THE UNIVERSITY of Reading has celebrated the hard work and impact of volunteers at a special awards event.
Students, staff, alumni and community supporters gathered for the annual Celebration of Volunteering awards, which took place at Whiteknights campus.
The event showcased the diverse ways members of the University community are making a difference in society, both locally and globally.
Among the winners was Jacob Jones, a second-year Primary Education with Music student who volunteers with Universal Voices children’s choir.
Jacob supervises the children, leads musicianship teaching and has also built the choir’s social media presence from scratch.
Mahnoor Fatima, a second-year Law student whose volunteering spans multiple organisations, also picked up an award. Mahnoor works with Mencap supporting individuals with learning disabilities, mentors disadvantaged students through CoachBright, and offers legal, financial and social advice through Citizen Advice.
An Alumni and Supporter Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Linda Hopper, an 83-year-old Education alumna who graduated in 1993.
Her work with the Kitega Community Centre in Uganda has changed hundreds of lives and her work has helped connect orphaned children with their extended families and producing reusable sanitary pads, has helped girls stay in school with dignity.
Cat Redding, CEO of Reading Students’ Union, won Staff Volunteer of the Year for co-founding Bracknell’s toy bank appeal.
The award came after, the initiative provided gifts to more than 175 children across 65 families who might otherwise have gone without over last Christmas
University of Monsters–a project that works with primary school children to introduce them to university life– took the Reading Students’ Union Project of the Year award.
It is led by War, Peace, and International Relations student Anson Wong.
Modern Languages student Isabella Harrington was given the Students in Schools Volunteer of the Year award after spending more than 148 hours volunteering at Coley Primary School
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Volunteer of the Year award went to Tharindu Liyanagunawardena, Digital Accessibility Officer, Women@Reading co-chair, and organiser of digital accessibility sessions for local charities; and Sahra Faqi, a Consumer Behaviour and Marketing student, Young Leader with The Brokerage, and volunteer with FirstGens.
Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Reading, said: “Our annual Celebration of Volunteering reminds us of the extraordinary commitment within our University community to helping others.
“The winners and nominees this year have shown exceptional dedication to causes they believe in.
“From supporting local schools to international development work, these volunteers extend our University’s positive influence far beyond campus. It is a privilege to recognise them with these awards.”
Details of all the winners, nominees and their voluntary activity can be found on the Celebration of Volunteering website.
