Royal Holloway, University of London, hosted the Festival of Volunteering on Wednesday 21 September, during the university’s Welcome Week.

The festival, which took place within Founder’s Square, was launched by the Mayor of Runnymede, Margaret Harnden and sponsored by Challenges Abroad, a charity that supports community development in some of the poorest regions of the world.

The all-day event encouraged both students and staff to get involved with volunteering opportunities available at Royal Holloway, and to be part of the university’s ever growing voluntary presence in the local community.

The festival had many voluntary activities available for students to sign up to including community action, social action, community research, volunteering abroad, in association with Challenges Abroad, and sports volunteering.

On the day, there were 16 student led projects to sample, such as the community garden, where a team of volunteers take care of a garden and are part of many events including planting, how to DIY your own greenhouse and how to make your own plant hangers. Other projects included Thames 21, where students can reconnect with nature by improving the state of the river through activities such as litter clear up. There were also 42 community partner organisations such as British Art Foundation and Guide Dogs UK in attendance.

Phil Simcock, Volunteering Manager at Royal Holloway’s said: “We’re delighted to be back hosting the Festival of Volunteering here at Royal Holloway after a couple of years absence due to the pandemic.

“Volunteering has always been at the heart of the university and it’s wonderful to see how enthusiastic our students and staff are to take part and help the local community. We’re hoping the festival will encourage more sign ups and showcase our fantastic and inspiring work that has been achieved.

“We’re very proud and grateful to work with some incredible charities and continue to grow our network of fantastic organisations over the years.”