What does it involve?

Liverpool Advocates work on a wide variety of projects delivered by the Widening Participation and Outreach and Shaping Futures teams, including:

  • Visits to the University campus
  • Mentoring and tutoring GCSE & A-Level students
  • Residentials and Summer Schools
  • Subject specific projects
  • Work with groups aged 9 – 18, with groups of 10 to 100+
  • Delivering presentations in school and on campus

On a standard visit day, Liverpool Advocates are there to guide groups around campus, supervise and facilitate activity sessions, as well as talk to young people about their own experiences of university life. A typical day might look like this…

9:00 Arrive at the Widening Participation and Outreach team for a briefing. A Project Officer will run through the programme and give you any additional details. For your first day, you’ll buddy up with an experienced Liverpool Advocate.
9:40 Meet the group on campus and introduce yourself.
10:00 Student Shopping Basket – a budgeting activity to get the young people thinking about managing their money. You’ll help them stay focussed and facilitate the activity. Most importantly you’ll chat to the group about your experiences and how you manage your money.
10:45 Campus Tour – you will lead a small group around the campus and share interesting facts and information about the University. You can ask the group where they would like to visit on campus. You’ll be paired with an experienced Liverpool Advocate for your first tour.
11:30 Student Societies – in groups the young people will design and present a poster for their very own society. Again, you’ll assist and facilitate, talk about any societies you are involved with and encourage the group to fulfil their task.
12:15 Lunch! – We often provide lunch, and you will sit with your group and supervise them.
13:15 Academic Lecture – delivered by academics or postgraduate students on a relevant subject. You will sit with your group and make sure that they stay focused and get the most out of the lecture.
14:00 Evaluations – all our programmes are evaluated to ensure continued high quality. You’ll make sure that the young people understand how to fill in their evaluation forms and assist the Project Officer.
14:30 Goodbyes –You’ll help to walk the group back to their transport and wave them off.
15:00 You’re done!

The work we do in the Widening Participation and Outreach and Shaping Futures teams is hugely varied and the above is by no means all the Liverpool Advocate role involves! As Liverpool Advocates gain experience, they may be asked to design and deliver their own presentations, visit local schools or become a Student Mentor for longer term projects.

Ultimately, the role is fun, demanding and extremely rewarding!