Volunteering Awards Celebration 2008
The Volunteering Awards Celebration hosted by Community Action provides an annual opportunity to recognise and celebrate the valueable contribution to the community made by Royal Holloway volunteers. This year has been no exception with over 500 registered volunteers working with over 50 Community Partners on numerous projects in the area. This evening gathered college representatives, community partners and our volunteers.
This year the Awards celebration took place on Wednesday 4th June 2008 followed by celebration drinks for Community Action volunteers. Senior Vice-Principal Robert Kemp hosted the evening on behalf of Community Action, with special guest speaker Paul Sanderson MBE. Other guests included the new Mayor of Runnymede 2008-09 Cllr Jim Broadbent, Swatee Depak of Volunteering England and local Councillor Moreton Moore.
Robin Green and Matthew Goldup were presented with Volunteering England Gold Awards for their volunteer work during the past year. Further to this Francesca Robinson was recognised for winning a Higer Education Volunteering Award for her volunteer ESOL tutoring work, which she was awarded at Wembley Stadium during the past year. Volunteering accreditation certificates were given to those who had given over 30 hours to volunteering during the past year followed by the Community Action awards as below.
Volunteering Club of the Year 2007-08 - Men's Rugby Club
Volunteering Society of the Year 2007-08 - n/a
Community Partners of the Year 2007-08 - Hillingdon SS Asylum Team & Age Concern Runnymede
New Student Initiative 2007-08 - ICT tutoring young refugees & asylum seekers
Project Leader of the Year 2007-08 - Chloe Boyd & Kit Dobner
International Volunteer 2007-08 - Man Kit Yip
Staff Volunteer of the Year 2007-08 - Kathryn Griggs
Volunteer Development 2007-08 - n/a
Community Action Student team 2007-08
"The evening was a real celebration and recognition of all that Royal Holloway students and staff contribute through volunteering in the local community" Phil Simock, RHUL Community Action Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Awards Guest Speaker: Paul Sanderson MBE
The Queen awarded an MBE to Paul Sanderson for his work as project manager of Spurgeon's WIRE Project in Littlehampton - started by Paul in 1996 in response to the needs of the community of Wick in Littlehampton, at the time officially labelled as the most deprived place to live in West Sussex.
The WIRE was a voluntary organisation that provided activities, support and advice for children, young people and families in Littlehampton, West Sussex. Started as a direct result of the social and economic problems in the area, The WIRE quickly gained a reputation as a creative and vibrant project that responded to the real day-to-day needs of local residents through action and support. The project also worked closely alongside other agencies, and had a national and international influence as other areas sort to learn from its experiences of positive community development.
Further information of the RHUL Community Action Volunteering Awards Celebration 2007
The Student Volunteering England Gold Awards are the only nationally recognised awards where students’ achievements are honoured by their peers. As such, they are a prestigious mark of excellence in student volunteering. From unsung heroes to those who have defied the odds or shown remarkable leadership, each year, the Gold Awards reward a select band of special student volunteers. They are awarded in one or all of the three areas of Leadership, Dedication and Achievement.
