The impact of 16 student-led social action projects were presented to an internal and external audience at Royal Holloway, University of London.
As part of Student Volunteering Week 2024 (12 to 18 February), Royal Holloway Volunteering hosted their annual Social Action Showcase on the Egham campus.
The event provided an opportunity for student volunteers to present the volunteering projects they have been leading on this academic year.
Each group were given a two-minute slot to present their project to the room.
Many of these projects, ranging from food recycling efforts to tutoring and clothing donations, took place in Egham and other surrounding areas.
One project was ‘Tech-Along’ - previously known as Silver Surfers – which helped older residents improve their computer and technology skills.
Another volunteering project was ‘Sing-Along Surrey’, which was run by two student volunteers. The pair ran events at Rivermede care home, in Egham, engaging in weekly sing-along sessions with residents.
Meanwhile, a group of student volunteers ran a project entitled ‘Community Garden,’ which entailed maintaining a small space on campus for growing food, plants and flowers. The students spoke about the difficulties in ensuring the plants got enough sunlight, as the garden was high walled, as well as navigating issues around budget.
The Showcase event not only gave student volunteers the opportunity to present on their projects, but it offered the chance for those leaving the University at the end of the academic year to pass on their project to another student-leader for the following year.
By encouraging new student-leaders to maintain existing projects, the aim is to ensure the projects, which have a huge impact on the local community, will continue to make a difference year after year.
Professor Julie Sanders, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Royal Holloway, attended the event and said: “It was wonderful to see the passion and enthusiasm on display from so many of our student volunteers.
“I was delighted to see the impact that these projects have on our local community. Volunteering projects like these really make a real difference to the local area and they serve as a reminder that our institution is an organic part of the local community.”
Louise McGarr, Interim Volunteering Manager at Royal Holloway, added: “The Social Action Showcase is always a highlight of my year! Each year we recruit a new team of student leaders and it’s always fascinating to see how these student volunteers develop their projects and give it their own unique twist.
“It was because of our Student Leadership Programme that the Princess Royal presented us with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. As a university of social purpose, we aim to partner with our students to nurture meaningful relationships with our surrounding communities.”
