Student stories: Work experience to kick start careers

During her five weeks of work experience at Family Fund, Jenna joined the finance team, gaining hands-on experience, confidence, and a clearer sense of where her skills fit.

Studying sustainability and science

Jenna studied Chemistry with Green Principles and Sustainable Processes at the University of York. She was drawn to the course through a mix of enjoying chemistry, being “very science-y and maths-y” and wanting to work in sustainability.

“I liked that it was the greener side of chemistry,” she says. “It felt new, relevant, and like an area that was going to change a lot over the next few years.”

While she enjoyed parts of the course, the academic pressure and exam focus led her to start thinking more seriously about practical career options.

Life in the finance team

At Family Fund, Jenna shadowed different members of the finance team, which meant her days varied throughout the placement. She supported tasks including bank reconciliations, treasury reports, processing payments, and handling data from charity raffles and donations.

“I really liked moving around and seeing how different people work,” she explains. “Everyone has a slightly different role, so you get a proper picture of how the team fits together.”

Being office-based helped her feel immersed in day-to-day working life and confident asking questions as she learned.

Why Family Fund?

Family Fund already felt like a welcoming place to Jenna before she started her placement. She had previously met staff through events and activities, and had a strong sense of the organisation’s culture.

“Everyone I’d met had been really friendly,” she says. “It just felt like a nice environment to be in.”

That sense of warmth and support carried through into her work experience, helping her feel comfortable asking questions, learning new skills, and getting involved in day-to-day tasks.

Highlights and proud moments

One of the biggest learning moments for Jenna was using accounting software for the first time.

“I’m studying AAT (Accounting Technicians’ introductory accounting) Level 2, and a lot of what we learn is manual,” she says. “Seeing how those principles work in real systems, and how Excel links into it, made everything click.”

By her final week, she was confident enough to complete a full payment process independently.

“I’d gone from watching and asking lots of questions to doing it myself,” she explains. “Remembering the steps and systems felt like a real achievement.”

Looking Ahead

Jenna says her time at Family Fund helped her realise how accessible finance can be, and how much can be learned through hands-on experience.

“You don’t need to know everything straight away,” she says. “You can learn so much by doing, and every system is different anyway.”

She also wanted to give a special thank you to members of the finance team, particularly Kim and Karen, for their patience and support throughout her placement, and for helping prepare her for the role she is now in.