My two-month placement took place over two days per week during the summer, with BBC WM. My brief was to produce a piece of original journalism for broadcast. I researched and provided background research to sports stories, and I also got the opportunity to do some social media monitoring. It was so exciting to assist the sports team in keeping on top of the unfolding Fabian Delph transfer story. I was across his Twitter activity, and also kept audiences up-to-date on the story.

My main role on the scheme was to research and set up potential stories for broadcast. On one occasion I considered doing a story on disability sports in the West Midlands and my ideas included wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, powerchair football and disability darts. However I settled on visually impaired cricket, and a local team in Warwickshire. My next task was to find an angle and speak to the relevant people. After much phone-bashing, I set up interviews with players on the same day the team’s cup match was being played!

I went to Leamington Spa where the team played their matches, and there I gathered some audio. I gained several lively but informative interviews and during the interval I recorded a wild track on the stump base. Back in the studio I edited down the content and wrote a script for the piece which fitted the timings. I recorded links to help the story fit together - this was the hardest part and the most exciting – thank you Richard Wilford!

After some mixing and trimming, it was ready for air and this was hugely gratifying. I refined my editing skills on RadioMan and became quicker at it too! My newsgathering and journalistic skills also improved and I’ve gained a deeper appreciation of the process of gathering a story, from conceptualisation to the finished piece. I provided an insight into visually impaired cricket which gave disability sport much needed exposure. A special thanks goes to the BBC WM team – especially Richard Wilford, Adam Bridge, Mark Regan and John Platt.

I am now on a six-month BBC Extend placement as a Junior Researcher, and work in television on SPOTY, and on radio with 5live.

BBC Extend is a BBC-wide placement scheme which offers appropriately experienced and/or qualified disabled people an opportunity to gain six months’ paid work within the BBC. It has placements across the UK, in both programming and support areas.

I really didn’t know what to expect - I was concerned how the girls would relate to me, and if they would complete the task. I gave the girls an overview of my role, and then briefed them on WG Grace, while the rest of the team briefed them on their task. We then split the girls into three groups so they could brainstorm scenarios of how to make an interview for radio. I walked around each group in order to listen, support and encourage their ideas.

The girls embraced the task quickly - and they soon were buzzing with ideas, leading to discussions about the type of programme they wanted to deliver. Their ideas ranged from using a ‘Jeremy Kyle’ style interview, to using Twitter as a talking tool. It was inspiring to listen to their ideas and see their imagination come alive, often humorous in parts, the girls had me laughing……. a lot! In just two takes the girls recorded three different interviews.

After the Q&A the girls mentioned they really enjoyed the workshop session and one girl asked me: “what do you do in the BBC?” I explained that I work on the E20 Programme which has involved building a permanent lot for EastEnders. She gushed, “I love EastEnders, my Mum and I sit together and watch the show - are the babies real?” - I had to smile.

Like me you may want to make a real difference when you volunteer - but it’s not just about what you can do for others, volunteers get a lot out of the experience too. I learned so much in this short space of time – how to record, brainstorm and mentor. I enjoyed getting to know new people and teaching them about the radio industry. To see people’s confidence grow - for me that is so fulfilling and rewarding, both professionally and personally.

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer but I’m really glad I have, and feel very proud and honoured to have done so with BBC Outreach.

I’m excited to see what’s next.

StemNet Careers Events are organised and hosted by BBC Outreach and gives Year-9 students the opportunity to meet BBC Stem Ambassadors who use science, technology, engineering or maths in their BBC roles. BBC North has 12 Ambassadors who during the event gave practical demonstrations on their roles and advice on GCSE STEM subjects.