History Society Community Volunteering Project
History Society Community Volunteering In Schools Project
2012/13
Project Description
Background
A key focus for the History Society over the last few years has been looking at theissue of employability.A high proportion of History Graduates go into teaching as a career, so experience in the relevant area is highly sought after.Animportant strand of the Society’s worktherefore has been about providing opportunities for students to gain experience of volunteering in schools whilst at the same time sharing their knowledge and passion for history.This project has been developed to address this issue and give history students the opportunity to do some subject-related volunteering in the local community.
What is the project?
During 2009/10,the History Society worked closely with the Community Partnerships team within the University to develop and deliver a range of volunteering projects in schools in Nottingham and since then the scheme has continued to thrive and expand.Our project is now supported with generous donations from Nottingham alumni, staff, students and friends through the Cascade funding stream.
Each project is unique and individually developed withthe schools involved. This helps to ensure that projects firmly support the school’s own objectivesand suittheir needs, and also allows students to contribute towards theirown learning and development.
A range of different projects have been available for students to participate in, fromworking in a classroom environment to after-school clubs,to curriculum enrichment activities. Topics covered have been varied, including:
-Detective-style Aztecs after school club
-The Vikings
-Life in World War One based on ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’
-The Titanic
We aim to run the project again after its continued success and positive feedback with new schools and different projects.Therefore we are seeking to recruit enthusiastic and committed volunteers.Projects will be running throughout the academic year, providing opportunities for long term involvement. Typically, there are approximately six sessions per term on the project, requiring a time commitment of 2-3 hours per week and time to plan your sessions as a group.
What are the benefits of getting involved?
As a volunteer you will gain directexperience of supporting children’s learning in a school environment. You will also be encouraged to think about your subject in a different way and be challenged to convey it creatively to young people.
There will also be a chance to develop skills in areas such as:
-Planning and organisation
-Time management
-Communication and teamwork
-Presentation Skills
-Leadership and management with anopportunity to be a team leader when you have gained some initial experience as a volunteer within the project
Students in the past have found the project very rewarding for a variety of reasons. Some have wanted to discover more about teaching and the field of education as a career upon graduation, whilst others wanted to simply volunteer or get involved in the community. It is a chance to try something different outside of your normal academic studies.
You will receive a certificate upon completion of the project which will be presented at an end-of-term session, in recognition of your efforts.
Will I need a Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check?
As participation in this project will involve frequent and regular contact with the same group ofchildren you will be required to undertake an enhanced CRB check which will be carried out through Community Partnerships.This involves completing a form and providing original identification documents as outlined in the guidance that you will receive.You will need to ensure that you have access to the relevant identification documentation. If you are successful in gaining a place on the project, youwill be contacted to arrange a CRB check.
What training and support will I get?
There will be a compulsory training session run by Community Partnerships to prepare you for your placement in schools. You must attend this training if you want to volunteer. Information will be provided on topics such as, working in a school environment, expectations of volunteers, child protection, planning and delivering a session and information specifically relevant to each project. It will also be an opportunity to meet the group you will be working with.
Support will be available on an ongoing basis from members of the History Society Committee,Lisa Owen (Primary Schools Engagement Manager,Community Partnerships) and Joe Merton (History Department). Feedback and queries will be welcomed throughout all stages of the project.
Next step
If you are interested in getting involved in this project or have any specific questionsplease contact Victoria Hill – Welfare Secretary, History Societyat