I received an email today from the EDI and Belonging Team to say that I had completed over 100 resource requests as a Library Study Volunteer for SiSE students (Students in Secure Environments). Not only that but two of my volunteer colleagues (Janet and Isabelle) have also each completed over 100 requests.
That is really encouraging to think that the system works, and SiSE students are able to receive research papers, book chapters and reports which would otherwise be inaccessible to them because they have no internet access. SiSE students face many obstacles:
- Students may experience lack of support from prison education departments.
- Having to study in cells that they often share with others, so potentially facing a lack of study space.
- No access to internet and therefore relying on printed module materials.
- They cannot engage with Student Home, interactive activities, online support such as tutorials and SHL, library resources etc.
- Prisoners are subject to transfers to different establishments, which will interrupt their learning journey.
But through the Library Study Volunteer service, SiSE students can have opportunities to be successful in their learning programmes. To date, we have completed over 700 resource requests (768 to be precise) for TMAs and EMAs within a five-day turnaround, where possible (since its inception in 2019).
We have received some fabulous feedback from students we support :
- “The service has been a lifeline to access academic papers for research and professional interests”.
- “Without being able to access the research materials such as articles and reports I would be unable to conduct research required to undertake PhD thesis”.
- “Without the detailed information I received I would not have attempted my EMA”.
If you are thinking of volunteering in the next academic year, this is certainly one of the ways to get involved and help students in more challenging environments to experience success.
Thank you for your lovely article Nina and congratulations again! I keep saying it, but the Library Study Volunteer service is really a great service. I am so proud to be part of the team and to be able to help students in secure environments.
Thanks Isabelle. Hopefully I can continue after the summer break. I think the role is offered on a yearly basis and I opted to carry on last year. So if I do continue it will be my 3rd year. But I think you (and possibly Janet) have been involved even longer. But yes I do think it’s a really important service !!!