Eden spoke to us about her professional placement with Trowbridge Future, reflecting on her journey to study BSc (Hons) Social Sciences at Bath and the skills and experience she’s gaining.

Choosing the right degree

The thing I like the most about the course is that it really enables you to forge your own path. At A-level, I studied history, politics and sociology. I was looking for a degree that would give me lots of options, so I chose BSc (Hons) Social Sciences as it is a broad discipline that covers a wide range of topics.

I have had the opportunity to study units in different fields, such as international development, psychology and criminology. My favourite unit has been ‘Global Crimes of the Powerful’.

Life as a research intern

I am currently on my professional placement, working as a research intern for Trowbridge Future, a charity that supports vulnerable members of the local community.

My main task is to evaluate the charity’s services through surveys, interviews and questionnaires and to assess the needs of the community.

My normal day-to-day consists of administration tasks, conducting my own research, designing surveys, responding to emails, managing social media posts, and helping various community initiatives. No two days are ever the same.

I’ve learnt a lot doing the placement, like having to adjust to the pace of work, be more organised with my time and remember to balance work and relaxation.

By applying what I have learned on the course to real-life situations and transforming academic knowledge into action, the placement has helped me increase my confidence and given me an insight into what life will be like in the workplace after I complete my degree.

I’m also building more transferable skills: communication is probably the most important one. This job requires me to build strong relationships with the members of the community and my colleagues. When you work with people from so many different backgrounds, you learn to be adaptable.

I have also acquired valuable administration and IT skills, including Excel, Word and Canva. And finally, I will be able to apply my research skills when writing my dissertation next year.

Making an impact

To me, making an impact means being able to support those in really difficult situations who have not found anywhere else to turn to.

The people we support come from a variety of backgrounds and are often very vulnerable. The job can consequently be quite challenging, as you never know who is going to come and use our services.

Nevertheless, we have the right tools to help, and the team is extremely supportive. We are impartial and have no social, political, or religious agenda, so that helps our service users feel more comfortable and be more open about their circumstances. Getting to meet so many different people and hearing their stories is really rewarding.

There are many elderly vulnerable people who feel lonely who come to Trowbridge Future to socialise and interact with people. We are their community, and they say we make a big difference to them, as they build the friendships they need to feel like a valued member of the Trowbridge community.

My favourite memory on placement so far has been the Christmas meal with all the service users. It was nice to see everyone together enjoying themselves before closing for the break.

How the university has supported my placement

My placement is linked to research being undertaken within the university by social psychologist Dr Leda Blackwood. I would say that Leda's support and guidance has been crucial in my research and in the development of my skills. She regularly checks in and visits us which helps keep me connected to her research and to the university.

The placement is also being funded by the Public Engagement Participate Grant. Emily Richards (Faculty Head of Strategic Engagement), who has organised and arranged this partnership, has also provided support throughout my placement to ensure I am having a positive experience. It is great that the university is supporting local community initiatives and has given me the ability to experience working within the charity sector.

A beautiful base

I visited Bath before applying and chose it not only because of the course, but also because of the city - it’s a beautiful place to live. I wanted the experience a campus university can give; I love being around the buzz of other students. The student community in Bath is very strong, with supportive and amazing teams who are always there for you when you need them.

I had a really positive experience living on campus in first year: being away from home, I got to meet new people and gain independence. My accommodation was comfortable, I got along with my flatmates and had a lot of fun. I also enjoyed living in the city after that.

My top tips

My top tip for anyone interested in studying Social Sciences is to be very open minded!

Make friends on your course, try to get involved as much as possible and do not be afraid to contact your academic advisor — they are there to help you.

Don’t worry if you do not have clear career aspirations in mind, the degree is very broad, so you will have plenty of opportunities to find out what is right for you.

My top tip for anyone considering a placement is to start applying as soon as possible. The University offers a wide range of support, including mock interviews. The placement team can help you go through the company’s background, help you with your CV and cover letters and help you feel more confident for interviews. There are also placement sessions to take students through each step of the job-hunting process.