Ella Byng completed the Pathways to Charity & Development programme while in her final year studying Sociology. Ella writes about her experience completing the training and internship elements of the programme and how this has helped with deciding on a future career path.
As a Sociology student in my final year, the thought of deciding what I want to do for a career was a daunting one! With so many different options and possibilities, I felt quite overwhelmed and unsure (and I know a lot of other students tend to feel the same!) I decided to apply for the Universityâs Professional Pathways internship programme, in the hopes of getting some experience and a clearer idea of what kind of job I might like to do in the future. There were 4 different sectors to choose from: I applied to the âPathways to Charity and Developmentâ.
For me, working in the Charity sector was an interesting prospect (and it seemed to link in well with my personal and academic interests), but I didnât know much about it, and I wasnât sure what types of jobs were available to me within the Charity sector. After applying to Professional Pathways,
and being successful in the Assessment Centre, I secured a place on the scheme and was invited to attend a series of employer-led training sessions. Speakers from both local and national charities came in to discuss various topics (such as charity funding and fundraising, communications, volunteer management, and humanitarianism). The training week culminated in group presentations to a panel of employers, in response to different project briefs set by local charities. My groupâs brief asked us to review, evaluate, and provide recommendations for Exeter City Community Trustâs social media channels. We were then rewarded with pizza, as well as a chance to network with employers!
After the training, I began my paid 35-hour internship. I was matched with Exeter City Community Trust (ECCT), as a Charity Development Assistant. During this internship, I have had the opportunity to learn about all the different roles within ECCT, as well as the programmes and activities that they offer for the community (focussing on sports, education, and wellbeing). A highlight for me [was helping] with the âsocial cafĂ©â, which was set up during COVID to combat loneliness. ECCTâs social cafe is a place where people can go, once a week, to have a cup of tea and chat with others. From talking to some of the regular attendees, it was clear how important this was to their own wellbeing! It seemed like a real lifeline for older generations, and it was amazing to see that it has made such a difference.
âIn terms of how my involvement in Pathways to Charity and Development has helped me in my career journey so far, Iâve gained valuable insight into what it might be like to work in the Charity sector.â
In terms of how my involvement in Pathways to Charity and Development has helped me in my career journey so far, Iâve gained valuable insight into what it might be like to work in the Charity sector. Itâs also confirmed that this is a career I would love to go into; specifically, a role that centres around improving the wellbeing of communities. I cannot wait to see what my next career steps are, and Iâm excited to take what I have learnt from the Professional Pathways programme forward into life as an Exeter graduate.
If youâd like to apply for Professional Pathways, applications are currently open via Handshake for our 2023 programmes! You can find further details on the 4 available Pathways and how to apply here. Applications will close at 1:00pm on Tuesday 17 January 2023.