Psychology degree helps Trinty Hall student create engaging and informative social media for local charity.

Posted:

15 Oct 2026

Written by:

Paul Holland

This summer, 25 Cambridge University students spent six weeks volunteering full-time with groups across the city, providing extra support where it’s needed most.

Among them was Trinity Hall’s Rosalind Howell. Drawing on her psychology degree, she turned complex information into accessible social media content for families and helped raise awareness of the Cambridge Acorn Project.

Cambridge Acorn Project supports almost 1,000 children and families in Cambridgeshire affected by trauma, abuse and financial hardship – experiences that can shape a child’s opportunities and affect their mental and physical wellbeing long into adulthood.

“We refer to our work as ‘panoramic’ because we look at the child’s whole context and build support that reflects their unique needs and strengths,” explains Kate Weir, fundraising manager at Cambridge Acorn Project. “This could involve a combination of therapeutic, educational and practical support. Crucially, the support is there for the child for as long as they need us.”

Like many small charities, however, finding time for social media and communications can be a challenge, with fundraising appeals often needing to take priority. “Rosalind’s background in psychology meant she could combine her understanding of complex services with a real passion for wanting to communicate in a way that works for families,” says Kate.

Rosalind’s solution was to create a three-month bank of accessible social media content, video interviews, communications templates and guidance for future volunteers. She says: “The team were so gracious with their time, as well as in encouraging me to take the initiative and figure out what to do.”

Rosalind adds: “Families are often under a huge amount of pressure, so anything that helps them better understand the support available can make a real difference. A child might feel anxious about a therapeutic assessment, especially if they’ve had difficult experiences with authority figures. A friendly informal video with a member of staff can help break down those barriers.”

Kate says Rosalind’s contribution has been “the ideal scenario” of providing practical help and taking it a step further: “the social media content also helps raise awareness of what Cambridge Acorn Project does among people who don’t yet know the charity, including potential supporters and donors.”

She also points to a wider benefit:

“The project has given Rosalind valuable experience of being part of a solution, which will help her when she becomes a psychologist herself.”

The students involved in the projects are part of the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership & Research Programme, which helps undergraduates develop leadership skills while working on their degrees (read more).

Rosalind Howell is at Trinity Hall and studies Psychological and Behavioural Sciences

This is an edited version of a longer University of Cambridge feature article that can be found on the University’s website.

Picture credit: Nick Saffell.

Back to all news