Social work student and future probation workers learn about CoPPer

On the 28^th of November, CoPPer team members Ute Krenzer and Katharina Swirak presented the work of CoPPer to 60 social work students at University College Cork. This cohort of students is the second cohort only of the so called ‘social work apprenticeship’ programme- the first of its kind in the Republic of Ireland. As part of this training model, students study for their social work qualification, while at the same time being trained on the job during their two years of study. Many of the students present, expressed an interest to work as probation officers in the future and the discussions with students were really lively. The presentation focused on the development of the CoPPer project and on the benefits that volunteers can bring to probation work as well as how other jurisdictions approach volunteering in probation work. Ute Krenzer also shared with students her firsthand experience of volunteering in a German probation- supported setting.