“Our volunteering leaders were extremely helpful with things like transport and any concerns or questions we had. It showed that they were really looking out for us and making sure that we could feel confident and have as much fun with the volunteering as possible. It made me feel valued”.
Alexandra Fowler, BA Fine Art
How would you describe your experience volunteering with Book Explorers?
My experience volunteering with Book Explorers was great. I had so much fun getting to know the children in my group and finding out what their interests were whilst also being able to see how important the volunteering was for them. The books we were given to read with them were all exciting in their own way and we were able to see how the reading impacted them with our evaluations at the end of each session.
What expectations did you have? Were they met?
My expectations were definitely met and exceeded! The training was thorough and engaging. Our volunteering leaders were extremely helpful with things like transport and any concerns or questions we had. It showed that they were really looking out for us and making sure that we could feel confident and have as much fun with the volunteering as possible. It made me feel valued.
What skills have you learnt through your volunteering experience?
I have been able to improve on my confidence working within a school environment and working with children which is something I had never done before. This experience is so essential to me going forward with my PGCE and future teaching opportunities.
Would you recommend volunteering to other students?
I would definitely recommend Book Explorers – it is a fulfilling and fun thing to experience, and it has taught me a lot about how valuable we are to the learning environment and children. This experience gave me the confidence to apply for another opportunity and I am excited to share that I will be soon starting volunteering with Action Tutoring, a national education charity supporting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds who are at risk of leaving primary or secondary school without reaching national standards in their exams.
