Royal Holloway, University of London, hosted Make a Difference Day on Friday 21 October.
Volunteers at The Community Cafe collaborating with the Runnymede Foodbank Team
Make a Difference Day 2022 encouraged students to get involved with volunteering opportunities available at the university, and to be part of its ever-growing volunteering presence in the local community. These opportunities involved the Community Café, the Tea Boat project, the Love in a Box appeal, and the Love Your Community Garden Club.
The Community Café collaborated with the Runnymede Foodbank Team at the Lit cafe, in Egham. Volunteers provided free tea, coffee and refreshments as they welcomed and hosted visitors.
Students who volunteered with the Tea Boat project helped construct new compost bins at the side of the Thames, as well as restoring the south towpath to help conserve local riverbanks.
Volunteers from the Varsity Debate team wrapped an impressive 68 shoeboxes with gifts donated by students and staff, for the Love in a Box appeal. The boxes, which will be distributed to vulnerable people in south-east Europe, were filled with toys, toiletries, colouring books, stationery, and items of clothing. The Love in a Box appeal is in collaboration with the university’s community partner, the Foundation for Social Change and Inclusion (FSCI).
Volunteers involved in the Love Your Community Garden Club taught young children about the importance of gardening and growing produce. They learnt how to plant bulbs, took part in vegetable painting and participated in autumnal-themed arts and crafts.
Phil Simcock, Volunteering Manager at Royal Holloway, said: “The purpose of Make a Difference Day is to introduce students to volunteering. It’s a one-day event, where participants can volunteer without any commitment in the future.
“It gives students a taste of what they can do in the volunteering sector and may lead to them participating more and making a genuine difference to the local community.
“The Community Café, the Tea Boat project, the Love in a Box appeal, and the Love Your Community Garden Club all helped to make a difference in our local community. We’d like to thank all our volunteers who took part.”
Royal Holloway Volunteering is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this academic year with more events to come in 2023. For more information visit Royal Holloway Volunteering.
