Volunteering, squiggly careers and staying connected to the mission
Ahead of Volunteers Week, Lauren, a 2020 ambassador, shares how she got into teaching during the Covid pandemic, how volunteering has shaped her career and personal life, and her advice for anyone thinking about getting started.
I came to teaching a bit later but there were little signs and clues all along that I was going to get into teaching.
After studying a BA in English and French at Nottingham, I worked in a digital marketing agency, then moved into the arts and worked for a community arts charity with some freelancing at an arts festival in Macclesfield. I was doing a lot of work with young people and when the pandemic arrived, I’d been considering different routes into teaching.
I knew that because of lockdowns anything involving optional placements weren’t going to happen but I also knew sitting at my dining table wasn’t going to suit me.
I needed to be active and feel like I was contributing and Teach First offered me a great way to do that.
Lauren’s time in teaching
I applied on the deadline day and because of where the need was, I moved to Grimsby over the summer and started teaching at an academy there. I felt really welcomed in. I remember a call during Summer Institute with people living in Grimsby – ambassadors and some trainees – they gave me great advice on things like housing.
I immediately felt welcomed into the community and being able to go for a run by the sea was really great, especially during the pandemic.
Later, I moved back to Manchester and taught there for three years but didn’t have as great an experience at that school and realised that teaching full-time wasn’t sustainable for me. Now, I’m working for Targeted Provision. It’s an alternative provision provider and we deliver online, in-schools and in-homes to the most vulnerable young people across the country.
I speak to headteachers, SENCOs, parents, local authorities and I help with our referral process to get young people the support they need. It’s given me a great insight into alternative provision and the SEND landscape.
Volunteering opportunities
Volunteering really brought a lot to my life. It dates back to my time in Grimsby, I joined formal and informal networks in the area which gave me great advice on housing in the area, and I ended up living with some of those groups later in my first and second year.
When the person leading the Scunthorpe, Immingham and Grimsby Network (SIGNet) stepped down, I volunteered to take it on.
I remember delivering meals to members before Christmas 2020 and we all ate it together on Zoom, that was quite special.
I was then asked to co-lead the Greater Manchester Network and I said yes absolutely. I’ve been leading that group for three or four years now and some great volunteering opportunities have come out of that. One of the members worked at Accenture and after talking at one of the network events we ended up setting up a couple of events and projects at Accenture – one more art and creative based, the other more careers insights focused.
I’m part of the Teach First ambassador bulletin and have signed up to be a volunteer for Teach First which gives me some exciting opportunities. This year, I’m volunteering on the Ambassador Council which I’m really enjoying being a part of. I’ve also done quite a lot of talks, both in person and online, about my experience, why go into teaching and squiggly careers.
I volunteer because I want the very best for young people.
I remember one student I had mentored while working in Salford; she found school difficult sometimes and we worked together on building her confidence. She stood up and presented to the senior leadership team at Accenture and spoke without any nerves. Afterwards she told me, “I can’t believe I’ve just done that.”
Volunteering with Teach First keeps me connected to the mission and lets me continue growing my career in education in a way that works for me right now. My current role gives me more flexibility than I had in the classroom which means I have more capacity for volunteering opportunities. It also means I can be honest with myself about what I need and step back when I need to. That balance is really important to me at the moment.
Why volunteer?
To anyone thinking of volunteering I’d say; start small and keep it sustainable so that it can be enjoyable and most importantly, impactful.
Don’t take on too much, even an hour every couple of months is something. I’d also really think about who you are as a person and what you’d like to be involved with. Think about what aligns with your values and if there are skills or experiences you’d like to build for your career.
Teach First is a great charity and organisation to volunteer for. It’s great to be able to have opportunities, whether it’s an hour every couple of months or an hour a week, you can find something that fits where you are.
Start small, stay sustainable
Find a way to give back that works for you.