Accessibility statement

Student Helpers

This year there are two different Student Helper roles open to current University of York students who have previously attended Step Ahead. 

  • Student Communities Student Helper (open to all students who have previously attended Step Ahead)
  • Step Ahead Back of House Assistant (only open to current Student Communities Student Helpers)

Both roles are absolutely essential for the success of Step Ahead but each role allows students to work to their strengths and gain valuable experience within events management. 

Student Communities Student Helper

We are seeking motivated and enthusiastic Student Helpers to assist with the Student Communities events programme including the Step Ahead induction programme. 

Our Student Communities Programme runs throughout the academic year and offers students within our communities the chance to attend both on campus and off campus events to help them adjust to university life as well as giving them the opportunity to meet with other students. These events include coffee drop-ins, pottery painting, Chocolate making workshops, and much more.

At the start of September we run an induction programme called Step Ahead. This is a week-long programme that supports new undergraduate students from under-represented groups transition to university life. It includes workshops, campus tours and an evening social. Student Communities Student Helpers offer friendly support and reassurance to those attending Step Ahead, as well as facilitating opportunities for students to make friends and establish peer support, prior to officially starting university. 

As a Student Communities Student Helper you will work closely with our Student Events and Activities Administrator and Step Ahead team to ensure that all Students have a positive and engaging experience during these events.

Role requirements

Role requirements

This role begins on Monday 4 September and continues throughout the academic year 23/24. 

You will need to be available to work during the week commencing 4th September as well as available to attend a 3 hour training session, which will take place on campus, in week 10 of the Summer Term. 

In order to be a Student Communities Student Helper you will need to:

  • Be available to attend a 30 minute group interview during week 4
  • Be studying at the University in the 2023/4 academic year (either as an undergraduate or a postgraduate).
  • Have a warm, friendly and helpful attitude
  • Be reliable, punctual and flexible to respond to the varied demands of the role
  • Be confident to initiate conversations with new students who may feel anxious
  • Be willing to carry out tasks to a high standard without constant supervision
  • Have the ability to use your own initiative.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

As a Student Communities Student Helper, you will be asked to: 

  • Offer friendly support and reassurance to students attending Student Communities events (including Step Ahead)
  • Facilitate on and off campus events and help students to make friends and establish peer support
  • Ensure students attending the events are in the right place at the right time
  • Socialise with new students during the events and help them feel at ease 
  • Respond to any enquiries in a helpful and polite manner
  • Assist with event feedback gathering
  • Carry out other duties assigned to you by the Step Ahead organisers and our Student Events and Activities administrator 

All of this will be covered at the training session in the Summer Term

Training and Support

Training and support

Student Communities Student Helpers will need to attend a compulsory three hour in-person training session in the summer term. You will be paid to attend this training (see rate of pay in the 'Benefits' tab).

At this training we will provide you with more information about your role as well as the opportunity to meet with the other Student Helpers. 

Each Student Helper will be supported by the central Student Communities/ Step Ahead team throughout their time in this role.

Benefits

Benefits

Rates of pay

Student Communities Student Helpers will be paid £11.73 per hour plus holiday pay. 

Other benefits

The other benefits of working as a Student Helper include having the opportunity to make a positive difference to new students' first University experiences. 

This role can also help you to develop transferable skills that will enhance your employability prospects, including skills in:

  • Team work - you will work closely with other Student Helpers as well as University staff.
  • Social and cultural awareness - you will support new students who are from a range of backgrounds.
  • Problem Solving - you will need to use your initiative to solve any unexpected challenges you are faced with.  

Visit our Your employability skills webpage for more information about skills and how to develop them. 

For help in presenting your skills and experiences in job or course applications visit the CVs and applications web page.  

The skills you develop as a Step Ahead Student Helper can contribute towards your York Award and York Futures Scholarship applications. 

Applying

Applying

Applications are now closed. We will be opening applications again at the end of the 23/24 academic year!

Support with your application 

We understand that everyone has different needs and abilities and we want to make sure that our services are accessible to all. If you are struggling to fill in this application form, please don't hesitate to contact us for help at student-communities@york.ac.uk and we will do our best to ensure that you have the support you need to complete the form

 

Returning Helpers

Returning Helpers

If you were a Step Ahead/Student Communities Student Helper in 2021/22 or 2022/23, you will need to re-apply for this role by completing the Student Helper application form. 

You will also need to be available to attend an interview and the training day, this is due to updated changes to this role.

Attending the training is always a great opportunity to learn more about your role as a Student Communities Student Helper as well as to meet with the other Student Helpers you will be working with. 

If you have any questions please contact the team at student-communities@york.ac.uk

Support with your application 

We understand that everyone has different needs and abilities and we want to make sure that our services are accessible to all. If you are struggling to fill in this application form, please don't hesitate to contact us for help at Student-communities@york.ac.uk and we will do our best to ensure that you have the support you need to complete the form

Student Feedback

Student feedback 

The quotes below show the positive impact our Student Helpers had on those attending previous Step Ahead Events: 

“Lovely bunch of Students [Helpers], really informative and appeared to show genuine care in why they were there. All the helpers appeared to be super involved, consistently included students in conversation if they noticed they were falling behind at the campus tour etc and just genuine angels! Made me look forward to uni all the more seeing the type of student cohort York attracts”. Joanne, Social & Political Sciences

"I thought that [the helpers] were extremely helpful and were able to answer all of our questions, no matter how silly they sounded. All of them have made me feel much more comfortable at asking questions and made me feel like i have someone to turn to at university." Carima, The York Manaagement School

“Lovely bunch of people! [They helped] assuaged some nerves and got me really excited to start a course in archaeology”. Emily, Archaeology

"All the student helpers were really friendly and welcoming. They were so helpful and made me feel so happy to have joined the community at York. They were definitely really open to everyone's questions including a couple of my own and they made me feel so welcome at York." Thomas, Physics