Mariana Vieira da Rocha

Current occupation

Learning and Capacity Building Specialist; Training facilitator

Work experience

Workshop Facilitator and trainer:

• Staff Development Day – Training Facilitator; ToyBox Charity, UK (10/2024)

• “What is your volunteer Engagement challenge” – speed networking session – Facilitator, National Volunteering Management Conference, Ireland (05/2024)

• “Games are not just a Game” week-long training – Trainer; KA1 Erasmus+ Marttinen youth centre, Finland (02/2022) (05/2023)

• “Training Links – Digitalisation and Volunteering”– Workshop Facilitator; Volunteer Ireland National Conference (04/2023)

• “Once upon a time…. There was a young person” MasterClass – Facilitator; Volunteer Ireland National Conference (04/2022)

• What have student volunteers ever done for us? Bursting the myths and stereotypes” – Co-Facilitator; AVM National Conference (10/2021)

• “Are we there yet? Buckle up and enjoy the ride!” workshop – Facilitator; Volunteer Ireland (09/2021)

• Are hybrid programmes here to stay? Where are we heading? –Facilitator; SVN national conference (09/2021)

• Irish and UK Volunteering: the similarities and differences– Speaker; SU21 Digital (07/2021)

• “Making it Stick” Masterclass – Facilitator; Volunteer Ireland National Conference (04/2021)

• Employability Webinar– Speaker; ESN UK (11/2020)

• How sustainable migration can lead us towards a better post-Covid world – Opportunities and challenges of global mobility – Speaker; SPEAK Social (09/2020)

• “Let’s Get Online – Facilitating online sessions” – Facilitator; UKSVN National Conference (08/2020)

• Generation Change – How student volunteers can transform your work – Speaker; ‘Back to School’, AVM (09/ 2019)

• ‘All that SAS (Skills Analysis Sessions)’ – Facilitator; UKSVN National Conference (08/2018)

• ‘Volunteering and its role in the TEF’ – Facilitator; UKSVN National Conference (08/2017)

Other roles:
International Programme Manager [Sep 2024 – Present]
SU University College London
• Create new and develop existing relationships with oversees partners to create opportunities for students to gain life changing experiences through co-curricular activities
• Lead on the development of a new programme of international volunteering opportunities

Learning and Capacity Building Specialist [Jun 2023 – May 2024]
Volunteer Ireland, Republic of Ireland
• Develop and deliver Volunteer Ireland’s services in relation to volunteer management and support the learning and capacity needs of volunteer involving organisations.
• Support the development of capacity building tools and resources
• Deliver volunteer management and engagement training to a range of stakeholders including communicating with those stakeholders
• Delivery of the 2023 Volunteer Ireland Awards, including managing contracts, budget and nominations process.

Volunteering and Civic Engagement Manager [Dec 2016 – May 2022]
University of West London
• Developing and implementing the strategy and operational planning of the Volunteering Service projects, events and activities across the Institution.
• Establishing and maintaining partnerships with different organisations in the local community and at a regional and national level.
• Leading on the University’s Volunteering accreditation and recognition scheme.
• Devising and executing volunteering activities within the curriculum across different Academic Schools.
• Creating, preparing, and delivering new innovative schemes; including a Leadership Programme and Skills Analysis Sessions across the different subjects
• Producing effective reporting processes, monitoring and evaluating relevant data and statistics to measure and analyse the effectiveness of the Service.

Co-Founder and Director [Jun 2019 – Aug 2024]
SPEAK London (SPEAK.Social)
• Establishing the start-up that connects migrants, refugees and locals through a language and culture exchange program; Business development and management.