Arts University College at Bournemouth student wins RELAYS Cultural Legacy Volunteer Award
10 Nov 2011
BA (Hons) Photography student, Ruby Squires, has been rewarded for her hard work and commitment to the Re:View Photograph project by winning the volunteer award for Outstanding Contribution to Cultural Legacy in the South West 2011.
The Re:View Photography Project was set up to inspire young people from Boscombe to learn about photography and offer students from the AUCB the chance to work alongside a professional photographer and community arts practitioner. The project took place on a weekly basis and saw eight photography undergraduates mentor and inspire up to 20 young people through exciting and varied workshops. Re:View was organised and funded by the RELAYS (Regional Educational Legacy for Arts and Youth Sport) project, an innovative and ambitious programme designed to inspire young people and their communities to participate in, create and promote cultural and sporting activities in South West England; engaging the region with the London 2012 Games and creating a lasting legacy beyond 2012.
The project culminated in an exhibition by the young people along Bournemouth Pier featuring photographs of Bournemouth taken in the late 19th and early 20th century alongside rephotography (pictures taken of the same site, with a time lag between the two images) carried out by the young people. This project was also granted the Inspire mark by the London 2012Inspire Programme, which recognises exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
RELAYS Cultural Coordinator, Jo Gardner, who set up the project said, “Ruby’s commitment and dedication to the Re:View project was fantastic and I know that Ruby carries out a great deal of volunteering outside of this project at the AUCB and within her community. She worked exceptionally well with the young people and was incredibly reliable.” Jo added; ”Volunteering is an excellent way of gaining additional experience to add to a student’s CV. It shows future employers that a student is willing to go the extra mile to achieve their goals and this has never been more important than it is in today’s market; helping to increase a graduate’s employability.”
Ruby stated, “I am so happy to have won this award, it has come completely unexpected, I feel I don't really deserve it as all of the volunteers working on RELAYS Re:View project were amazing and made it a fun and exciting experience. RELAYS gave me a unique opportunity as it gave me a chance to combine my studies and teaching, it has allowed me to gain experience of the teaching environment and helped me to discover different paths I can take with my degree. Not only did I find out a lot about myself but I got to work with a brilliant and talented group of young people and this is what I will take from the experience most.”
Professor Stuart Bartholomew, Principal of the Arts University College at Bournemouth stated; “I am delighted at the success of the Re:View project which forms part of the Cultural Legacy programme and for the award given to an AUCB student, Ruby Squires. Ruby’s commitment to community engagement is commendable and the results of her work with young people is of a high order”.
RELAYS events are supported by volunteers who have an active role in planning, coordinating and running the various events around the region. If you are interested in volunteering for the RELAYS project please contact AUCB based Cultural Coordinator, Jo Gardner, on 01202 363745, or jgardner@aucb.ac.uk.
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