By Robert Van de Noort
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the University’s inaugural Celebration of Volunteering awards.
The event brought together students, staff, alumni, supporters, and members of the local community to recognise and celebrate the wide range of volunteering work being undertaken by members of the University community.
A joint initiative with Reading Students’ Union, the Celebration of Volunteering recognises the impact that can be made when people volunteer their time to help others and support community-based projects.
I was immensely proud to see the deserving winners for each category accept their award. But it was also incredibly inspiring to learn more about each of the nominees, of whom there were many, and learn about the various ways the University community is helping to make a difference.
We heard about people who are running community choirs, coaching youth football teams, helping fight period poverty, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Others are narrating books for blind and partially-sighted children, giving primary school children a taste of university life and cleaning up our neighbourhoods by organising litter-picks.
These are just some examples of the types of volunteering activity taking place in our community. If you want to be really inspired, head to our Celebration of Volunteering website at https://www.reading.ac.uk/about/local-community/volunteering-awards to read all of the nominations.
While we are on the topic of volunteering, applications for our Community Fund have recently opened, giving University colleagues the opportunity to apply for funding grants to support projects they are involved with either as part of their job, or in a voluntary capacity.
Over the last two years, this has seen funding being awarded to projects in Reading, including coaching and equipment for a mixed-ability rugby team, providing vital supplies to a homeless charity and supporting a multilingual storytelling project in local nurseries.
This year, we have extended the boundaries of the scheme so that projects across the Thames Valley can benefit. In doing so, we hope to have an even greater impact in our surrounding communities, at a time when many are in need of extra support.
The deadline for applications is June 30.
I am not the first to say it, but as one who has seen the benefits and encourages our community of students and staff to get involved, it is clear that volunteering really does make a difference. Giving just some of our time to help support worthwhile causes can genuinely make a difference in someone else’s life. The more we all do this, the greater the impact we can collectively have in creating fairer, more equal societies. And I am sure those rewards speak for themselves.
If you’re now feeling inspired, the Big Help Out is launching on May 8. To mark the Coronation, organisations across the country are joining together to give everyone an opportunity to help out in our local communities. Whether it’s an hour or a day you have to spare, or maybe even something more regular, I’m sure it will have a positive impact and be much appreciated.
Professor Robert Van de Noort is the vice-chancellor of the University of Reading
