Volunteer Hub
Access All Areas - TraveLab Project Leader
Organisation Details
Activity type: Children, Education, Science and Technology, Youth Work and Young People
Stellify Award: This opportunity is part of 'Step Up and Lead'
Description of role: TraveLab runs fun, interactive, STEM-based events and activities for children in libraries in Greater Manchester. TraveLab aims to get children excited about and interested in STEM subjects and to encourage them to consider pursuing an education in STEM in the future. We aim to increase representation and inclusivity within STEM fields and engage with children from groups that are underrepresented in the area.
We are seeking an enthusiastic Project Leader with great communication skills who is passionate about dismantling barriers to education and getting children excited about STEM. As a leader, you will have real scope to influence and shape the direction of this project, creating a volunteering initiative that’s both effective in introducing children to the idea of university education, and fulfilling for the student volunteers who participate.
TraveLab is part of Access All Areas, a volunteering arm of the Students’ Union that aims to reduce barriers to education to widen participation in university study. This volunteering initiative will open up the possibility of university study for participants by encouraging them to engage with current students, who act as role models and sources of vital insight into Higher Education.
Responsibilities:
- Registering, risk assessing and budgeting for the project, with support from SU staff team
- Building and maintaining effective working relationship with a new partner school
- Recruiting, training and supporting a volunteer team to deliver TraveLab’s activities
- Planning a program of activities to meet the project’s aims
- Managing the project budget and resources
- Planning and implementing an effective evaluation strategy for the project
- Undertaking all relevant training provided through the Students’ Union
- Maintaining regular communication with the Access All Areas committee and Students’ Union staff team
Skills and experience:
- Knowledge of/interest in STEM subjects
- Commitment to improving access to Higher Education for underrepresented groups and the aims of Access All Areas
- Ability to communicate confidently and flexibly with a range of stakeholders, including children, student volunteers, staff members, and parents
- Some previous experience of delivering outreach activities with children would be beneficial
Skills gained through participation:
- Stakeholder management (external partners, children, volunteers, academic staff, Students’ Union staff, etc.)
- Volunteer management (leading a team, providing pastoral support, and organising shifts)
- Training coordination (+ the training you’ll receive yourself, e.g. child safeguarding)
- Effective communication with diverse audiences
- Effective budget and resource management
- Volunteer recruitment
- Project planning and risk assessment
- Evaluating a project and making/implementing recommendations following evaluation
- Presentation and workshop facilitation skills
- Experience of engaging with children and young people in an education setting
- Knowledge of GDPR compliance
- Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection
To apply:
Apply for this opportunity online through the Volunteer Hub by clicking ‘Apply’ below and submitting an application form. This will be reviewed by a member of the Students’ Union’s Volunteering & Fundraising Team, who will invite you for an informal chat about your application and the next steps in becoming a project leader.
If you have any questions about this role, please contact volunteering.su@manchester.ac.uk.
PLEASE NOTE: The Students’ Union welcomes and encourages all students to get involved in volunteering. As a Union we do not discriminate based on background and we welcome students from all ethnicities, genders, religious backgrounds, sexual orientations, ages, socio-economic backgrounds and disabilities.
We aim to support all students in their application process and during volunteering. Should you need any help, and/or adjustments with the application or wider volunteering process please contact the Students’ Union Volunteering and Fundraising team at: volunteering.su@manchester.ac.uk.
We are seeking an enthusiastic Project Leader with great communication skills who is passionate about dismantling barriers to education and getting children excited about STEM. As a leader, you will have real scope to influence and shape the direction of this project, creating a volunteering initiative that’s both effective in introducing children to the idea of university education, and fulfilling for the student volunteers who participate.
TraveLab is part of Access All Areas, a volunteering arm of the Students’ Union that aims to reduce barriers to education to widen participation in university study. This volunteering initiative will open up the possibility of university study for participants by encouraging them to engage with current students, who act as role models and sources of vital insight into Higher Education.
Responsibilities:
- Registering, risk assessing and budgeting for the project, with support from SU staff team
- Building and maintaining effective working relationship with a new partner school
- Recruiting, training and supporting a volunteer team to deliver TraveLab’s activities
- Planning a program of activities to meet the project’s aims
- Managing the project budget and resources
- Planning and implementing an effective evaluation strategy for the project
- Undertaking all relevant training provided through the Students’ Union
- Maintaining regular communication with the Access All Areas committee and Students’ Union staff team
Skills and experience:
- Knowledge of/interest in STEM subjects
- Commitment to improving access to Higher Education for underrepresented groups and the aims of Access All Areas
- Ability to communicate confidently and flexibly with a range of stakeholders, including children, student volunteers, staff members, and parents
- Some previous experience of delivering outreach activities with children would be beneficial
Skills gained through participation:
- Stakeholder management (external partners, children, volunteers, academic staff, Students’ Union staff, etc.)
- Volunteer management (leading a team, providing pastoral support, and organising shifts)
- Training coordination (+ the training you’ll receive yourself, e.g. child safeguarding)
- Effective communication with diverse audiences
- Effective budget and resource management
- Volunteer recruitment
- Project planning and risk assessment
- Evaluating a project and making/implementing recommendations following evaluation
- Presentation and workshop facilitation skills
- Experience of engaging with children and young people in an education setting
- Knowledge of GDPR compliance
- Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection
To apply:
Apply for this opportunity online through the Volunteer Hub by clicking ‘Apply’ below and submitting an application form. This will be reviewed by a member of the Students’ Union’s Volunteering & Fundraising Team, who will invite you for an informal chat about your application and the next steps in becoming a project leader.
If you have any questions about this role, please contact volunteering.su@manchester.ac.uk.
PLEASE NOTE: The Students’ Union welcomes and encourages all students to get involved in volunteering. As a Union we do not discriminate based on background and we welcome students from all ethnicities, genders, religious backgrounds, sexual orientations, ages, socio-economic backgrounds and disabilities.
We aim to support all students in their application process and during volunteering. Should you need any help, and/or adjustments with the application or wider volunteering process please contact the Students’ Union Volunteering and Fundraising team at: volunteering.su@manchester.ac.uk.
Skills / qualities associated with the role: Creative Skills, Event Planning, Leadership, Oral Communication Skills, Practical Skills, Project Management, Team Working
Are volunteer expenses available?: Yes
Duration of role: Fixed / Short term
Start date:
End date:
Opportunity times: Monday PM, Tuesday PM, Wednesday PM, Thursday PM, Friday PM, Saturday PM, Sunday PM
DBS required: Off
Can reasonable adjustments be made regarding additional needs?: Yes
Minimum hours commitment: 2.5 hours/week (as Project Leader) + 1.5 hours/week (volunteer)
Location:
University of Manchester Students' Union
Manchester
M13 9PR