The NUBS Community Engagement Programme
This volunteering programme is a joint initiative between the Business School, Active Communities and local businesses and community organisations. Undergraduates and postgraduates students from any year of study can take part in a range of different volunteering activities as part of this programme.Aims
The projects aims are to:- Support learning within the various academic disciplines of the Business School degrees with relevant practical experience within a community setting and additional training where appropriate, thereby enriching the overall student experience
- Support local communities with volunteer input particularly relevant to their business needs and practice
- Promote global perspectives and diversity by sharing information on different cultures
- Strengthen links with local employers to improve employability post graduation
Volunteering opportunities
During their degree students have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of different community engagement projects, some examples of the projects run previously are below:
The Lenton Centre (TLC
is an organisation at the heart of Lenton providing access to community and leisure based activities from within its own building, students helped to produce a cost analysis on re opening the pool and did research into the prices to be charged for various groups to use the pool as well as doing some promotional work for the pool and the gym. They also participated in some fundraising.
Ecoworks
is a group with an interest in the areas of environment and mental health. They offer a range of gardening and craft activities to people experiencing social exclusion either through mental health issues or other contributory factors. Students assisted with working on the allotment as well researching opportunities for the mobile cafe to attend events to sell produce and creating an advertising leaflet.
Sharing Culture
Within this part of the programme, students have the opportunity to develop and deliver practical sessions relating to particular cultures which have previously included Chinese, Spanish and French. These sessions are delivered in local primary schools.
YMCA
Funding was received from HSBC four years ago towards the development of a café in the YMCA building on Shakespeare St in the centre of Nottingham. The café is intended to be one where people from all walks of life can spend time. It intends to operate on a Fair Trade basis and 50% of any profits will go towards supporting projects in Africa. The students research a Business Plan to consider how this could be taken forward.
OXFAM
The purpose of the project was to build up levels of engagement between the shop and the local community with the ultimate aim of increasing 'footfall' within the shop (customers/donors/volunteers), which will have a knock-on effect of increasing annual turnover.
Developing business skills and supporting local community enterprise
Within this, students will have the opportunity to link with two very different local community organisations and would choose to work with one or the other:
Training and Support
The volunteering programme will be supported by a diverse range of training opportunities delivered through workshops by the Business School and Active Communities, other University departments and external business partners who are part of the current Employer Programme. These will include subjects as diverse as communication and team working, project management, health and safety and specific academic related subjects such as running a focus group.
Ongoing support will be provided by the School's Skills & Development Manager, Active Communities and academics from within the Business School.
The Volunteering Programme Certificate
For students who participate in the Volunteering Programme and attend a specified number of support workshops will be eligible to receive the Volunteering Programme Certificate.
Main contacts
The main contacts for this programme are:
Jacqueline Andrews
Skills & Development Manager
for the Business School
Jacqueline.andrews@nottingham.ac.uk
0115 846 6063
Lisa Owen
Project Manager, Active Communities
specifically for The Lenton Centre
lisa.owen@nottingham.ac.uk
0115 846 8114
Janet Kavanagh
Project Manager, Active Communities
specifically for Sharing culture and Ecoworks
janet.kavanagh@nottingham.ac.uk
0115 846 8117
How to get involved
If you are interested in signing up for any of these projects or just want to find out more please contact Jackie Andrews - Skills & Development Manager Jacqueline.andrews@nottingham.ac.uk
0115 846 6063
Student Experience
Ameya Shah