Students do the University proud – University of Reading
17 June 2005Students who have gone to 29 local schools to help children and teachers in the classroom are to receive certificates at a special ceremony on Wednesday 22 June. Every year these generous helpers maintain the University's longstanding and proud tradition of supporting the local community. Professor Gordon Marshall CBE, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, will present the certificates to the 142 students who participated in the Community Service Volunteers 'Learning Together' scheme and completed at least 10 periods of tutoring in the last year. A special prize is to be awarded to a Visiting Student from Germany, Carina Spanu, who has been nominated as outstanding volunteer of the year. Carina, 24, was nominated by Andrew Male, Head of German, at Reading School. (Terry Edmonds was her tutor and Heather McKeever will collect her prize for her, as she is currently in Germany). The University is delighted to announce that Peter Hayes, CSV's Director of Education, has agreed to be the guest speaker. The Mayor of Reading, Councillor Riaz Chaudhri and Rob Wilson, MP for Reading East, will also be present at the ceremony. "It is a great pleasure for me to attend this ceremony and be able to show our gratitude to these community-spirited students," said Professor Marshall. "The Learning Together scheme has once again proved to be hugely beneficial for all concerned. For students actually to go into the classroom and see the positive effect their skills have on others is an important step in their development, while the pupils feed off their enthusiasm and are encouraged to go on to higher education. It has been wonderful to learn of the rapport built up between the student volunteers and school pupils and the real sense of enjoyment everybody has got from the experience." This year was one of the most successful for the scheme, with 208 volunteers from the University of Reading, Reading College and School of Arts & Design and Randolph-Macon Woman's College placed in schools, giving a total of more than 3000 hours of voluntary help. Around 18% of volunteers were from abroad coming from 13 different countries. Learning Together has been a fantastic experience for school pupils, students and teachers. "This is a great programme and I wish more people were involved in it," said one student, who volunteered at The Willink Secondary School. "It was a great feeling to work with children, to be able to give encouragement and hopefully a different view on their studies." One international student gave up her time to be at a primary school in Woodley and says she will never forget the experience and the warmth of the children. "On my final day the children made cards containing 'thank you' and 'good luck' messages for me. I was really moved. Some of them also made souvenirs for me. My days as a tutor have truly been rewarding. It is so great to know that your efforts are appreciated and people are touched by you. I am truly fulfilled." The reaction of the teachers was extremely positive too, with volunteers apparently really making a difference in the classroom. "Once again students have given a valuable contribution to the classes they have been assigned to, and in fact one of them is continuing to do voluntary work here indefinitely," added one teacher at the Addington Special School. A Year 10 Science teacher at Thamesbridge College said of one of their helpers. "By the end of his time with us it seemed like he was part of the department," he said. Of the 29 institutions that received student tutors, 14 were primary schools, 12 were secondary schools and three were special schools. The geographical spread stretched from Burghfield Common to the west of Reading, to Sonning in the east and Bracknell to the south. This took us to schools in 4 LEA areas - Reading, West Berkshire, Wokingham and Bracknell Forest. End The media are welcome to attend the ceremony. Please confirm attendance with Craig Hillsley, the University's press officer. Tel: 0118 378 7388, e-mail: c.hillsley@reading.ac.uk