Volunteering work at the Egypt Centre has helped two Swansea University graduates to secure employment.
With talk of possible recession, and youth unemployment hitting over 1 million, there is a lot of talk of a “big society” and how citizens should spend time taking power and responsibility for themselves. Volunteering is not only a way of making a contribution to society, but taking control of your own situation, getting some much needed skills and also feeling pretty good about it!
The Egypt Centre at Swansea University provides opportunities for anyone to make that contribution to the local community, while gaining skills and enjoyment for themselves. Phillip Green, 26 and Rosalyn Thomas, 23 who both volunteered with the Egypt Centre, did just that.
Phillip who started at the Centre as a recent graduate had found it difficult to get full time employment and had been stuck in a part time job he had taken while at university and had little confidence due to the knock backs of the job market. He joined the Egypt Centre hoping to gain some direction, valuable skills for employment, as well as to give back to his local community. Under the Egypt Centre’s voluntary programme he progressed from a gallery assistant to supervisor then became an educational leader. In 2010, he was appointed as a clerical and admin officer. In addition to his other roles, Phillip spent 4 months helping our education officer develop a new educational programme, engaging other volunteers to give their voice and opinions to the changes that would affect them. Phillip’s contribution to the local community, as well as his ability to put people of all ages and ability at ease, made him one of Wales highly commended volunteers of the year in 2011. Phillip’s skills in the workplace increased as did his confidence and it was this that enabled him to gain full time, permanent employment in 2011 when he secured a job as a Visitor Assistant in the Houses of Parliament in London.
Rosalyn started her volunteering at the Egypt Centre in 2006 as an undergraduate at Swansea University. She quickly engaged with the museum and became an integral part of the voluntary team. She learned many skills and put them to use helping deliver our education program and the youth volunteering program on a Saturday; helping children of all ages and abilities, gain valuable confidence and skills. Ros continued to volunteer after she graduated and finally in 2010 secured a job with Swansea Museum, and then with the Egypt Centre itself!
Volunteering in the Egypt Centre will help you benefit not just from a great sense of satisfaction and community, but with free training and work experience, it gives you confidence to back up the skills you already have and those will gain through volunteering. If that’s not enough, volunteers also get 10% discount in our shop, pastoral support, careers advice and the support of a full-time Volunteer Manager.
Any one can volunteer to gain work based skills you don’t need any qualifications or any knowledge of Egyptology. Volunteers usually commit to 3 hours a week but we are flexible to individual needs. If you are interested in getting involved with the Egypt Centre, application forms and more information are available online from the website www.egypt.swan.ac.uk or you can contact the Volunteer Manager, Ashleigh Taylor 01792 606065 [email protected]
