The Discovery Volunteering Award and Employability Christine Watson – Manager Kirsty Rowles – Development Worker Charity number:

Who are Discovery? Independent charity based at Swansea University, registered May Lead on student volunteering at Swansea University. UK base for Swansea-Siavonga Partnership. Host of the Swansea City of Sanctuary funded project. Charity number:

Our Aims Challenge discrimination. Support disabled people. Enrich the lives of disadvantaged people. Charity number:

What do we do? Run and support 30 projects in the local community working with disadvantaged people. Swansea-Siavonga Partnership – student summer programme, school links, scholarship scheme. Advise and support other volunteering projects in the University. Charity number:

We have: 10 student trustees. 24 student project coordinators. 300 student volunteers. Supported by: Two members of staff. Four non-student trustees. Charity number:

What difference do we make in the community? Offering new opportunities to service users and volunteers. Tackling poverty. Raising aspirations of young people. Offering positive role models. Increasing good relations between students and the local community. Supporting work experience for people with disabilities. Charity number:

What difference do we make to the community? Volunteer hours: 3910 equivalent to £19,472 of investment into the economy of Swansea. Number of people who benefit from the work of Discovery volunteers each year: approx 600. Charity number:

What is the Discovery Volunteering Award? The Discovery Volunteering Award recognises a student’s input into the community through volunteering with Discovery. The award shows: – Completed hours (students are eligible once they have logged 50 volunteering hours or more and these have been verified by senior staff). – Acknowledgement of level of responsibility and commitment. Charity number:

How many students have achieved the award? 2011/12: /13: 48 Charity number:

Volunteering and Employability Skills gained from volunteering with Discovery: Leadership Communication Decision-making Responsibility Social awareness Risk assessment Finance Teamwork Event planning Presenting Project management Facilitating meetings Charity number:

Employment case study Chanai Operanta – BA History and Discovery volunteer, Project Coordinator for Elev8 (managing a team of volunteers to deliver numeracy booster sessions in schools). Volunteer on the Swansea-Siavonga Partnership summer programme. Student trustee. Fundraising volunteer. Now works for Wales Africa Community Links. Charity number:

Feedback from Students Having recognition of volunteering helped when looking for employment. The HEAR supports students taking about their volunteering experiences and the skills they have gained from them. Charity number:

“Although my volunteering role was not employment as such, I feel that it is one of the most challenging and valuable experiences I have had.” – Nadine Loftus, former Discovery volunteer. “Food Co-op was a great project to manage, it taught valuable skills and gave you a platform to improve yourself and ultimately have fun doing so.” – Gabriel Pankhurst, Discovery volunteer. Feedback from Students Charity number:

Discovery + HEAR = Employability! Charity number: