A Student Ambassador Success Story
Red Ball Award Winner 2009 -
Leo Matlock
Leo Matlock became the winner of the innaugral Red Ball Award at the BUCS Ball on Thursday 3rd September. The award, which was presented by John Inverdale, recognised Leo's fantastic work as a Student Ambassador at the University of Warwick. He is now working at the Right To Play UK office as an intern and took a few moments to answer a couple of questions about his experience of Right To Play.
Why did you become a Student Ambassador?
I was on the exec of One World Week, the world’s largest student run festival, and five a side football at Warwick Uni. For both I was detailed with ‘making things happen’. Organising and running events for OWW in an attempt to bring the international community together and have a fantastic time. Of course 5 a side was about getting people to play football. I had done some charity work before and raised a lot of money for a hospice by running a football tournament.
Right to Play was heavily involved with OWW and I was asked if I would be interested in becoming a Student Ambassador. Right to Play seemed to be a place where I could use the skills I have learnt and not only make things happen, but also make a difference.
What did you do?
My main principle of being a Student Ambassador was not to ask for ‘money for nothing’. Right to Play is an innovative, progressive charity and I wanted to match that in my work. So instead of just going around with collection pots I organised a number of events to raise money for Right to Play and encouraged and badgered other individuals, sports clubs and societies to do the same. I ran a night event at the students union, organised football and cricket tournaments and a football quiz. I got in touch with the RTP office and got a number of prizes for a raffle, including Chelsea tickets and a rugby ball signed by Henry Paul. I then sold these tickets at my events and other events that I organised in conjunction with other clubs such as an outdoor trampolining event (Right to Bounce), a pub quiz, the Sports Ball and a rounders tournament between a variety of the sports clubs at Warwick. I also attended the BUCS championships at Sheffield which was great fun. In total I raised about £1500 whilst ensuring everyone who paid any money either could win a prize or played sport. This not only raises awareness but an appreciation of Right to Play and an enthusiasm amongst the student body about us and what we do. I would like to take this oppurtunity to thank everyone at Warwick who took part in my events or helped organise them, the people who gave money, and the staff in the sports department who went out of their way to facilitate and promote Right To Play.
What made you want to continue and do an internship and what are you most looking forward to?
Primarily it’s because I enjoyed myself. The idea of Play is for people to have fun, so organising opportunities for people to play is (almost always) fun and (always) gratifying. Being a Student Ambassador had me in something of a microcosm of charity work, predominantly aimed at often cash-strapped students and was generally light hearted in nature. I am looking forward to getting involved in the serious nature of charity work, getting closer to the people whose lives I am working hard to improve. I managed to raise a good deal of money as a Student Ambassador but saw my work with Right to Play as unfinished business. I want to offer more and raise more; the internship was the chance for me to do this. I believe the partnership we have with universities, students and BUCS has tremendous potential to raise the profile of Right To Play and can benefit the institutions that we work with too. I wanted to use my experience as a Student Ambassador where I worked at the ground level, to develop the project as a whole from a more senior and influential position. Being a Student Ambassador made me realise that I want a career in the charity sector, and I hope my internship at Right to Play will be the next step in that.
Would you recommend the student ambassador experience?
Yes. I had great fun doing it. I met loads of new, interesting people beyond my existing friendship group. I felt like I was valued by, and belonged to, something important and worthwhile which is always a nice feeling to have. It gave me an oppurtunity and platform to make a difference to a number of people. The children who we raise money for, my fellow students who I was laying on fun events and experiences for, and myself. I am now here at the offices and developing my skills daily which is vital for my future career whilst helping out a charity and cause I feel passionately about. I was only a Student Ambassador for 6 months but it turned me from a student heading towards a mediocre degree to a student with a mediocre degree but with a host of opportunities in front of him - and more importantly these are oppurtunities I really want to seize.
To find out more information about how to become a Student Ambassador and what it entails, please click here
