'I feel I've made a difference' - social work student Tamzin on her time with the New Futures Project

Tamzin and her colleagues in the student office

We offer placements to social work students from universities in Leicester and further afield, enabling dozens of undergraduates to spend between 70 and 100 days here at the project, directly helping the women we support.

Each is placed under the supervision of a qualified social worker and is responsible for a caseload of up to 12 women or young people, giving them invaluable real-life work experience before they resume their studies.

The students say being confronted with the realities of our clients’ lives – including the corrosive effects of homelessness, debt, substance use, mental ill-health, sexual abuse, domestic violence or sex work – has a profound effect on them and gives them an insight into the profession.

Tamzin Darmon, who has just completed the first year of a two-year master's degree in social work at Birmingham City University, spent 70 days on placement with us, her final day coming earlier this month.

"I've loved my time here at the New Futures Project.," the 23-year-old told us.

"The university allocates you to your placement, so I did my own research into New Futures before I came here.

"Previously, I'd only worked with children in a nursery, so coming here to work with vulnerable adults was very different.

"I was a little nervous at the start.

"The other students have been brilliant. We really gelled as a team. Everyone was always more than willing to help each other and share information.

"All the staff at the project were wonderful too, so warm and welcoming. They have been a big part of my journey here from the moment I walked through the door.

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"My time here has definitely built my confidence, particularly through working with people and learning how to put all the legislation I've learned about into practice.

"Instead of reading or writing about these things, you are actually applying them and seeing how they work in real life.

"I was learning as I went along, and I think that has made me more independent and taught me how to think on my feet.

"I will always remember the clients, the people I have worked with and the staff at New Futures.

"I've learned that life is hard for some people, but I feel I've made a difference in my time here."

The New Futures Project offers a comprehensive welfare and counselling service for women and young people dealing with sexual abuse or exploitation, domestic violence, trafficking, poverty and debt, substance use or mental ill-health.

Call us on 0116 251 0803 or send us a message at: info@new-futures.org.uk

You can find us at 71 London Road, Leicester, LE2 0PE.