A charity at the heart of our community, supporting and inspiring people to improve their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
A charity at the heart of our community, supporting and inspiring people to improve their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Improving Lives Plymouth has always enjoyed a good working relationship with Plymouth University, however, we felt 12 months ago that this could be developed further in a way that would enable the development of a number of projects and joint initiatives to benefit our service users, the local community and the voluntary sector.
We expect this to grow over time and will use this page on our website to give you a flavour and to connect you to the University.
Please click here https://goo.gl/irp05V
Sensory Solutions hosts visits from Year 1 students from Plymouth University’s Peninsula School of Medicine during the academic year and also visits the Medical School to provide training on Deafness and communication issues to Year 4 students. The service is also set to host visits from Optometry students from the School of Health Professions which will afford undergraduates the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the assistive technology and practical support available to support those with sight loss out in the community. In addition, one of the Sensory Solutions volunteers has assisted Dr. Alexis Kirke, Research Fellow in Computer Music in the School of Humanities and Performing Arts (part of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research group) with his research into a tone-based programming/scripting language called IMUSIC. This computer language is designed to be used for teaching the basics of script based programming, computer-aided composition and provide programming access to those with limitations in sight or physical accessibility.
To celebrate volunte
ering in our city we established the annual Inspiring Volunteer Awards in partnership with Plymouth University and the Evening Herald. Hosted in the University’s Roland Levinsky Building, the awards recognise the enriching contribution that volunteers make to individuals, organisations, the city and our communities.
To view all the photos taken at the volunteer awards, please visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/foto_plus/sets/72157654235195051/with/18620354606/
Active for All deliver sessions in the local community to support adults with a learning disability and/or mental health support need to become more physically active. Active for All use the Nancy Astor sports hall twice weekly to deliver their football sessions which are accessible for all abilities. University staff from the Sport and Recreation team have supported these sessions by providing sports facilities at a discounted rate and have also provided staff time to help with coaching. University staff were instrumental in helping Active for All set up their Tuesday football sessions which are now flourishing. If you would like more information about these sessions, please contact the Active for All team.
We have a long history of providing student placements for health and social care courses from 1st Year undergraduate Courses through to MA. In the more recent 
past we are seeing an increase in psychology students spending their 2nd year on a full time placement. All students learn, contribute and become valued members of our service teams. Our service users gain on many occasions from the skills and knowledge of the students who undertake projects, research and casework.
Eve Turner, Psychology student on placement with Better Futures.
James Mulready, Psychology Student, has been on placement with our Volunteer Centre. He said, “It has been an amazing experience and I’ve met some many fantastic people! The Volunteer Centre Co-coordinator is equally impressed, “I can honestly say we could not have asked for a better person to have student placement with us. James has been a huge support to the team and has really helped keep things together when it was just him and I running things. The team are really going to miss your support and banter.