14 February 2019
This Student Volunteering Week we’re catching up with some of our very own student volunteers across the country — finding out what they love about working with FareShare.
Lauren is based the FareShare Regional Centre in Greater Manchester, volunteering while studying for her degree in Geography at Manchester Metropolitan University.
When Lauren began her course she decided she wanted to break out of the ‘student bubble’ and get involved in the local community. She also wanted to gain some practical work experience which would help her secure a job in International Development in the future.
“Volunteering at FareShare has given me a valuable insight into the real-world impact of the topics I am studying for her degree,” says Lauren. “This semester I’m taking a module on Food Scarcity and related issues. Students are encouraged to supplement their broader reading with more in-depth study of detailed areas, and the work done by FareShare Greater Manchester has provided an excellent case study on structural inequality in Manchester’s economy and the practical steps which can be taken to combat it.”
Lena, who is in her second year of a Linguistics degree at the University of Manchester, is also a Volunteer Warehouse Assistant at FareShare Greater Manchester. Lena wanted to do something useful with her spare time, and found out about FareShare through the University of Manchester’s Volunteer Hub.
“Volunteering with FareShare has improved my skills in various areas, including the ability to work well in a team, and communicate with others,” says Lena. “The time-sensitive nature of FareShare’s operations has improved my ability to work under pressure and to take ownership for the completion of tasks, making sure that orders are completed and delivered on time for our beneficiary charities to make those much-needed meals.”
