A year into my freelancing career and I'm thrilled to be adding an exciting new role to my portfolio, I am joining the Centre for Global Citizenship Studies (CGCS) as their first Director of Development + Engagement.

CGCS is a pioneering, online education start-up blending volunteering, formal education and life skills. Created during lockdown by Founders Michael Lee, an educational reformer, and e-learning specialist Jared Borkum, we start with the belief that that young people want more than they are getting from their further and higher educational experiences - not just to graduate but also to grow as individuals, to create meaningful social change and to find their place in an increasingly challenging and unpredictable world.

Our mission helps them achieve just this - we want to revolutionise FE, leaving traditional bricks and mortar learning behind and, with some amazing travel partners like Projects Abroad, run flexible, internationally-accredited programmes that enhance careers, build human empathy and create bridges between different cultures and identities.

Accrediting the Volunteering Experience

What most draws me to CGCS is their flagship qualification, the Diploma in International Volunteering.

Accredited through the National Open College Network (NOCN) and exclusive to CGCS, the Diploma seamlessly integrates into a young person's international volunteering experience.

As well as delivering recognised academic credit for volunteering (worth 41 credits or 16 UCAS points in the UK, and transferable internationally) it prompts deep reflection both on what it means to be a volunteer and on the county and culture in which the young person is volunteering.

Which is where the notion of becoming a 'Global Citizen' really kicks in. Inspired by Oxfam's definition, we believe that:

'A Global Citizen is not just aware of the wider world, they understand it and their place in it, actively working with others to make our planet more peaceful, sustainable and just.'

So I'm super excited to start supporting the delivery and growth of this qualification, and to explore in which other areas of volunteering this approach could be applied.

As you may already know, I'm convinced that we've only scratched the surface of the full personal and societal potential of volunteering. Helping to fulfil that potential is my career mission, so I'm very grateful to Michael and Jared for brining me into CGCS where I can continue to pursue this aim.

Want to know more?

If you'd like to know more about CGCS and/or the Diploma do get in touch - I'd be happy to meet and discuss in further detail.