After a tough year of lockdown, isolations and virtual everything, putting yourself out in the big wide world for volunteering and work experience might feel a bit daunting for many young people.

As we ease out of some of the toughest restrictions brought on by the pandemic, navigating their way into the world of work could also be a bit tricky for some.

That’s why the LifeLab team has come up with a pack pulling together a load of opportunities open to young people who want to dip their toe into the world of work or volunteering.

Packed full of hints, tips, suggestions and recommendations, the free pack is a one-stop shop for everything young people need to get them started.

Along with listing some great virtual and in-person opportunities, the team has also spoken to young people who have been there and done it; getting their take on why it worked for them.

We have also spoken to employers and recruiters to get their views on how valuable work experience and volunteering is to future career prospects.

>>>> Download the pack here<<<<

LifeLab’s developing young talent lead Kate Bartlett, said the idea for the pack was that it would help young people who might be unsure how to apply for experiences outside of school.

She said: “When we thought of pulling this resource together we had in mind school leavers who might have just signed off from secondary school and who have a long summer ahead of them.

“With lots of time already spent in lockdown and possibly isolation, we know young people are desperate to get back to normal life and start making the most of the opportunities that are out there.

“This pack gives young people the tools and tips they need to make their summer count, by engaging in work experience and volunteering opportunities. It was also great to speak to students who have already been involved in those opportunities so they could pass their insight on. We really hope young people will enjoy using the pack and would love to hear any feedback from those who do.”

Along with the pack, the LifeLab team will be sharing work experience and volunteering opportunities on their social media channels.

The team can be found on Instagram lifelab_soton, Twitter @LifelabSoton and Facebook @lifelabsouthampton . Get in touch with your feedback on email lifelab@soton.ac.uk.

After signing off from school or college for the summer holidays, the weeks ahead could be the perfect time to get a taste of work experience or volunteering.

We know how hard it can be to find opportunities for young people to get access to volunteering and work experience, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and so we have created a new booklet as part of our #FOROURFUTURE work to help get you started with some ideas and inspiration around how you can make those opportunities happen.

>>>> DOWNLOAD THE PACK HERE<<<<

Along with practical tips and suggestions, the booklet looks at how to manage work experience safely as we ease our way out of lockdown and how you can make the most of your experiences when applying for a job or further education opportunity.

We hope you find it useful, and would love to hear what you think of it or how we can improve or add to it.

Over the summer we will continue to advertise opportunities we hear about using the #MAKEYOURSUMMERCOUNT, so follow us on social media – see where you can find us on page 15 of the booklet.

We hope this pack gives you some useful pointers on how to get started, but we would love to hear what you think of it, email us at lifelab@soton.ac.uk with your thoughts.

Thinking about the lifestyle choices we make and discovering the impact those decisions can have on our future health and that of generations to come, is the essence of LifeLab’s work.

Before the pandemic we had begun to broaden our work with secondary school students, looking at how their food choices not only impact their own health but that of the planet too.

Through the Cultivate! project, led by Dr Lucy Green and Dr Mark Chapman and funded by the

University of Southampton Public Engagement with Research unit, young people had the opportunity to take part in hands-on activities including escape room style lessons, a visit to the plant laboratories at the University of Southampton and considering what changes they could make to their own lifestyles after exploring some of the impacts of food production on the environment.

Using an extension to the Cultivate! Funding, we created an opportunity for primary school students building on Early LifeLab work, which introduces those same themes.

This brand new programme was developed by our primary educator specialists building on resources from Rethink Food – a not for profit company that works to achieve food security for life by changing the way we think about food. This programme aims to encourage primary children to think about their food choices as they transition to secondary school, considering the health factors and sustainability of what they eat.

Using another of LifeLab’s core foundations of allowing young people to make their own choices by self-discovery and hands-on experiences, our new programme is centred around a hydroponic growing tower gardening system provided by Rethink Food. This innovative system, allows schools to grow plants indoors without soil. LifeLab has delivered these novel towers into participating schools to enable them to have an immersive learning experience.

