Beningbrough Hall, Gallery and Gardens: From 1500 to 14 Finalists - Celebrating the achievements of one of our own


Sue Jordan (Learning Officer) and Louise Robinson (York St John Student Volunteer)

On Tuesday 13th May, we went along to the Higher York Student Volunteering Awards 2014, which was held at the National Centre of Early Music on Walmgate in York. The annual awards set out to celebrate the achievements of student volunteers from York University, York St John University, York College and Askham Bryan College.

14 finalists were selected from many nominations from a variety of organisations across York. The city has over 1500 student volunteers, who alongside their studies, give their time to a variety of projects, as well as roles that are public facing and behind the scenes. Last year student volunteers gave over 65,000 hours - which is a huge amount of time!

In April, I was asked if I had a student/s who I felt would qualify for an award for their volunteering.
Prior to the summer in 2013, Louise Robinson, joined the Learning Team as part of a 'Setting Other Than School' placement. The placement seeks to give trainee teachers the opportunity to experience learning outside of the classroom and to find out about the work that happens in these settings. Following Louise's placement, she was keen to build on her confidence and to gain further experience for both her personal development and her professional development. She began volunteering at Beningbrough in June and helped to support our brand new 'Beningbrough at War' learning programme, through taking on the role of a Land Girl and delivering an element of the programme to a variety of children. She threw herself into the volunteering, got stuck in and even went along to the Countryside Days Workshops held at the Yorkshire Show Ground. She also got involved in our informal families programme and was a huge help in the delivery of the activities throughout the summer. She used the skills gained through her degree, her passion and enthusiasm for learning and everything she had learned whilst volunteering with the Trust and put it into practice. She was a great advocate for the Trust, as well as representing herself and York St John well, both on site and at off site events.

From left to right: Louise Robinson, Wendy Taylor & Cathy Thornton at the Countryside Days Workshops in Harrogate.

Louise's support throughout this time was greatly appreciated and enabled learning to take place across a number of events.

So in April, when I was asked if I had a student who I felt would qualify for an award, it didn't take much thought. Louise and I worked together, I helped to support her with her confidence, created opportunities for her to use her gained skills and knowledge and Beningbrough was the perfect place to get her passions flowing. For the Trust, we gained a like minded, young person, with new ideas, energy and a passion for learning, as well as wanting to help others learn. As a result, the nomination was successful and Higher York also recognised Louise's achievements with us.


Elly Fiorentini interviewing Henry, aged 3

The evening was wonderful, well organised and gave plenty of opportunity to catch up with others. Those who were selected to a receive an award, featured on a slide show displayed in the entrance area, explaining what they had been involved in, with quotations from their colleagues. The students, who attended with supporting friends and family, were invited to join BBC Radio York's presenter, Elly Fiorentini as she asked them questions about the work they had been involved with. The students received their award from the Lord Mayor of York, who is a huge supporter of voluntary work and work in the community. As Louise made her way up to receive her award, Elly noticed her little boy who was very excited that his mum was stood in front of everyone. She invited him up and conducted her own interview with him too! He stole the show with his very cute reponses and he certainly captured the hearts of the civic party, who invited him to have a little chat after the event.

Elly Fiorentini interviewing Louise about the work she is involved with at Beningbrough Hall, Gallery & Gardens

The evening was a huge success and we felt very fortunate to be a part of it. It is fantastic that the voluntary work of the students of York is recognised and that their contributions and achievements are celebrated in this way. As an organisation who rely on their volunteers heavily, it is great to know York as city supports this work and does what it can to support those who chose to give something back.