Find a Solution, now in its fourth year of operation, is run by the University of Glasgow Settlement and the And University of Glasgow Students’ Representative Council encourages students to offer their knowledge and expertise to local charities during the summer break in return for work experience and a £1500 bursary. Pairs of students worked with three charities in this year’s project. 

Anne-Sophie Kortenbruck, who is studying Psychology at the University, and Shona Craven, studying Public Policy, helped community music project New Rhythms for Glasgow evaluate the success of a pilot project called Music Workshops for Families. The students spoke to participating families before and after they attended the series of workshops to determine the impact on their children’s learning and confidence, and the carers’ relationships with their children and the wider community. 

Louise Storrie, creative director of New Rhythms for Glasgow, said: “Being involved with the Find A Solution project has had a tremendous impact for us. The students have not only helped evaluate our pilot project and demonstrated to funders a need for the project to continue but have also undertaken a mapping exercise which will help develop new opportunities and partnerships.

“Anne-Sophie and Shona’s work from the last two months will have a positive long-term impact on the organisation and we thoroughly enjoyed working with them.”

Law and Business Economics student Claire Martin and Community Development student Bruce Whyte provided assistance to Gorbals community group Bridging the Gap. They interviewed 80 residents and service providers to gather information on their experiences of the social support available to local people and identify areas where more options were required.Find a Solution 

Their work was originally scheduled to run for eight weeks, but the pair chose to work for an additional month to complete their task. 

Tricia McConalogue, project co-ordinator at Bridging the Gap, said: “The support Claire and Bruce provided was invaluable. They really were committed to doing the best job they possibly could and we’re very grateful for their help.

“Knowing they had this important task in hand allowed us to focus on delivering our services as effectively as possible to local people. The information they gathered will play a key part in planning our activities over the next two years.”

Zoology student Roisin Lyle-Collins and Geography and Spanish student Morven Paterson worked with Friends of the Earth Glasgow to examine environmental policy at the University of Glasgow. They began by researching current policies before surveying staff on their views on how the University’s carbon footprint could be further reduced and helping to broaden participation in the existing network of ‘Green Champions’, staff members who volunteer to act as exemplars of good environmental practice. 

They also worked to source National Lottery funding to encourage students to cycle more by providing cycling safety gear and proficiency training.

Prof Roger Downie, of Friends of the Earth Glasgow and the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, said: “Roisin and Morven have made a real contribution to helping the University become more environmentally-friendly and encourage staff and students alike to be more conscious of their impact on the planet.

“The work they have done will help to strengthen and extend the University’s existing environmental policies.”

The University of Glasgow Settlement was established in the late 19th century by pioneering women students to offer support to residents of the poorer areas of Glasgow.

The Find a Solution programme began in 2008. Participants are chosen by the Settlement’s Management Committee and the Student Representative Council from applications, which numbered over 100 this year.

More information on Find a Solution is available at http://www.src.gla.ac.uk/volunteer/findasolution/

First published: 28 September 2011

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