The Sixth Form Voluntary Service Programme at QE has become an important factor in enabling the School to fulfil its commitment to make a serious contribution to society and “to produce young men who are confident, able and responsible”.
Every pupil in Year 12 is expected to devote 40 hours during the year (or one hour per week) to volunteering.
Boys find their own placements: usually, their choices either relate to an individual’s planned career or make a contribution to his community.
The School receives very positive feedback from employers who participate in the programme. For their part, pupils benefit tremendously from the opportunity to work alongside people from different walks of life, thereby enhancing their social skills and, in many cases, gaining skills and knowledge that will prove useful to them in their future career.
Below are some case studies from current Sixth-Formers on their volunteering placements, collated by Sixth-Former Alex Davis. The photographs of the volunteers in action were taken by Alex’s classmate, Henry Yang.
Matthew Chew, acts as a Teaching Assistant at Brunswick Park Primary School and Nursery. He works with small groups of children in Year 2, varying from groups of seven to one-to-one, helping them with improving numeracy skills.
What are the benefits for you?
- Gaining leadership, teaching and communication skills with children
- Satisfaction of helping children learn
What do your employer and colleagues get out of it?
- Reduces the burden for teachers
- Allows children to get more individual help with difficult concepts
Why do you think volunteering is important?
“Volunteering not only helps to model future career aspirations, but it also allows us to give back to society. By teaching children, I’m able to pass on information that I have picked up along the way.”
Rohan Sathyanand helps with the running of a Cancer Reseach UK charity shop. This includes dealing with the shop Floor, checking use-by dates of the products and taking charge of the media section.
What are the benefits for you?
- Working with a range of interesting people; developing team-building skills
- Feeling of giving back to society
What do your employer and colleagues get out of it?
- The shop would not able to function without volunteers
- I introduced a restructured pricing strategy for media-related items to increase revenue for the charity
Why do you think volunteering is important?
“Volunteering goes one step further than simply donating. I initially moved to the UK with my family in 2004 and visited charity shops often when I was younger. Now, I am in a position to be able to help others who are in a similar situation.”
Vignesh Gopalan helps run Arts and Crafts classes at St Joseph’s Pastoral Centre, an adult learning disability centre. Adults receive one-to-one help with activities such as painting and pottery.
What are the benefits for you?
- Satisfaction of giving people opportunities they would otherwise not have
- Building relationships and having fun
What do your employer and colleagues get out of it?
- St Joseph’s are often short of volunteers
- Adults with difficulties get someone to talk to, which allows them to be expressive and creative
Why do you think volunteering is important?
“Our responsibility is to help others as we are in a fortunate position to be able to. This charity is really very unusual as it goes beyond simply raising funds, actively bringing adults in.”
Jeremy Wong helps with the general running of Chipping Barnet Day Centre for the Elderly, as well as entertaining the elderly through board games, such as Scrabble, draughts and chess.
What are the benefits for you?
- Gaining medical work experience in geriatrics
- Developing communication skills with patients
What do your employer and colleagues get out of it?
- Day centre works more efficiently
- Elderly appreciate that people give up their free time to entertain and help them
Why do you think volunteering is important?
“There is very little money in institutions like elderly day care centres, and they can only continue to function successfully through the work of volunteers. It is also important to commit oneself to tasks whereby there is no personal reward directly.”