Meet the Grads

This Year's Cohort

Vicky Nevin

As Projects Officer at the Winchester and Southampton Hubs, I get to share my passion for volunteering with students and help them put their inspiring ideas into action. Alongside the graduate scheme, I am training as a Mental Health Advocate. Previously, while studying Politics at Manchester Met., I volunteered in a drop-in centre for vulnerable adults and decided to use my future career to address the various reasons that lead to homelessness. Therefore I am delighted to currently support student-led projects which aim to give young people a fair start in life and to care for the older population

Catherine Ollington

I'm the Programmes Officer for the Winchester and Southampton Hubs. My role is incredibly varied which means I get to oversee a variety of projects involved with international development, social enterprise, an internship scheme and community action. I'm lucky in being able to experience many different forms of social action and I'm constantly meeting new and exciting community partners and individuals who are passionate about making a positive change.

Having studied sciences at college, which followed onto a history degree, I was a bit lost as to what career I wanted to do. Throughout my education I had always volunteered and over the summer months had become more involved in a grass-roots charity. As my degree came to an end, it was clear that what I was interested in was a career path that would have a positive impact to the world around me, which led me to Worthwhile.

Sarah Feldman

My work as Oxford Hub Programmes Officer is highly varied, from supporting student committees to run the largest student-led conferences on environmental issues and international development, to helping student instigate new volunteering projects, tackling food waste. Some days I find it hard to believe that this is my full-time job: I now spend my days doing all the activities I had to cram round my studies whilst at university.

I studied Geography at Bristol and during my time there I coordinated Bristol's conference on International Development, before setting up a bike rental scheme for students during my final year to help facilitate sustainable behaviour change. Tackling environmental issues is my real passion and I love that my Worthwhile placement is giving me the support and flexibility to explore all aspects of this field during my year.

Jo Hynes

After finishing my geography degree at Oxford this year, I've come back to Oxford to work as the Projects Officer in Oxford Hub. Here I support student committees, projects and students on scholarships to engage in social action and volunteering whilst they're at University. My days are varied: from helping incubate a new online tutoring project for refugees, to redecorating the social action spaces at Oxford Hub, or attending snazzy scholarship events in Oxford colleges. There is always lots to do, but the staff team and the students are incredibly proactive, engaged and a dream to work with!

Since I spent a fair amount of time during my degree doing social action, supporting students to do the same felt like a natural step and a good environment to explore what I could offer the world of work. More than anything then, it's a great transition into work. I don't know what I will do next, but the training, focus on personal development and responsibility you're given in this role is certainly good grounding for thinking about the future.

Emma Anderson

I am Programmes Officer at Oxford Hub. I love living in Oxford and working in the Turl Street Kitchen. The main aspect of my role is supporting Schools Plus, a tutoring programme for students in local schools and Branch Up which runs activity days for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Since starting in September I have already learnt so much! I got involved in Worthwhile after graduating from Exeter where I was involved in lots of volunteering projects with young people and the elderly, as well as campaigning for Oxfam. I wanted to do something after university where I felt that I was making a positive impact in society.

Matt Davies

I've just finished a History and English degree at Oxford, where I volunteered with Schools Plus at the Oxford Hub - now I'm supporting our volunteering projects full time as the Volunteering Officer for Student Hubs, so I guess I've gone full circle! I'm passionate about education, inequality, and social justice, and working at Student Hubs has given me a great platform to engage with these issues as part of a young, innovative organisation. What I really like about the Worthwhile scheme, though, is how it's introduced me to so many cool social action projects, from the Hackney Pirates right here in Dalston to the GENeco 'poo bus' in Bristol! In the future I'd like to work in public policy- maybe for a think tank or a similar organisation - but for now I'm really enjoying my time with Worthwhile exploring the world of charity and social enterprise.

Molly Whyte

I'm currently the Communications Support Officer at Student Hubs. My responsibilities include running our social media accounts and blog, working on website development, contributing to communications strategy and managing communications output for events like the Emerge conference. Another key aspect of my role is supporting our 10 local Hubs to deliver effective communications for their projects and programmes, which involves providing them with resources, training and feedback. Before this, I studied English and History at the University of Southampton and held various roles with Southampton Hub, Teach First, United World Schools and the University's Outreach team. I'm particularly interested in communications, culture, education and social enterprise.

