Student volunteers in the spotlight

A design by one of our students for a sticker with a serious message is being distributed to thousands of homes to help guard against bogus callers.

Lynsey Greaves, 22, a third year BA (Hons) Creative Advertising and Promotion student, created the design for the sticker which will be distributed to 20,000 homes across the Tees Valley in a partnership involving Cleveland Police and the University.

She got involved through volunteering with the University volunteer project, VolunTees, an online resource which enables organisations to promote volunteering opportunities to Teesside’s staff and students.

Volunteering opportunities Among volunteering opportunities highlighted by VolunTees is Operation Strongbow, which involves trading standards and various voluntary and charity groups with Cleveland Police to tackle bogus callers and distraction burglaries.

Lynsey, of Preston, Lancashire, said: 'I’m currently a volunteer with the Crimestoppers Youth Board at the University and heard about the design project to create a No Doorstep Traders window sticker from Jayne Villiers, the University’s Volunteer Co-ordinator.'

Jayne said: 'The University is delighted to support Operation Strongbow. By volunteering, students are developing new skills and improving their own employability while making a contribution to the community. We also offer support to students involved in their own volunteering projects, who might come to us wanting to support a particular charity.'

Cleveland Police is delighted Detective Inspector Ian Fawcett, of Cleveland Police, said: 'Cleveland Police is delighted to have assistance from one of its partner agencies, the University of Teesside, in helping to reinforce the stand against Cold Callers by the introduction of the No Doorstep Traders sticker.'

Lynsey’s involvement as a volunteer will be highlighted among the wide range of volunteering opportunities for students to be promoted at the University from Monday 23 February to Friday 27 February. Although aimed at students and staff, events are also open to the public.

Among events is a Volunteering Fair focusing on careers in the criminal justice from 10.00am to 2.00pm on Tuesday 24 February in the foyer of the School of Social Sciences & Law, First Floor, Clarendon Building. A general Volunteering Fair will be held at the same venue from 10.00am to 2.00pm on Thursday 26 February.

Presentations from a range of organisations, including Crimestoppers and Nacro will also be held in Room CG.17, Constantine Building, at 2.00pm on Friday 27 February.

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