The charity recruits 18 to 25-year-olds, from all backgrounds, who serve as mentors, tutors and role models. Monday to Thursday, they’re integral to the school day, supporting pupils in and out of the classroom to improve attendance, behaviour and attainment. Volunteers run breakfast clubs, give one-to-one reading or maths support, organise games at break-times and are encouraged to tap into their own interests to organise extra-curricular activities including film and French clubs, science and sport.

Zoe Williams, age 21, who’s volunteering with City Year Birmingham this academic year, says: “If I can make one child more excited to come into school and increase their engagement with learning, I will have succeeded this year. The staff and pupils have really made me feel part of the community.”

Another volunteer, Thameena Rahim, age 20, adds: “You can see how much you mean to the pupils and how they appreciate you just being there to play games or even for a‘high five in the morning. Seeing the pupils’ faces and knowing we have made a positive change to their attitude is an amazing feeling and I am proud to be a part of it.”

But for those who sign up, City Year Birmingham isn’t just a rewarding gap year. It also offers the chance to gain ‘stand out’ experience and skills and benefit from a tailored training and careers programme. Fridays are dedicated to personal and professional development and helping volunteers secure the job, university or training place they want at the end of their City Year. Wide-ranging sessions include CV writing and interview practice, workshops with industry leaders and work shadowing placements. Each volunteer is also offered their own mentor to provide advice and guidance on career plans.

Emile Sherrott, who volunteered with City Year Birmingham last year, says: “City Year offered me the opportunity to support secondary school pupils in my local area, to be pro-active, impact society and change the inequality of education for the better. Not only am I proud of the difference I made within school but of how I developed as an individual: from confidence in speaking in public to taking opportunities to progress my network and my CV.”

Young people serving with City Year Birmingham receive £90 a week and reimbursement of any travel expenses incurred through City Year activities.

City Year Birmingham is holding an Open House on Thursday 19th November, to give people the opportunity to learn more from its current volunteers. The event is taking place from 5pm to 7.30pm at King Edward House, 7th Floor, 135a, New Street, Birmingham, B2 4QJ. The closing date for applications to attend the charity’s first Assessment Day on Thursday 10th December is Friday, 4th December.