enhancing the student experience through volunteering jon biggs student advice & activities...
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Enhancing the student experience through
volunteering
Jon BiggsStudent Advice & Activities Manager
Oxford Brookes Students’ Union
Benefits of volunteering
• To the student– A chance to
experience what’s ahead
– Opens up new opportunities
– Builds confidence– Awareness of local
cultures/issues– Network of people– Develop skills
Benefits of volunteering
• To the University– Relationship with local community– Marketability to potential students– Widening Participation
programmes– More employable graduates
• To the community– Skills and expertise can be
transferred from the students and University to the community
– Breaks down stereotype both of, and by the community
Facts and Figures
• 73% of employers stated that they would rather employ someone with voluntary experience, than someone without
(Timebank, www.timebank.org.uk)
• Almost 50% of chief executives believe there will not be enough suitable candidates over the coming year, placing the blame on the lack of skills that graduates possess
(Association of Graduate Recruiters, www.agr.org.uk)
• Formal volunteering in the UK is worth ~£40 billion per year
(Institute for volunteering research, www.ivr.org.uk/economic.htm)
What is STAX?
• We hold information for over 400 opportunities in the local community. We can help students to choose the right opportunity for themselves. We then provide advice and ongoing support to volunteers.
• We offer support for students to develop and run their own projects e.g. funding advice.
STAX 05/06 - Opportunities
5
1 15
32 2
1
20
317
32
1
14
5
22
122
5
Total Oxford CityOutside CityOpportunities in STAX
Total Opportunities
1623119
212
Map Oxford City Council Ward boundarieswww.oxford.gov.uk
STAX 05/06 - Demographics
• 76% of volunteers were female• From all Schools… but not representative
School Percentage
Arts & Humanities 15
Built Environment 4
Biological & Molecular Sciences 8
Business 8
Health & Social Care 6
Social Sciences & Law 26
Technology 3
Westminster Institute of Education 10
Two Schools 19
STAX 06/07
From August 2006 until April 2007…• 111 students volunteered• 465 students registered• 404 current opportunities
STAX 06/07
• Working with Schools– Diverse City– Grendon Prison
• Outreach– Visited Gipsy Lane,
Wheatley, Harcourt and Marston Road
– Targeted emails e.g. Technology students
Summary
• Volunteering is a good thing!
• STAX does a lot but could do more
• We want to do more in Headington and Rose Hill
• We want better links with Schools but need your help
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