University students' volunteer work in the community recognised – University of Reading
17 June 2009
Over 200 University of Reading community-spirited students who volunteered in local schools received recognition for their efforts at a special ceremony this month.
Every year these generous helpers maintain the University's longstanding and proud tradition of supporting the local community. This year 41 local schools and numerous school children benefited from their help.
Professor Gordon Marshall, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, presented certificates on Wednesday June 17 to students who participated in the Community Service Volunteers (CSV) Student Tutoring scheme and completed at least 10 periods of tutoring in the last year.
Special prizes were awarded to 3rd year History student Richard Sanders and Lucy O'Mahony, who is studying Applied English Language and also in her 3rd year.
Richard visited Blessed Hugh Faringdon RC School to help with History classes. Ms Ann Dally, Head of History at the School said: "Richard was happy in any classroom and able to work well with challenging and challenged children. Richard made more than ten visits to the school this year and that followed ten in 2007-08."
Meanwhile Lucy visited Sonning Primary School 15 times and New Town Primary a similar number of times in 2007-08. Clare Holland, Teaching and Learning Coach at Sonning praised Clare's ability to think on her feet and take on any task she was given. "She had a great relationship with staff and pupils and was always keen to be involved in the children's curriculum," said Clare. "Lucy is a local Berkshire girl who has greatly enjoyed helping the next generation of Berkshire children."
Lucy said: "This was my second year of being involved with the scheme and I definitely recommend it to others. I had a fantastic time at Sonning Primary. It gave me a break from studying but still enabled me to learn and get a taste of what it was like to be a teacher. I got on really well with the children and they seemed to enjoy my presence in the classes which was a great feeling."
Julia Hodgson, Student Tutoring Co-ordinator, said: "Many thanks to everyone who participated in this year's scheme. Our volunteers have made a real difference in the community and are a credit to themselves and the University. Once again we were also delighted to continue to provide volunteers to give one-to-one support to students who had recently joined the English education system in both primary and secondary schools. These volunteers needed to be native speakers of Polish, Portuguese, Arabic, Italian, Russian, Romanian, Korean or Mandarin."
This year is the 15th CSV scheme to have been organised by Julia and saw the total number of volunteers since its launch pass 3500. Julia said "I really enjoy the role of Student Tutoring Co-ordinator. Each year I meet very nice students from all across the university who are genuinely keen to give something back to the local community once they have finished their own school education."
Guest speakers at the ceremony included Peter Devereux, School Development Adviser, Wokingham Borough Council. Also in attendance were The Mayor and Mayoress of Reading, Councillor and Mrs Fred Pugh, Ian Pearson, Head of Education Services in West Berkshire and head teachers from participating schools.
Ends
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Notes for editors:
Participating schools
Secondary Schools -14
The Abbey
Blessed Hugh Faringdon
Brakenhale
Bulmershe
Hemdean House
Highdown School
Holt
John Madejski Academy
Kendrick School
Maiden Erlegh School
Reading Girls'
Reading School
Theale Green
The Willink School
Primary Schools – 21
Alexandra Nursery
Alfred Sutton Primary
Christ the King RC Primary
Coombes Primary
Earley St Peter's CoE Primary
Emmbrook Infant
George Palmer Primary
Highwood Primary
Hillside Primary
New Christ Church CoE Primary
New Town County Primary School
Ridgeway Primary
Sonning CoE Primary School
St Dominic Savio Primary
St John's CoE Primary
Thameside Primary
Theale CoE Primary
Upcroft Primary
Westcott Infant
Whiteknights Primary School
Whitley Park Infant School
Special Schools - 2
Addington
Phoenix College
Others -2
Playing 4 Success (Madejski Stadium)
Thames Valley University