Issy Schmidt

This year I'm working as the Support Officer for Student Hubs at SOAS. I've been involved with Student Hubs for three years, starting off as a volunteer for one of their projects when I was in second year at Bristol University. It's really exciting that I'm now responsible for coordinating that same project as it launches at SOAS! Day to day, my role entails organising training and events, working with the student committee, and talking to students about their own socially impactful projects. My background is in youth leadership, and I believe in the necessity of empowering others to act, so I’m really enjoying enabling and assisting students as they make their ideas a reality. What I enjoy about Worthwhile is getting the chance to meet and hear from a really diverse range of people, working for a wide range of organisations - it's interesting to see just how many ways there are of having a socially impactful career!

Maeve Slattery

After completing my degree in Social Anthropology at Cambridge, I wanted to build on the volunteering that I had done as a student and gain more experience working in the local area. I managed to secure a position as the Projects & Programmes Officer for the Cambridge Hub through Worthwhile. As a student I was heavily involved in the work of homeless charities Jimmy's Cambridge and Wintercomfort and I continue to work with both of them now, which I absolutely love! My job involves leading on a number of different student-led programmes, as well as supporting students with their own innovative project ideas. My favourite aspect of my job is working with such a range of fantastic students, committees and local organisations. I have learnt so much and met some of the most amazing people! In the future I'd like to work more specifically on the issues surrounding homelessness in the UK and set up my own social venture. Ideally I'd like to couple this with taking up art and jewellery-making again too!

Fatima Iftikhar

I just finished studying Maths at Imperial College London. While at university I realised I didn't want to go straight to working in the City. I was interested in lots of different issues from climate change to mental health and got involved with Student Hubs while trying to figure this out and understand how I could take these interests forward after graduating. At the moment I am working for Imperial Hub, my day to day job varies greatly from replying to emails from prospective volunteer tutors to supporting students with ideas for new projects. I enjoy the wide variety of activities and the high level of responsibility that I have, which I know is unusual for a first job and means I will have lots of experiences to take forward once I finish the scheme.

Sonia Kumari

It was only after working for a social enterprise called Tutors United, in my third year, that I realised the third sector was where I wanted to be. I am now working in Student Hubs as the Hub Support Officer at Kingston Hub and I feel my work has real value. I share the same background as many of the students I work with and enjoy being part of the empowerment of young people just like me. I am passionate about educational disadvantage am able to work on a programme targeting this, called Schools Plus. Working on this London-wide project with young people has reiterated that I know I can be what I want to be, and if I work hard at it, I will be where I want to be.

Claudia Limpert

I graduated from Bristol University in July 2015 with a degree in English Literature and no idea how to get into the third sector. I knew that I wanted to get a job that makes a difference but didn't know where to start, or which issue I most wanted to make a difference to. That's why working as a Projects and Programmes Officer for Bristol Hub is great for me, as it is allowing me to learn more about the different social and environmental initiatives happening in Bristol, and the opportunities out there for young people to effect change.

Eleanor Evans

I'm working as the Project Coordinator for Challenge Partners, an education charity focused on generating greater collaboration between schools to raise standards of education for all. I’ve really enjoyed my placement so far. I’ve been able to take on lots of responsibility straight away, visiting schools, organising events, and responding to support requests from schools. Before joining Worthwhile I studied English and Politics at York. Whilst at university I worked as a Higher Education Support Worker, was involved with the International Development Society and volunteered at Refugee Action York. Based on these roles I wanted to work in the charity sector full time once I graduated, which Worthwhile has enabled me to do.

Gary Fawdrey

I am the Network Officer at Generation Change, which is a partnership of the 18 leading youth social action organisations, who together help 600,000 young people a year take action in their communities. Prior to this I completed an MA in Public Administration and Public Policy and a B.A. in History and Politics at the University of York, where I served as Chair of York Student Think Tank, the country's leading student led research organisation. I am passionate about political and community engagement and look to work towards these goals in everything I do.

