The culture of volunteering at Royal Holloway continues beyond graduation with the Community Action Alumni Coaching Scheme
Alumna coach Holly Powell-Jones and current student Eshan
Altruism is part of the very fabric of Royal Holloway, University of London. The founders of the university we are today, Thomas Holloway and Elizabeth Jesser Reid, were leading social pioneers and philanthropists of their day and that culture remains a defining part of Royal Holloway’s DNA.
The Community Action volunteering programme empowers thousands of students and staff to help others by getting involved in an array of different activities where they can also learn new skills and boost their CVs. The university’s culture of volunteering set the scene for Royal Holloway’s Community Action receiving The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2017.
That same year, the Volunteering team launched a coaching opportunity where alumni were asked to consider taking on a role as a coach to a current volunteering student leader.
Two years on, the Community Action Alumni Coaching Scheme is going from strength to strength, with alumni working in a range of different fields offering support to students. Here, we meet two of the scheme’s pairs and discover what inspired them to get involved.
Holly Powell-Jones (alumna) and Eshan (current student)
After graduating with a degree in Drama and Theatre in 2010, Holly went to work in the media industry. “I actually got my first break due to all my Community Action volunteering,” Holly says. “I entered a competition to be TV presenter for the 2011 Vinspired youth volunteering awards ceremony at the O2 and won!” Holly went on to work on a TV news series before qualifying as a radio broadcast journalist in 2012.
Now a journalism lecturer and tutor, Holly has recently completed a PhD on social media law and ethics. Holly was paired with Eshan, who graduated this summer with a degree in Film, Television and Digital Production. “I mostly listen, and – where I can – suggest things I think might be helpful. I’ve been able to share some practical advice for finding opportunities, and put him in touch with people that might be able to help him get a break which is lucky.”
When he made a video titled What does ‘Good Mental Health’ mean to university students? Holly passed it on to one of her contacts. “It led to an appearance on BBC Radio discussing the relationship between mental health and university!” says a delighted Eshan.
Holly has also benefitted from her involvement in the programme. “It’s really inspiring to hear everything Eshan’s been up to and I enjoy our talks. On a broader note, it’s also really exciting for me to see people like Eshan entering the media industry, because he’s exactly the sort of person we need more of.”
Suraj Bali (alumnus) and David (current student)
After completing an MBA in International Management in 2007, Suraj went into Investment Banking and currently works in client services. Having been a keen volunteer during his time at Royal Holloway, Suraj was contacted by the Community Action Volunteering Manager, Phil Simcock, to ask if he’d be interested in the Alumni Coaching Scheme.
In January 2019, Suraj was paired with David, who is starting his final year studying for his MSci in Computer Science. “The programme focuses on the coachee, and as a coach I am there not to mentor, but to help David think and find the answers to his questions by himself,” says Suraj.
“It’s great to be in touch with alumni,” says David, who hopes to go into Research and Development when he graduates in 2020. “Talking to someone who was in my shoes previously can be a great insight into what a graduate life entails.”
“It is rewarding to hear the stories and questions of people who are about to enter the world of work,” says Suraj. “The programme allows me to reminisce about my time at Royal Holloway with a current student, and is a great way to find out what’s going on at the university. Attending Royal Holloway was one of the best experiences of my life and I am very pleased that my connection to Royal Holloway continues well beyond my time there.”
If you were a Volunteering student leader, volunteered as a student in the past, are currently volunteering, working for a charity/not for profit or are a trained coach and would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you. Please contact the Alumni Relations Managers on 01784 414478 or email alumni@royalholloway.ac.uk.
