► Case Studies

Sexpression - Dave Lawrence (5th yr, Medicine)

"I have been volunteering Sexpression:UK for eighteen months and have just begun my role as the National Coordinator of Groups and Training. Sexpression:UK trains medical students in the art of teaching sexual and relationship education. I am involved in training secondary school pupils in the Merseyside area as well as members of community groups which involve regularly visiting local schools and working through our lesson plans. I have benefitted the community through educating several hundred children and made them more aware of issues relating to sexual and relationship education. Sexpression encourages pupils to make mature, informed decisions and to be aware of the impact these decisions could have on their lives. Also, we increase their awareness of issues such as domestic violence, rape and HIV/AIDS. Personally, I have gained a lot of knowledge in this area, improved my confidence and communication skills immensely and provided numerous opportunities to apply my experiences to my course and my future career. Volunteering with Sexpression: UK has encouraged me to pursue a masters degree in Humanitarian Studies, a career path that I intend to pursue."

Roy Castle Lung Foundation - Stacy Daly (3rd yr, Management school)

"I am a volunteer with the Roy Castle Lung Foundation and have been for nearly 3 years now, I work in the shops along Allerton Road normally but occasionally I work within other stores around Liverpool as my position is as a variable temp means when managers are absent for what ever reason I will assist the other manager in the running of the shop. When working I generally prices goods, sort out donations, check deliveries and work on the till taking transactions, I also help the volunteers with their training on the till and any other inquires I can answer. As a volunteer I believe that my confidence has grown with regards to speaking with various customers from different backgrounds and age groups, it can be quite daunting when I do not know the answer but as long as you explain this and say you will find out then customers are generally happy. I have also learnt who to become more assertive in my role and how to ask for help when needed, I believe this will benefit me it the future. In 2009, many stores' female managers and volunteers took part raising money for the charity including a Liver Birds 9km midnight walk and a Cinderella ball, on both occasions many local organisations were involved such as Juice FM, Greens gym and Everton football club, showing that even the wider community has such a great involvement in the cause also. Though events such as these it has encouraged me to look into a career within fundraising. I would encourage others to volunteer to gain invaluable experience not only to help with your future but to gain an insight into something new and different along with meeting new people."

Sahir House - Anonymous

"I Started volunteering October 2009. Being a volunteer is a new experience for myself which started out as more something i needed to do for my course, however I couldn’t be happier that i chose sahir house from induction to today months later the experience is wonderful, fulfilling and something that I will continue after university."

LGoS roof garden - Sian McCall (3rd yr, Vetinary Science)

Impacts on volunteer
1. Academic: I'm a vet student and beehives can be treated by vets, I have had two lectures on bee disease and honey production so the beekeeping course is reinforcing that information as well as giving me a much more detailed and well-rounded understanding of beekeeping and bee disease than the average vet student. Being able to say I've took the beekeeping course and have practical experience with caring for a beehive could be an advantage in future career development (e.g. if I were to work at DEFRA whose remit includes bee farms).

2. Employability: It's early days but already I've worked as a team with other group members to solve problems about the tasks we are doing that week. This helps us improve our communication skills to work as a team with people we don't necessarily know that well.

3. Personal development: I'm repeating the year at university but have finished all the academic work I needed to do last term and have found it difficult to find many hours of paid work-as a result I've felt a bit down/anxious about this but I can honestly say that every time I've gone to do tasks on the roof garden I've come away feeling so much better and positive! Also it has always been a long-term idea of mine that I'd like to keep bees but I never thought I'd be able to until I was more settled (in my 30s!) but this means I can have a go now, learn what it involves and see how I like it.

Big Issue Creative Writing Project - Kay Fitzpatrick

"My 18 months working on the Big Issue Creative Writing Project have been fantastic. A lot of my opinions have been changed. I joined expecting to teach things (oh how our naive young minds work!) and instead I have learned. I have learned that most of the guys who sell The Big Issue are geniuses, that they know more about poetry than I ever did and that the more I learn, the more I realise there is for me to learn. The Friday afternoon writing sessions are really chilled out. On average there are about 5 vendors who attend each session, but we've had anywhere between 1 and 11 at times. No two weeks are the same. We simply read some poems together, discuss them, and then write some poems or prose of our own. Nobody has to be particularly 'good' at poetry because we do lots of writing together and exercises to 'trigger' inspiration! What people write down is sometimes the first thing that comes into their heads and is quite often hilarious. There is an atmosphere of genuineness, honesty and an enthusiasm to learn and explore.The guys frequently comment on how much they enjoy coming and the head space they get from doing something different. Sometimes it's chaotic, but that's part of the fun. Creativity is rarely quiet and ordered!"

Mildmay Youth Hostel - Ruth Anderson

"I have taken part in the Mildmay hostel project in my 3rd year, the skills and experience I gained both personally and in terms of future employment were invaluable and I truly believe my experience at University would not have been as positive or worthwhile without the projects I contributed to."

LOST

"So we got on the bus at 8am and found ourselves "lost" in NEWCASTLE at the Angel of the North!! in the pouring rain. After some pics and panic thoughts we found an old people's home over the road and asked what way to go...here we fulfilled challenge one, get a local newspaper. we then blagged it onto a pink bus and were in newcastle centre were we went sightseeing..we went to the Newcastle United shop and got a pic in a shirt, then fancied some munchies so got a maccy d's and went to St James's Park to get some pics..next stop was the life sciences building were we got our challenge 2 done, get a postcard. "put it in the bag and go quick" =) thank you nice ladies.. then challenge 3, pic next to welcome to newcastle sign, thank you bus stop =) We then decided we should escape Newcastle but DISASTER! train networks and coaches had shut us all out!!!!!! bas***ds!!! we then began a lil panic and walked back over the Tyne to Gateshead and hitched a ride at the Shell garage with a lovely man called PAUL who took us to Durham, he was only going to Chester-lee Street but took us all that way when he found out what we were doing." (Wonderland on the Run)

The Guild

Hello and welcome to Liverpool Guild of Students!

As a University of Liverpool student, you are automatically one of over 17000 members of the Guild. We are run by 4 elected students, who are supported by staff and volunteers.

The Guild aims to make students lives better, through campaigning with you to make positive change and providing you with a huge range of opportunities to meet other people, gain new skills and have fun.

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