The Social Innovation Programme

Make change in the local community as a student consultant
In person (with some online recordings)
Four hours per week from 25 October to 13 December
No experience needed

What is the Social Innovation Programme

The Social Innovation Programme trains and supports teams of University of Bristol students to work on a real world challenge brief for a local social impact organisation.

The programme benefits our community partners through new perspectives, added capacity and improved community cohesion. It will also benefit your engagement with the world around you, wellbeing and key skills such as confidence, targeted researching, resilience, leadership and teamwork.

I loved the idea that the hard work I was putting in was being implemented into the charity I worked for, it was so satisfying. I enjoyed integrating myself into the charity, conducting fieldwork and delivering my recommendations professionally. Also, the experience I gained has shaped my career path.
Jack Belby, Social Innovation Programme participant 2022 – 23

What you’ll be doing

As a Social Innovation Programme participant you will attend weekly training sessions and work with your team outside of these sessions on your report. You will also receive additional training in leadership and project management. At the end of the programme you will present your research report to your peers and partners.

25 October	Launch event at Burges Salmon
1 November	Introduction into the Social Impact Sector
6 November	Data Collection and Analysis Training
15 November	Action Learning Sets (Problem Solving)
29 November	Effective Public Speaking at Burges Salmon
13 December	Showcase event at Burges Salmon

How to get involved

To apply you need to complete an application form to let us know why you’re interested in the Social Innovation Programme and your availability for the selection workshop.

Once we’ve heard from you the next steps will be:

Application deadline on 9 October
Attending selection workshop on either 11 October or 18 October
If successful, joining our launch event on 25 October from 12:30 – 17:00
Attending weekly training sessions from 25 October to 12 December
Attending weekly team meetings to work on your report from 25 October until the deadline on 7 December
Attending showcase on 13 December from 13:30 – 18:00

If you have any questions, or require any support to get involved, don’t hesitate to contact Sorcha at manager@bristolhub.org.

Apply for the Social Innovation programme

FAQ

How will I benefit from the Social Innovation Programme?

There are loads of benefits for you if you get involved with Bristol Hub. These include:

Having an impact in the community. You can make a difference and support local organisations.
Have the opportunity to meet new people across different year groups and degrees, all groups are mixed!
You will develop key skills including project management, teamwork, leadership, resilience and confidence. This will be supported by the professional training you receive and the support you get throughout your experience.
Accreditation that can go towards your Bristol PLUS award.
A certificate recognising the commitment you’ve made, which you can put on your CV and share on LinkedIn

Is this programme accessible to my needs?

We’ve assessed the accessibility of all our opportunities and are able to discuss these with you prior to you starting your placement, this includes any reasonable adjustments we can make. All accessibility information will also be sent to you prior to your placement as standard you have any questions about accessibility, or want to make request a reasonable adjustment, please reach out to Sorcha at manager@bristolhub.org.

Some examples of reasonable adjustments we can offer include:

Using an expensed taxi service to aid mobility conditions.
Making sure there is seating with no arms.
Printed documents prior to training when requested.
Extra time to complete activities in the selection workshop, as you would get in exams.

I’ve not been involved in social action before. Who can I speak to for more information and support?

Our activities are all open for everyone so if you’ve not been involved in social action before, or you’re apprehensive about getting involved, reach out to Sorcha at manager@bristolhub.org. All of our opportunities practice a safe space policy meaning they are supportive, non-judgemental and always willing to listen.

I’ve just applied, when will I hear from you?

We will be in touch as soon as we’ve read your application. We will let you know whether you are invited to a selection workshop, and further information on what to expect.

At all stages of the process, we will be able to give you feedback on your application – just pop us an email to ask!

What training will I receive?

In order to support you to be confident as a student consultant we deliver comprehensive training covering:

Project Management,
Introduction to the Social Impact Sector,
Data collection and analysis,
Problem solving skills,
Report writing skills,
Presentation skills.

I am nervous about applying, where can I get support?

It’s natural to feel nervous when you try new things, but don’t let you put that off. If you want to talk to a member of our team before applying or attending a session you can email them at manager@bristolhub.org. Or if you’re not sure who to speak to email info@bristolhub.org and we’ll get back to you.

Some things we recommend often include applying to the programme with a friend – you could sign up together and may come to the same selection workshop so that you’ll have a friendly face. Alternatively, you could arrange to meet a member of our team before a session so that you get to know each other 1-1 and can travel together. We’ll work together to find a solution which supports you to get involved, whatever that may be.