We speak to students who helped secure funding to help make Staffs Uni more Sustainable.
Jasmine tells us how her volunteering has secured funding that will transform how the Stoke campus looks.
Staffs Uni have made £50,000 available to staff and students who want to make sustainable changes on campus, or who have project ideas that will benefit the environment. Jasmine volunteered as part of a successful application, so we wanted to find out what encouraged her to #BePartOfIt
Jasmine, Ecology & Environmental Management Lvl 5 – Wild Staffs
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Wild Staffs is a collection of small projects that will transform how the Stoke campus looks, with new hedgerows and trees as well as plenty of wildflower patches for bees and small meadows for birds and mammals. Jasmine and her peers have designed a wildlife & wellbeing garden so that students relax and enjoy a small patch of nature up-close.
Over the next year, you'll be able to get involved with planting, sowing and bringing the project to life, so keep an eye-out. |
Its clear that Jasmine is passionate about all things wild. With a collection of pets and a fantastic array of houseplants to rival most garden centres, she can see not only the science-side of nature but also the benefits it provides to us “I am becoming an Ecologist because I am passionate about nature, wildlife and the important benefits that we can gain from being outdoors and connecting with the natural world”
How & why did you get involved with Wild Staffs?
Requiring practical field skills to complete our award comes with many benefits. Managing the nature reserve in our wellies and waders in all weather was my highlight last year. Being outside more often and appreciating what our Great British wildlife has to offer had us talking about how integral wildlife is to our wellbeing. We talked about creating a wildlife and wellbeing garden, closer to students in halls and staff where they would not have to go far to experience nature within a diverse set of habitats that complement each other.
What have you enjoyed about volunteering with wild staffs?
The Sustainability Fund was the opportunity to turn our Wildlife and Wellbeing garden idea into reality. My favourite part has been joining forces with other likeminded people to create a bigger, more exciting project in connected patches across campus to improve and support biodiversity while engaging students and staffs with the health benefits of cleaner air and green spots to enjoy in between buildings.
Tell us about your volunteering journey.
My first volunteering role at staffs was when us ecology students organised a litter pick in November for a big clean-up of the litter polluted nature reserve. The event was very successful and resulted in over 20 people volunteering 2 hours of their time and we made a great impact. This volunteering role improved my confidence with working alongside others by communicating effectively and improved my organisation skills.
Are there any challenges to volunteering for you?
At first it was challenging juggling my time with other commitments including some caring responsibilities with my Nana, she is 82 and lives on her own so we look after each other in a support bubble but we have managed to work around my new projects and she is very understanding of this exciting opportunity to develop my career skills.
What skills have you developed through this volunteering?
We have all learnt a lot of skills through volunteering with Wild Staffs: Engaging with other students and staff to plan and prepare an application for funding (very important skill to acquire as a life scientist), working as a team, sharing and adapting ideas, completing tasks and creating a project plan along speaking with people confidently in a professional setting and presenting an idea and data.
How do you see your volunteering experience benefiting you in the future?
This volunteering role has confirmed that ecology and managing biodiversity is the right career for me and has supported my progression and involvement through this stage of my degree. I love wildlife and how important it is to our lives and I feel extremely lucky and proud to be involved in such an inspiring and worthwhile project.
What advice would you give to any other students considering volunteering?
Just do it! There is a volunteering role for everyone and so many lifelong skills and friends can be gained it is opportunity that should not be missed.
We couldn’t agree more! If you’ve been inspired to get involved as a volunteer, or you want to let us know about your volunteering experiences, drop us a message @staffsunion or email union@staffs.ac.uk