The day consisted of lots of visits for the themed week of Student Civic Engagement, to projects in the area, including:

• Love Your Community, where the mayor and students collected litter from the surrounding area
• Age Exchange Reminiscence Project, which brings together local school children and the elderly to share stories and experiences. Supported by AGE UK and Manor Farm Day Centre
• Sing-Along Surrey, which helps to support the mental health and wellbeing of elderly people
• Royal Holloway Dance Society’s, Forest Estate Dance Club, which runs regularly at the Forest Estate Community hub in Egham.
• Royal Holloway’s Young Refugee tutoring project, which is the volunteering department’s oldest project and teaches English as a second language to young refugees.

The week helped to improve student wellbeing, develop their employability and contribute positively to civic life on and off campus.

Luke Russell, Community Action Volunteer Coordinator from Royal Holloway, said: “It was wonderful to have the Mayor of Runnymede spend so much time with us during our Student Volunteering Week.

“The national campaign aims to promote social action across the country and our students have been really keen to take part. They have been helping to clear rubbish, sing along with elderly people at care homes and tutoring young refugees.

“More than 150 students took part and we’re all very proud of them for dong such a great job.”

The Mayor of Runnymede, said: “It was an absolute pleasure for me to personally get involved in a number of Royal Holloway student volunteering initiatives.

“From litter picking to working with schools and the elderly. I think the volunteer students at Royal Holloway do an incredible job and really make a great difference to our local communities.

“I thank them on behalf of our wonderful borough.”

 Royal Holloway won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service last year.

Anyone wishing to help Royal Holloway’s volunteering department or learn more, can email  them for more information.