Year 6 students in two Southampton primary schools, Mansbridge Primary and Basset Green Primary

and Cantell secondary school to which most students will transition in September have each been provided with a growing tower and a range of seedlings. The brief is for them to grow their own food to create a meal which they will hopefully be able to share together before the end of the school year.

Alongside the towers, the LifeLab team has developed supporting education sessions that focus on themes of understanding what a healthy diet looks like, how choices are going to change as the young people move up to secondary schools and touching on the sustainability of our food choices, linking to climate change. This is intended to support their transition to secondary school and provide skills which will help students to make informed food choices once they gain the freedom that secondary school gives them.

Alison Von Landau, Year 6 teacher and English lead, said: “We have loved having the growing towers at school as they are a great way of engaging children in the themes of healthy eating and the impact on the environment. Using this topic as part f their transition journey has also been a really useful tool as they look forward to more independence over their food choices.”

Comments from the pupils include: “Healthy eating’s really important, so I hope our vegetables grow. I want to try them.”

The programme also includes introducing pupils to their new school environment with a video tour of the canteen and feedback from current secondary students so they will feel confident and excited about moving schools in September.

Rachel Gagen and Natasha Green have been developing the programme for Early LifeLab. Rachel said: “We have built on the themes that underpin LifeLab in allowing young people to explore the lifestyle choices they make through scientific discovery, and this project really continues that idea alongside the wider considerations of the planet and sustainable food themes. Year 6 seemed like a good year to introduce this programme given the transition up to secondary so it has the added benefit of helping with familiarising them with what they school experience will be like in the years ahead.”

Natasha added: “The growing towers are a great hands-on and visual way of engaging the students in these themes around sustainable eating and growing your own produce. The towers are a fun and effective way to grow produce using just 10 per cent of the water normally used, and growing three times as fast which really helps with engagement in the programme in a school setting.”

We were delighted to feature in the latest edition of the University of Southampton’s  Re:action publication, which this week celebrated the submission of the REF, in which our work was also highlighted.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the research taking place across UK universities. Every six or seven years, institutions are asked to submit examples of their best research to be assessed by panels of academics and industry experts. Each of 34 subject areas is awarded up to four stars. The process is designed to ensure that public money is spent effectively.

We were thrilled to be given the opportunity to include LifeLab’s work and talk about how we have reinvented our offer to young people whilst continuing to empower them to make good decisions about their own health.

>>>> READ THE ARTICLE HERE<<<<<

In the Re:action magazine, our programme lead Dr Kathryn Woods-Townsend gives an overview of how the programme has had to pivot from its usual hands-on interactive approach, to a operating in a virtual world.

“We had to pause our hands-on practical activities in March 2020, but we weren’t going to let that stop us helping young people,” said Dr Woods-Townsend. “We are committed to giving them a voice and a chance to explain what they are feeling about the pandemic, its impact on their lives and how they felt they could be better supported during lockdown.”

The article was also a chance for the team to reflect on what they had achieved over the past year, and look forward to how we will use the lessons learned to shape our future.

Young people across the south have turned their hand to creating films in an effort to urge their peers to continue keeping themselves and their communities safe from the spread of COVID-19.

As the further easing of restrictions are eased (MAR 29) the films are being released on social media to encourage young people to keep following the guidance, particularly over the Easter break.

Organisations including LifeLab and Southampton Children’s Hospital at University Hospital Southampton, were awarded funding for the film projects through the Southampton City Council COVID-19 Innovations Grant.

They then worked with young people in schools, colleges and youth groups to produce short films with the help of professional production companies.

LifeLab, a University of Southampton education programme for young people discovering the science behind health messages, teamed up young people with filmmakers. Together they co-created a range of films with messaging around the importance of sticking to the guidance and reflecting on life in lockdown in a range of different styles.

