Launched by the University’s Access Partnerships Office, Luton Borough Council and the Pre-school Learning Alliance last year, the scheme has provided 13 Child and Adolescent Studies students with the chance to work alongside professional staff; supporting parents and providing education around topics including child development.

With seven Centres involved in the project, Bedfordshire student Schanice Ramsay (pictured) volunteered at Redgrave Children and Young People’s Centre, supervising under 5s during a weekly play group.

“Working with children is definitely a career I want to pursue and volunteering at Redgrave has given me an insight into the varying approaches required to meet the needs of different age groups,” said Schanice, who hails from Woodford, Essex.

“Whilst I have supervised older children before in a learning environment, this was the first time I worked with under 5s, who were at the Centre to build their social skills through interacting with other children in a playful setting.

“The volunteering scheme gave me the confidence to form relationships with the parents and find out the approach their children best reacted to.”

Other scheme participants included Hatters Children’s Centre, where Jalissa Daley, a second year student, helped the Centre with delivering the REAL Project – aimed at raising literacy levels for families.

Teresa Brimble-Brennan, Deputy Manager at Hatters Children’s Centre, added: “It was a fantastic experience to work with the University of Bedfordshire on this project.

“Over a six month period we provided activities and home-visits to build confidence and knowledge, supporting the early home learning environment of a group of vulnerable families, by looking at books, print and language development.

“Jalissa played a big part in organising and supporting these activities.”

Liesl Conradie, Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator in Child and Adolescent Studies at the University concluded: “The volunteering scheme has given the participating students some valuable ‘hands on’ experience, whilst also helping out the local community, within Children Centres and other family support services in Luton.

“This will provide students with the cutting edge when they interview for jobs as they will have the theory as well as the link to practice.”

A Children and Adolescent Studies Conference is to be held on Wednesday 4 June from 11am in G101, Luton. All students and employers in children and young people related fields are welcome to attend. Contact liesl.conradie@beds.ac.uk for more information.