Catherine Bevin

I graduated in 2015 from Cambridge with a degree in Classics. I applied for the Worthwhile grad scheme because I wanted to find a way into a career that made a difference somehow (beyond lining shareholders' pockets) and I was placed with OxFizz as sales and marketing coordinator. OxFizz is an educational social enterprise, which provides practice Oxbridge interviews using recent grads as volunteers and then passes the money raised on to a combination of access charities and the ones the volunteers choose. I started to become passionate about the huge difference education can make whilst on my gap year (cliché I know), teaching English in Brazil to kids from a small, isolated town with limited prospects."

Rachel Piper

I am the 'Networks Development Officer' at Student Minds and The University Mental Health Advisers Network (UMHAN) ; my role is incredibly varied! Before that, I studied English & Anthropology at Durham University, where I was president of Feminism Society. Like most intersectional feminists, I strongly believe that the personal is political. I like to approach social justice issues having been informed by a variety of other issues & perspectives. At the moment focusing on learning about mental health, housing, gentrification, community (my dissertation topic) and inequality for those identifying as LGBTQI+. Hoping to keep learning!

Nick Klein

I'm working for Student Minds as the Campaigns and Communications Officer this year. While studying Psychology at Durham, I spent most of my time volunteering in various support services including the student welfare team, Nightline, Relate and Connecting with People. After graduating I was elected President of Grey JCR, where I spent the year facilitating student activity and sparring with university staff. I'm passionate about supporting others through mental health issues and using creative design to spread positive messages about dealing with mental health. I also like skiing, and spent the winter before starting university learning how to instruct and rescuing fallen toddlers from mountains.

Emily Samuels

This year I am working for Student Minds, the student mental health charity. As the Volunteer Support Officer I support our national network of volunteers who work to break down stigma, increase awareness of mental health and run peer support groups on campus. It's exciting to be working in a small charity - you're involved in lots of decision making and really feel that your day to day work is making a difference! It's wonderful to be working with such passionate people; from volunteers, my colleagues and the fellow worthwhile graduates, there's always something to learn. Before joining the Worthwhile scheme, I studied English and then for a Masters in Psychology at Nottingham. I then worked for a year supporting individuals with mental health difficulties in secure services. I'm keen to continue working and having an impact in this area in the future!

Anoushka Bonwick

My role in Student Minds focuses on building and maintaining relationships with Universities, charities and stakeholders. I am also currently coordinating our Look After Your Mate train the trainer programme. Joining the staff team in 2015 has been a very exciting step as I have been involved with Student Minds since setting up a support group as a student at the University of East Anglia after supporting a friend through mental health difficulties. After graduating in 2012, I became a supervisor for the Student Minds volunteer network and a member of the Student Mind steering group until finally joining the staff team this year. Since graduating, I have worked as a Theatre Director, an advisor for a user-led charity supporting independent living and worked in Office Services for a leading digital marketing agency. The opportunities I have had on the scheme have been really exciting and I am looking forward to the rest of the year ahead.

Eleanor Deans

I studied Geography at Bristol, and whilst there I found out about Worthwhile through my involvement with Bristol Hub. I am currently working for Oomph! which is a social enterprise that trains care home staff in exercise and activity leadership. I act as support for instructors, home managers and care group head offices. It has been great to go into an organisation and have my ideas really valued and acted upon. Working in the care sector is something I did when I was in college, and that I can do so again with Worthwhile is great.

Anne Leahy

I graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in Law and Political Science. I am interested in everything from public policy and human rights to sports and mental health. I am currently working for Oomph!, an exciting social enterprise based in London that trains care home staff in exercise and activity leadership. I support our clients to improve quality of life for older adults throughout the country. On finishing University I knew that whatever sector I worked in, I wanted to be involved in matters that have a real impact on day-to-day life. Seeing new ideas become a reality and having my opinions valued is one of the best parts of working at Oomph!

Great Western Regional CIC

Catherine Draper

I graduated from the University of Bristol with a BSc in Sociology with Study Abroad (in Hong Kong). I am now based in Bristol working for Great Western Regional CIC, a public benefit investment company that provides civic led, commercially focused and innovative investment solutions that catalyse regional change.

As I am working for a start up, I have been given a lot of responsibility. This means I am gaining experience in many things, including project management and development and social impact measurement. Through doing this work, I have been introduced to so many inspiring people, projects and organisations in Bristol which has shown me how diverse the third sector can be!

Last Year's Cohort