Young actors from Richard Taunton Sixth Form College and Itchen College participated in the films that were produced by Robin Creative Media with the help of students from Toynbee School in Eastleigh. Separately students at Cantell School in Southampton created a video with clips submitted by students to demonstrate how young people were making a difference with support from Southpoint Films.

>>>The films will now be released on social media and are available to watch here. Please use the #bepartofthesolution when sharing on social channels<<<

The Southampton Children’s Hospital Youth Ambassador Group (YAG) used their funding to produce a collection of three films with education and development film makers, In Focus. The films give a young person’s view on the impact of COVID-19 and cover topics including public health messaging and wellbeing through poetry and animation.

YAG is made up of young people aged 11 to 17 from across the South who have a connection to the hospital either as a patient or relative and who want to get involved and improve services for young people.

Ipsa Dash, a youth ambassador, said: “During these unprecedented times, it felt like nothing was in our control what with the never ending uncertainty but I believe this project made me realise we really could make a difference. I am really pleased with the outcome.”

Dr Kathryn Woods-Townsend, programme lead for LifeLab, said: “These projects were about giving young people ownership of messaging that affects them. This was a great opportunity for them to shape the sort of communications they want to see when it comes to their own health and that of their community.”

Louisa Green, divisional head of nursing and professions for SCH, said: “These videos are a wonderful example of how committed our young ambassadors are in making a difference to the health and wellbeing of their communities. The films have some really strong messaging around the impact Covid on young people but also their commitment to keep going with following the guidance as restrictions ease.

“Projects like these really help us towards our goal of our COVID ZERO campaign, having no transmission of the virus within our hospitals, and the community have a vital part of play in that.”

The COVID-19 Innovations Grant supports projects that target groups in which prevalence of COVID-19 is highest or may increase, and groups which otherwise might not be reached.

Debbie Chase Director of Public Health at Southampton City Council said: “My thanks to all the young people involved in developing these films. They are both creative and powerful in their messaging. We know that how a message is conveyed, and the way it makes us feel, is important in shaping safe and healthy attitudes and behaviours. These films have been created by young people for young people and form part of a selection of videos created by members of Southampton communities for our communities. We all have a responsibility to stay safe as restrictions ease and it’s also important that we help our families, peers, work colleagues and local communities to do the same.”

Supporting #InternationalWomensDay with messages from our team about why challenging inequality and ensuring opportunity for all is what inspires us to do what we do #ChooseToChallenge.

Here is a message from one of our educators Donna Lovelock:

https://youtu.be/NIKfJWefuJg

Hazel Inskip, professor of statistical epidemiology

“My pledge is to challenge those who put down others and to try very hard never to do it myself. Particularly I want to challenge gender racism in which those who are women or LGBTQI+ and of colour have an even tougher deal than I have as a white heterosexual woman.

I am inspired by Nisreen Alwan (@Dr2NisreenAlwan) who always has the courage to call out inequality and stands up for marginalised groups. She leads a way that I wish I followed better.”

Lisa Bagust, LifeLab educator

Watch Lisa’s message for #IWD and why she is proud of the work we do at LifeLab.

https://youtu.be/Wq-jGDdZPfQ

Dr Kath Woods-Townsend, LifeLab programme lead

Working across disciplines and organisations is one of the parts of my job that I value the most, it does give an insight into the #everydaysexism that is acceptable in different groups, and I always #ChooseToChallenge those small, ‘inconsequential’ actions that serve to reinforce inequality.

The only other thing I would choose to challenge isn’t really about women’s day, but more about the persistent overlooking of young people’s voices. The sense that adults can make all the decisions for young people and they don’t need to be involved or heard.

Lisa Bagust, LifeLab educator

Watch Lisa’s message for #IWD and why she is proud of the work we do at LifeLab.

https://youtu.be/Wq-jGDdZPfQ

Dr Kath Woods-Townsend, LifeLab programme lead

Working across disciplines and organisations is one of the parts of my job that I value the most, it does give an insight into the #everydaysexism that is acceptable in different groups, and I always #ChooseToChallenge those small, ‘inconsequential’ actions that serve to reinforce inequality.

