The team at Portergate Property Management’s Riverside House in Salford are impressed at the way students are continuing to make a real difference in the local community through their volunteering efforts.
Programmes such as the University of Manchester’s highly-acclaimed ‘Access All Areas’ programme are helping students really get involved in some worthwhile projects across the city.
This impressive volunteering arm of the university’s Students’ Union continues to bring together a range of student-led educational volunteer projects in the local community.
A Students’ Union spokesman explains the thinking behind ‘Access All Areas’: “All of our projects have the same aim – to improve access and widen participation in education.
“We lead workshops in local primary schools, run educational outreach projects and mentoring schemes in the community.”
Successful past scheme include the work of the Model UN Society – who ran an event with the entire year 9 group at Marsden Heights Community College looking at a range of international issues including climate change.
The project’s aim was to encourage youngsters to develop their public speaking, research and debating skills.
Other projects that have been delivered in the city include choir workshops for youngsters at St Malachy’s Primary and events at Whalley Range High School and Oasis Academy Primary.
For growing numbers of students volunteering and student action opportunities provide a rewarding and fun experience during their time at university.
Students not only have an enjoyable time but they can learn and develop lifelong skills that will aid them in the future.
Nationally, plans are already been drawn up for Student Volunteering Week 2016 in February, which will once again see more than 80 different educational institutions taking part more info here.
It’s an opportunity for student volunteers, colleges and universities, charities, social enterprises, businesses and government to collaborate, discuss challenges and opportunities in student volunteering, and showcase innovative individuals and projects.
Student volunteering and social action in the UK have a long history which can be traced back to university settlements and missions in the 19th century.
Students at Manchester who are looking to get involved with Access All Areas can sign up to its volunteering database at www.manchesterstudentsunion.com
