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Lancaster University Volunteering Unit

Winner: Charitable organisations category

Matthew Hutchinson and David Frost (British Chamber of Commerce)

Finalists
  • Cancer Research UK - Highly Commended
  • LUVU and Create
  • Shetland Arts Development Agency
  • The Rainbow Centre

Case study

“We pride ourselves on offering placements which are student designed and led in their conception.” Ben Matthews - Director, LUVU

LUVU is part of Lancaster University, and was established to offer both paid and voluntary work experience to students with an interest in ICT. LUVU operates within Blackpool working with community organisations and individuals to boost their IT skills and capabilities.

One community project supports residents in Blackpool who wish to re-enter employment, offering student run workshops on basic IT skills, conducting online job searches and producing CV’s.

LUVU also work with local organisations helping them to increase their effectiveness through ICT. This could include updating, development and implementation of an IT strategy or the design and creation of a website or database, helping organisations to increase their profile or benefit from e-commerce capabilities.

Students apply to specific projects based around the skills they wish to develop during their placement, they then shape and develop the projects they undertake allowing them to develop project management skills and teamwork, developing their academic skills and tailoring them to a real life situation.

During the placement students are offered the opportunity to gain a Microsoft qualification in their chosen office programme, giving them the chance to test their knowledge and gain a nationally recognised ICT qualification.       

  • The placements make a real difference to the local community helping individuals find employment and helping social enterprises develop a web presence and raise their profile.
  • One judge commented “Placement goals were varied and excellent e.g. reducing landfill by recycling computers”
  • A student commented that “LUVU was one of the best things I had got into at Lancaster”

Photography by Jacopo Pandolfi/JP Images