The ‘Outstanding Contribution to the University Award’ was presented to English Literature MA student, Tony Allen. Volunteering a very impressive 134 hours, Tony also received a Gold Plus Award at the last volun-cheers event. Thank you, Tony, for agreeing to be a volunteering case study, we have loved to read all about your experiences with TU Sport and Teesside Student Union.

 “I've always been involved in sport, with moving to a new university to do my MA, I wanted to continue coaching football but also expand my impact beyond that. The Sports Leader role was perfect for me to get to know the sport department and make a bigger impact. When standing to be a Course Rep, I believe student representation is a core function of any Students' Union, so the opportunity to contribute to that was a big appeal.

I coach football sessions, also liaising with club members, coaches, and Teesside Sport to discuss plans for the club and raise any issues. As a Course Rep, I attend meetings and act as a point of contact if students have any issues.

I have been able to work with a range of different people around the university which has given me great connections both in the university and externally. I've improved my time management and task prioritising, and I now have more relevant examples demonstrating a range of skills which I can use as I start to look for employment.

I enjoy being able to meet and work with a diverse range of students and staff, and hopefully make a positive impact on the university.

My advice is to say 'yes' to as much as you can and try something you've never done before - you might find something you're passionate about. If you don't have much time spare, the 'Do Good, Feel Good' sessions are great one-off ways to meet new people and do something good. If you know what you want to do in the future, look at the volun-tees website as they are bound to have something which will give you skills and experience that will help in your future career and fill any skill gaps on your CV.

The meeting with a career’s consultant as part of the Plus award was really useful, I had the opportunity to discuss how to apply my volunteering work to job applications and interviews and ask questions about the job-hunting process.

I have developed lots of skills because of my volunteering but if I had to summarise, it would be: Teamwork, leadership, decision-making, communication and administration.

My future plans are currently finding employment locally once I finish my dissertation in August, while continuing with the football coaching.

While working full-time for several years following the completion of my undergraduate degree at UEA in Norwich, I had always wanted to complete an MA in order to upskill myself. The course at Teesside is innovative and employment-focused which made it my top choice. Having worked at my old university, I knew what to look for, and the support for students and extracurricular activities here are impressive. I also knew a bit about the area, and being able to live in Teesside was another key factor in my decision to come to Teesside Uni - I'm glad I did as I plan to stay local, which I keep telling myself has nothing to do with developing a taste for parmos, lemon tops and the dulcet tones of Chris Rea.”