Santander Universities Community Awards 2009
The Award winners in 2009 were:
1. Student: Ever Dundas, Organisation: Penumbra
2. Student: Agnieszka Grzybek, Organisation: Clanski
3. Student: Olusegun Ilesanmi, Organisation: International Volunteers
4. Student: Laura Jayne Byers, Organisation: Exodus Youth Club, Royal Mile
5. Student: Miriam Attwood, Organisation: Edinburgh Sick Kids’ Lollipop Radio
Their stories are told below:
1. Student Volunteer: Ever Dundas
Charity: Penumbra
Ever initiated the setting up of an Art Group for a branch of the charity Penumbra, a mental health voluntary organisation. She has run the group for the three years over the summer periods of 2006, 2007, 2008. Her responsibilities have included:
- Finding a suitable venue
- Putting together a budget
- Sourcing donations and discounts for art materials
- Putting together a programme in consultation with the young people
- Running the group weekly for 8 weeks during the summers of 20006 - 2008
- Organising and setting up exhibitions of the group art work in consultation with the young people
The Art Group was not an art class, nor a therapy group. Its purpose was to provide a regular space for young people to take time-out, get to know each other, and express themselves through art using a variety of different mediums.
The programme consisted of drawing, painting, photography, collage and poetry. We explored the use of words within image-making, combining writing, collage, painting and drawing. The young people also shared some of their own poignant, passionate and articulate poetry with the group. Guided visits to the Van Gogh and Ron Mueck exhibitions were organised in the summer of 2006. Through these tours we hoped to encourage a wide interest in the arts around Edinburgh and to provide access to exhibitions that the young people wouldn’t necessarily have attended alone.
where there was freedom to experiement and any judgement or intellectualanalysis was suspended The aim was to encourage enjoyment in the process of art-making and the sharing of this process as part of a group. Many of the young people experienced social isolation and they gained confidence through sharing their work and praising each other. The group overflowed with talent, generosity and passion and many of the young people reported that they had gained self-esteem and confidence by the end of the Art Group summer sessions.
The Art Group sessions made a big difference to the lives of the young people some of whom experienced social isolation and gave them a chance to socialise in a safe, caring environment which encouraged them to work positively and creatively with other people.
Ever graduated in 2009 with a First in BSc (Hons) Psychology & Sociology and she is now studying for an MSc at QMU.
2. Student Volunteer: Agnieszka Grzybek
Charity: Clanski
Agnieszka is involved in “Clanski”, a group of five volunteers whose aim is to integrate young Polish and Scottish people into the community. The group started in November 2008 and during the first two months it was sponsored by a grant from the Scottish Youth Parliament. Volunteers prepare and run different events (eg. Movie Nights, Salsa Classes, Concerts, Football Games, Capoeira Workshops) and invite young Scots and Poles aged 16-26 to come along so that these young people can become a vital part of the community.
Agnieszka devotes at least 10 hours a week to the project and is responsible for co-ordinating all events which are prepared by Clanski. The project has been very successful so far and received many good references from Oxfam, Roars Not Whispers and the Scottish Youth Parliament.
In the summer 2008 they prepared a great music event called Jamski which involved big names such as fanattica from Edinburgh as well as open-mic performances by energetic Poles and Scots. “It was a great, there were 70 people who came along and as we were competing against big Summer festivals, we were really proud of the event.”
Agnieszka puts a lot of spirit and effort into her role which benefits in the increasing numbers of participants involved in the events. The project which so far has helped at least 100 young people whose self-esteem and sense of belonging has been rebuilt. Clanski have put a lot of effort into inviting young people from deprived areas to get involved with the events such as football tournaments, Burns Suppers, Ceilidhs etc. Clanski has also been nominated by the Scottish Youth Parliament for an award from BT.”
3. Student Volunteer: Olusegun Ilesanmi
Voluntary Organisation: International Volunteers
International Volunteers is a group of international students who have formed a voluntary group which aims to foster relations between QMU international students and communities in Scotland. They do this by organising tea parties for the elderly, taking children from local schools on tours of the University and also visiting the schools in order to share their educational experiences with the children. The tea party hosted recently featured on the blog site of Entrepreneur 2008 and SuperJam manufacturer, Fraser Doherty. The group also has plans to assist in clearing up the grounds at the local National Trust for Scotland property, New Hailes House.
The activity has contributed to making QMU accepted into the local community and has help promote the university, featuring in a local newspaper. Through involving the local school children it is hoped this will instil a desire for higher education in the children.
“I believe that the good this group (International Volunteers) achieves is beneficial to the university, the students and the community. It provides a means for the students to participate actively in the community where they study and live. It also provides a useful extracurricular activity for the international students and helps to create a experience for the students which increases their employability.”Olusegun
4. Student Volunteer: Laura Jayne Byers
Charity: Exodus Youth Club, Royal Mile, Edinburgh
Laura Jayne was nominated for this award for her commitment to the Exodus youth club over the past 2 years. The youth club is based at Carruthers Christian Centre on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. The club meets every other Saturday for around 3 hours in the evening. Laura Jayne has a been a dedicated and committed leader at the club and has been involved in planning and running all the activities including Blind Date evenings and Pancake Parties at her own flat.
The club hosts up to 20 children aged 13-17 and provides a safe, free environment for them to meet and enjoy themselves. The club is very inclusive and Laura Jayne is excellent at encouraging the children to get involved. She manages to relate to all the children on a personal level and she has been an incredible role model for the many children passing through. Ultimately the aim of the club is to spread the Christian message through a short epilogue at the end of each evening.
Award in recognition of the time and effort that has been put into the club by the children and leaders over the past few years to make the club what it is today.
“Laura Jayne has managed to juggle full time study, several jobs, placements and family illness and to also continue to develop the club has been an astounding achievement”.Mark Stevenson, Leader Exodus Youth Club
5. Student Volunteer: Miriam Attwood
Charity: Edinburgh Sick Kids’ Radio Lollipop
Miriam Attwood has been volunteering at Edinburgh Sick Kids’ Lollipop Radio for two years. She spends a minimum of two hours a week on the wards of the hospital entertaining, playing and generally cheering the children up in conjunction with a live radio show. The priority for volunteers is distracting children, and often their family from their time in hospital (be it only for five minutes) with laughter games and jokes. In addition to the weekly play and entertaining on the wards, Miriam has taken extra time at Lollipop to train as a presenter on the radio. Each week night slot is officially run by a specific DJ but as a result of her training, Miriam is able to cover if any of the presenters are absent. Miriam is also a volunteers with the coordination of the Lollipop roadshows which take place across Scotland in the summer to raise and money for Radio Lollipop and its work in Edinburgh and Dundee.
“It is surprising how much good you can do just cheering up a child stuck in a hospital bed. The children we spend time with have all range of illnesses and we make it our business to put that all to one side and have fun! I see weekly how much it helps the families, even if it’s just laughing at our poor jokes and attempts to cheer up their child. I’m benefitting the wider community by visiting and spending time with a group that can be overlooked, hospital volunteering doesn’t always sound like great fun! We can provide something light and entertaining that has no relation to the reason children are there. As a student of QM I was brought to the attention of the work of Radio Lollipop by a fellow student. Volunteering at Sick Kids is now so much a part of what I enjoy and my lifestyle that I know when I leave University I will continue to volunteer” Miriam
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