Our relationship with Relate Leeds & Bradford
Relate Bradford & Leeds is a local charity specialising in lead relationships with passion and ambition driving them to offer a range of counselling service, young children and people support service and work with families, individuals and couples for over 70 years in the local region.
Over recent years they have developed a key working relationship with both the University of Bradford School of Management and Careers service which was boosted through the recruitment of University Alumni.
The hiring of alumni has opened them up to new insight and opportunities. These opportunities have enabled Relate to secure fresh insight to business opportunities and support with strategies to execute and deliver on strategy. They have worked with the School of Management to offer student projects allowing them to identify and secure much needed talent, and consistently welcome incredible students to work with them over the summer period.
Student experience
Relate have worked with the School of Management’s Bradford Challenge Projects which have provided a great resource for a small charity to secure a project that a student works on, overseen by an academic from the business school. This was a pro-bono arrangement and outcomes from these projects have resulted in students working with us part time and recruiting a graduate.
The Summer Experience Programme was also hugely beneficial and impactful to Relate as a charity as they secured a student to work on a project within the organisation for the summer period which was financially supported by the University of Bradford and supported the student to secure much needed employability skills and enabled them to use our organisation for their final year project.
They have also offered ‘mentoring’ through the Career and Employability Services mentoring programme which has been a mutually beneficial situation for both their member of staff and the student for personal development and confidence.
The University provides high-calibre students that are dedicated and hard working. They give RB&L a fresh perspective and always bring their all when they come to work for us. The university has incredible service with shortlisting and finding students that are perfect for our charity.
Sofia Ahmed, Human Resources & Governance Administrator
Local Impact
Relate has found the University to have a brilliant matchmaking service in which they are able to find students who are perfect for the charity. All of the project related opportunities offered have been fulfilled throughout academic years.
As a small, local employer Relate are able to compete on a large scale and have a greater impact due to the support offered by the School of Management. The reach of the school extends to thousands of home and international students who are made aware of the work the charity does and have the opportunity to work with the charity.
Continual opportunities are key
When asked what's next for the collaboration between Relate Bradford & Leeds and the University of Bradford Sofia stated that they aim to maintain the excellent working relationship with the University. As a small charity they have benefitted greatly from the support the University and School of Management has offered.
The University has supported Relate and Sofia by offering access to business support resource they hadn’t appreciated was on their doorstep and signpost us to different departments to support our needs.
Relate aims to continue giving students the opportunity to collaborate with them through projects and placement opportunities. They know that this relationship will continue to offer valuable insight to students on what it is like to work within a charity whilst Relate continues to benefit from the resources and insight offered from the School of Management to pass on to their clients and stakeholders.