By Natasha Stapleton
Volunteer students have teamed up with De Montfort University’s project group to create magazine clubs across two schools in Leicester.
The students will work with secondary school pupils at New College and The Lancaster School once a week for an hour after school.
Volunteer and Third Year English Literature student Lauren Marston, 20, said: “I am really enthusiastic to start this project because I would love to work with children who are equally passionate for journalism and writing”
The volunteers are expected to aid pupils in specific areas such as creative writing and magazine designs, and running some sessions on how to improve their writing skills and learn about layouts.
It is the responsibility for the volunteer students to organise how they magazine club will run, and meet with the pupils to plan what will happen with the school magazine.
Josh Hargreaves, Projects and Outreach Coordinator at Square Mile, said: “We want to make it fun, make it engaging and have a great time doing it.”
They will work with the school for a minimum of 12 weeks, and aim to have a magazine designed and ready for the Square Mile group to print and distribute around the school.
Lauren added: “It will also look great on my CV and create links between De Montfort Students with the local school.
“Volunteering at the Magazine Club will provide me with an opportunity to gain vital experience that is needed when I leave university.”
New College – in Leicester West – serves over 900 students and its pupils are between the ages of 11 and 18.
In 2014, 41% of all pupils attained five GCSEs grade A* to C including English and Maths.
The Lancaster School in Aylestone is a boys school with pupils between 11 and 16.
In 2015, 46% of boys attained five plus A* to C GCSE grades or equivalent including English and Maths.
