The ‘2 to the left, 2 to the right’ community cohesion project, funded by Vinspired is going on in your Students’ Union. The project is based on the principle of getting to know your neighbours by knocking on two doors to the left and two doors to the right. The overall aim is to improve Derby residents’ perceptions of Derby University students. There are four main projects to be focused on this year and each of them include a wide variety of volunteering opportunities for Derby Uni Students to take advantage of, including some short term ‘one-off’ opportunities which would merely require you turning up on a particular day to help coordinate or facilitate an event for one occasion only, and a number of regular ‘part time’ opportunities which may require a commitment of a couple of hours each week. There are also a number of ‘Project Leader’ opportunities which provide you with an opportunity to showcase and enhance your leadership skills. Full support and training will be on offer to any student taking part in the project. You will also be eligible to register for a V inspired national award as well as being presented with an SU Volunteering Certificate at the end of the project. Volunteers are encouraged to claim back any expenses incurred as a result of their involvement.

The projects we are focussing on under the ‘2 to the left, 2 to the right’ heading are as follows:

• Community newsletter – which will inform Derby residents of potential activities, workshops, events and joint projects. It would be split 50/50 so that you will be the authors of half the newsletter and the community would take responsibility for the other half. This way we will take joint ownership of the content and production. The project ‘leads’ will ensure the design, content and delivery of the newsletter. Two newsletters will be produced over the duration of the project.
• New Media – as part of getting to know your neighbours we will introduce the concept of ‘skill share’ with students and residents running workshops for each other. Examples include teaching local residents internet and new media skills, or learning about traditional crafts. We will also use film workshops to produce video diaries narrating students and locals’ experience of being part of all aspects of the project. We will also introduce a photography competition with the end result being a charity calendar.
• BME mentoring scheme – as part of this project we would like to expand our links with the BME community in Derby through a mentoring scheme. The purpose of which is to address concepts of aspirations within marginalised groups and develop befriending opportunities.
• Community Fete and Celebrations – at the end of the project volunteers will organise a local fete. We would welcome our Sports teams’ involvement to organise a mini sport tournament offering the community a chance to participate. Students who have been working with schools would have the opportunity to showcase their joint projects such as the Circus and Street Performance Society who will be running workshops with local children will perform during the fete. Other examples of school workshops may include the children helping to design and make bespoke bunting and invitations for the fete. Any other ideas along these lines would be welcomed as it can all be developed to fit in with our premise of the project being carried out in a ‘student-led’ manner.

If you feel you have something to offer and recognise how being involved will ultimately benefit you and enhance your employability then please get in touch. I am holding regular group ‘drop- in’ meetings for the project but am also happy to see students on an individual basis for an informal chat about how you could be involved. Please email me on jo.wild@udsu.co.uk for more info.