THE UNIVERSITY of Reading recognised a multitude of heartwarming initiatives at its inaugural Celebration of Volunteering Awards.
More than 150 students, staff, alumni and supporters gathered at the Whiteknights campus on April 27, to learn about the wide range of volunteering undertaken by members of the university community.
Nancy Mudenyo Hunt, a Reading honorary degree recipient, delivered an inspiring speech during the evening. She founded a charity to help people from her native Kenya get out of poverty.
Prof Robert Van de Noort, vice-chancellor of the university, said: “We have many volunteers in our university community, doing such a wide variety of volunteering roles. It was fantastic to come together to give these people the recognition they deserve.
“I was incredibly inspired to hear all of the volunteering stories and learn more about the impact these have on our surrounding communities.”
Organised in collaboration with Reading Students’ Union (RSU), awards were separated into six categories.
Staff volunteer of the year winners were Nathan Helsby, who runs a community choir and coaches for Whiteknights Football Club, and Gurinder Purewal, for encouraging vaccine uptake among faith groups and homeless people during the pandemic.
Ramandeep Nijjar and Juliane ten Hoevel picked up the student volunteer award for running Green Volunteers and Hedgehog Society, and tackling poverty through Wycliffe Baptist Church’s foodshare programme respectively.
Ramandeep said: “I’ve always loved volunteering. It allows me to make a positive difference, even if it’s just a small difference.
“It’s really lovely when you get to meet other people that have the same passion or interest that you do and you can collectively unite to make a bigger impact together.”
RSU Fundraiser of the Year went to Rizzy Burrow who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and raised more than £2,400 in the process.
A project which gives local primary school students a taste of university life called University of Monsters secured the Community Project award, while student project of the year went to Marrow – a student society that fundraises and recruits donors to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register.
The Alumni and Supporter Volunteer of the Year was shared between Jack Abrey, who narrates non-fiction books to blind and partially sighted children, Hilary Withey, for her work with ABC Nepal in supporting victims of trafficking, rape and domestic violence, and Clive and Sheila Paye, who collect litter of campus.
There were a total of 170 nominations, with all details available via the Celebration of Volunteering website.
An exhibition will also be on display in the foyer of the university’s library from May 2-5.
