As part of National Student Volunteering Week las week Shrewsbury Colleges Group students, from all three campuses, have been busy volunteering this academic year.
Student Volunteering Week is in its 17th year and gives students in further and higher education the opportunity to give something back. Volunteering not only helps the beneficiaries, but also improves student’s wellbeing, develops their employability and contributes positivity on and off campus.
This good deeds have seen Shrewsbury Colleges Group students volunteering at a variety of events and places. For the fifth time students have helped out at the Pro- Series Tennis Men’s final at The Shrewsbury Club, clocking up over 200 hours between them. The Shrewsbury Club hosts the Pro-Series Event twice a year and is always keen to get students involved. Most students took up the position of Marshall while HND Music Technology students volunteered their services as sound engineers. Carpentry students from the London Road Campus designed and constructed a tunnel for the players, officials and ball boys and girls to enter the courts through.
Lorraine Burrage, Agency Project Co-Ordinator, said: “It is always a great day with a fantastic atmosphere and one where students can watch an exciting final and meet the players who may one day be a Wimbledon finalist.”
Ten A Level students worked with local solicitors Lanyon Bowdler on their award winning Debate Ed programme. They visited students at Prestfelde School, Meole Brace School and The Priory School to deliver 10 workshops about the art of debating and the advantages it can bring to your life and career.
Health & Social Care students have some exciting opportunities lined up to start soon, including volunteering at The Dementia Café at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals and Sophie Canning, 17 from Shrewsbury, has been offered a place volunteering at Severndale Academy as a Peer Mentor with more students keen to sign up.
Students will once again be volunteering as ‘My Guides’ at the See Hear Event in May which is organised in association with Guide Dogs for the Blind, and throughout the year a collection of college students will continue as Student Ambassadors, who have volunteered to help out at events and charity fundraisers hosted by the College and have proved to be very worthy role models.
Lorraine added: “It’s great to see so many students getting involved in volunteering as part of their time at College, but also independently and recognising the valuable evidence it can provide when applying for jobs and universities in the future.
“Shrewsbury Colleges Group is also signed up to VInspired which is a national organisation that recognises student’s achievements in volunteering. Through our College portal, students can record the hours they contribute to volunteering within their community, reflect on the experience and earn certificates to celebrate their achievements, which is also celebrated at our end of year award ceremony.”
For more information on A Levels, visit www.ssfc.ac.uk or call 01743 235491. For more information about vocational courses and Apprenticeships call 01743 342342.