The only other thing I would choose to challenge isn’t really about women’s day, but more about the persistent overlooking of young people’s voices. The sense that adults can make all the decisions for young people and they don’t need to be involved or heard.

Sian Bryant, communications

“This past year has given me countless examples of women who have stepped up to make a difference. I will always choose to challenge a lack of opportunity for women to make their mark”

Calling all young film makers

Posted March 1

Are you fed up with seeing teenagers out and about, not being careful, which results in young people being blamed for breaking coronavirus rules?
We’re creating a video to show the importance of following the rules. In this video, we want to share examples of how young people are making good choices and show how Southampton’s young people have been doing their bit to reduce the spread of the virus. Have you been sticking to the guidance and keeping people safe?

Find out more here video-project-instructions

We’re looking for short video clips that demonstrate how you’ve been thinking carefully about the choices you make and how you’ve been playing your part.
To get involved, please record a 5-second clip of yourself doing the activity using your smartphone or webcam and just send it in. You could even win a £20 gift voucher!

Artistic students have been getting creative by designing COVID-19 Warriors as part of our work supporting schools that are taking part in the saliva project.

Young people were set the challenge of coming up with an imaginative character who could battle the virus using their superpowers and defeat COVID-19. We got an overwhelming response with more than 170 students submitting their ideas.

The project team will be using some of the designs to create a team of COVID-19 Warriors to help us all defeat the virus and make good choices. Our team of Superheroes will have capes, masks and a toolbelt containing all the items they need to stay safe – just like in these brilliant designs.

The characters will then be used as part of the teaching programme we will be delivering to more young people as the programme expands.

Along with the examples below, we have also put together a collage of all the entries which is available by following this link:

collage-of-covid-warriors

Some of our favourite designs:

An opportunity designed to give aspiring medics an insight into life at a busy acute hospital, has been transformed into a virtual experience.

This year’s LifeLab Medical School was delivered entirely online over the course of a packed two-day programme.

Due to current restrictions, students could not come into University Hospital Southampton for the experience where they would normally be involved in a series of hands-on workshops and tutorials along with shadowing doctors and healthcare professionals.

But that didn’t stop the LifeLab team from delivering the experience online, enabling young people to still get a sense of what life as a doctor or medical scientist involves. With the support and involvement from the University of Southampton and UHS, the team put together the event with interactive live sessions, self-directed modules and online activities.

Along with live sessions with cardiothoracic consultant Aiman Alzetani, the attendees had the chance to speak to current medical students and chat to degree admissions specialist Professor Sally Curtis. Modules on clinical and communications skills were also delivered along with an escape-room style learning experience and virtual day-in-the-life insights with a range of researchers.

The move to a virtual experience also enabled the school be accessed internationally. More than 80 students, mainly from colleges and sixth forms, enrolled for this year’s experience and enjoyed the programme from across the world with young people logging on from Germany, Spain and Turkey as well as across the UK.

LifeLab’s Developing Talent Lead, Kate Bartlett said: “It was always going to be a challenge transforming a two-day interactive event into an online experience. It was wonderful to have the support of the University of Southampton and UHS which enabled us to come together to deliver an amazing summer school that was so well received.

“We are looking forward to learning from and building on this experience.”

The team was delighted to receive positive feedback from students who attended, one said: “I especially liked the incorporation of webinars as well as independent sessions which helped me feel more in control and felt personal, while still having interaction with experienced experts.”

The team is now looking at developing more programmes online to improve accessibility across a range of groups and communities.

LifeLab is based at UHS and is a joint initiative of the University of Southampton Education School and Faculty of Medicine along with the National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre. The project offers an immersive education experience for young people to understand the science behind healthy eating messages and also supports developing talent programmes for young people in health and science training.