advice through to evaluation. It is this dedicated resource that is essential to provide the capacity to ensure that all placements are monitored and supported effectively to maximise the benefit of the placement to both the volunteer and the beneficiaries.

Recruitment takes place twice a year with the main period being in the third semester. This allows returning students to register before the summer vacation and gives ample time for CRB checks to be carried out before the students return. This is also essential for the students who wish to be Millennium Volunteers as it provides more time for them to accrue the 100 hours necessary to achieve the award. A mini recruitment drive is held during freshers' week to allow first-ear students to also become involved in the volunteering programme. Recruitment involves lecture presentations, leaflets, posters, brochures and screensaver advertising to inform all students of the opportunities.

Training sessions are compulsory for all students and are delivered by the Access Academy staff and external volunteer experts covering all aspects of the placements. The Refugee Support Network, for example, benefits from Leeds Asylum Seeker Support Network (LASSN) providing expert tuition and advice for students working with refugee children.

Placements are co-ordinated through a handbook sent to all schools in the third semester. This gives the schools time over the summer to chose from the broad spectrum of volunteering activities that may benefit their pupils. The handbook is accompanied by a schools' agreement which ensures that the schools themselves are sufficiently prepared to provide the necessary support to the students when they arrive for their placements.

Ongoing support is vital for the students and the schools to track progress and identify any concerns. Where problems arise, such as difficulties between mentors and mentees, the Access Academy is able to mediate and if necessary change the placement arrangements. As a drop-in centre, the Access Academy can mentor the students themselves to provide further advice and guidance relating to their placements.

Evaluation of the placements is an essential tool to track, monitor and improve the Access Academy service. Schools and students are asked to complete evaluation forms to assess the individual placements and also elicit suggestions as to how to improve the scheme.

The overall support service provided by the Access Academy seeks to maximise the mutual benefit to the student, school and the beneficiaries. A positive experience is essential as in many cases it is the first time that many young people have volunteered or received support from volunteers. The experience can make the difference between a life of future volunteering or conversely, with a negative experience, a loss of interest in volunteering.

Hints and tips

  • Recruit in the third semester to ensure CRB checks can be carried out over the summer.
  • Fully inform the schools of the programmes and their responsibility to the students.
  • Bring in expert trainers where appropriate.
  • Provide ongoing support to volunteers during their placements.
  • Ensure evaluations are designed to continually improve the service.