Encourage your staff to volunteer and inspire young people in school
There are many benefits for businesses actively engaging with schools:
It offers an opportunity to develop staff skills and competances
It provides a route to recruit young people into your business
It allows you to invest in young people in your local community
Young people can bring fresh and new ideas to your company
Young people will be better prepared to enter the workforce
It is free for a company to take part, apart from the time commitment which you make. Induction / familiarisation training will be provided. Where appropriate, volunteers may need to have a check through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). For further information view the Independent Safeguarding Authority and Criminal Records Bureau
The information below will give you a brief overview of the different areas which your business could support.
Work Experience
Offering a work experience placement to a young person often means that you give them their first taste of working life.
Young people choose their work placement for various reasons. It could be related to studies in a specific sector or as a general experience, often motivating them to further studies or a career choice in the process. LEBC work involves planning these student placements.
Further information in support of an agreed placement may be found to the right of this page ‘In this Section’.
Giving just one day to work with young people on Enterprise activities, be it in a primary or secondary school, will make a difference and bring real life relevance to the learning in the classroom.
Young people learn many skills such as team work, the importance of good communication skills, personal finance and more.
Take a look at this short film of the Planet Leicester event at New College Leicester. Hear from the business volunteers, the students and the teachers who talk about their experiences of the event.
To remain competitive in the global workplace the UK has a growing need for skilled workers with science, technology, engineering and mathematical (STEM) backgrounds. Companies can support projects and activities which engage young peoples interest in STEM subjects and careers.
Individual employees can get involved with a range of STEM activities as inspiring role models through the national STEM Ambassador scheme. Register for the scheme online at www.stemnet.org.uk.
To view a leaflet that explains more about STEM Ambassadors click here
Could you host a visit for a teacher, or a group of teachers, teaching a subject related to your industry or sector? Or work with a teacher to develop a project brief for the classroom?
Use your business expertise to educate teachers for a change in turn inspiring young people in the classroom through their new found knowledge.
To see the most recent Teacher Placements, take a look at the Events section by clicking here.
Along with Enterprise and Employability and STEM activities, volunteers also can support the Right to Read programme. Low levels of literacy remain a challenge in schools. Volunteers spend one hour per week, often lunchtime, listening to children read on a one to one basis, in a primary school near to their workplace.
For literacy games to play with a young reader view Resources.
Take a look this short film of the Right to Read programme in action at Queensmead Primary School. Hear from the business volunteers, teachers and the students about their involvement in the programme. We would like to thank all involved in the making of this film.
Right to read has had another excellent year with over 950 volunteers supporting 2,850 children in 127 primary schools across the city and county; a fantastic achievement. There has been some wonderful work carried out in our schools this year. We have collected data from the schools about the progress the children had made when supported by a reading volunteer during the last academic year and put together an end of year report.
Training and support is provided by LEBC throughout all your involvement from experienced managers and co-ordinators, who can make your involvement focused and worthwhile.
View Testimonials from businesses, schools and young people who have worked successfully with LEBC.
