Case study (2005) University of Leeds Training

Context

The University of Leeds' Access Academy undertakes training for over 500 student volunteers annually to take up placements in local schools. The training is a compulsory part of an overall procedure to ensure that the students are both prepared for their placements as well as being informed about the school's responsibility in supporting their volunteering activity.

Bespoke training sessions have been developed for different volunteering activities, such as mentoring, tutoring and out-of-school activities. The three-hour sessions are interactive and engaging for the students and generate a positive attitude towards the impending placement.

Programme Detail

The training sessions all have an element of generic content to ensure the volunteers are aware of key issues such as child protection, legal issues and roles/responsibilities for all placements. The sessions also involve dilemmas and scenarios that may arise to help the students to deal with common problems that may occur in the school environment. Each volunteer receives a portfolio providing further information about key roles and responsibilities, as well as the specific elements of their particular volunteering programme.

The training session 'Out of school activity', for example, provides advice on lesson planning as well as body language and organising groups of young people. 'Mentoring' involves discussions about the role of a mentor through exercises and helps to address areas in which mentors can support the mentees. 'Issues with mentors' also covers aspects of the mentee's personality such as an ability to concentrate, thus helping mentors learn techniques to earn the trust and also steer the session for the benefit of the mentee. 'E-mentoring' involves direction in the utilisation of the mentoring software.

A number of the volunteer training sessions bring in external experts to help deliver the training sessions. Leeds Mentoring, Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and Leeds Asylum Seeker Support Network (LASSN) are all engaged in the training sessions for various programmes.

Leeds Mentoring, for example, has a training programme specific to the mentoring scheme which has been developed over a number of years to maximise the benefits for the students. LASSN provides a two-day training session for students involved in the refugee support network which enables students to work with a group that faces particular barriers to integration and engagement.

A bespoke e-mentoring scheme has been developed in partnership with Leeds Mentoring and CSV to cover the broad spectrum of training requirements for this programme. CSV runs the e-mentoring website to provide the necessary security and environment for the programme to be a success.

Training is an essential part of the University's philosophy to provide the best possible student experience. Students are given an insight into school life which in many cases is different from the learning environment that they themselves attended. Placements take place primarily in inner-city schools, many of which are low achieving academically. Training prepares the student for this experience as well as helps to inspire them to make a difference in their volunteering role. Students are also encouraged to think about the personal development aspects of the volunteering, including the transferable skills learnt and dealing with situations and experiences that they previously may not have encountered. All volunteers receive a student portfolio at the training sessions which provides key information and contacts, as well as general information and advice about working in the school environment.

Training also provides an insight into teaching and provides them with the tools to equip themselves in their placement. It provides a longer-term exposure to teaching which ultimately helps to recruit high-quality, motivated graduates into the profession.

The University of Leeds' training programme is engaging, interactive and insightful and constantly evolves to meet the changing needs of the schools and the volunteers themselves.

Hints and Tips

  • Training must be compulsory for all students as it is vital preparation for placements.
  • Make the training interactive and fun, dealing with real-world issues and dilemmas.
  • Learn from the students themselves, adapting the training to the issues that they have faced.
  • Wherever appropriate, utilise the expertise and support of the community and voluntary sector in the training provision.
  • Ensure all training is clear about rules, regulations and legal requirements.
  • Stay abreast of legal developments such as child protection.
  • To promote volunteering within the University and to the students make clear links to the best student experience and future employability.