Students from Royal Holloway Volunteering have packed over 70 festive gift bags filled with donations from the university’s students and staff for local older people who are spending this Christmas alone.

The social action project saw students set up a socially distanced ‘Santa’s Workshop’ throughout November and December. The students packed festive bags which each included sweet treats, such as mince pies or a Christmas pudding, a small bottle of wine, a Christmas decoration and a Christmas card signed from the student volunteering team.

The gift bags were collected and distributed by the Egham Resident’s Association, The Village Centre in Englefield Green, Grove Court Retirement Housing and St John’s Church in Egham.

Royal Holloway students also donated gift bags to Merlewood Residential care home in Virginia Water.

Lisa Smither, Supported Living Manager, Runnymede Borough Council, said: “Thank you so much for thinking of our residents at Grove Court. The bags look great, so full of lovely gifts! We are really looking forward to delivering them as some of our residents have no families so this will be their only gift, other than the usual that they receive from us. They will be so happy.”

Luke Russell, Volunteering Coordinator at Royal Holloway, said: “It is fantastic to see that even in challenging times the Royal Holloway community has come together to help those in need. We are incredibly proud of our student leaders who coordinate these projects.”