THE UNIVERSITY of Reading has laid out a number of events taking place on campus this Christmas to help connect it to the community and support residents.
The Santa Run, organised by Reading Rotary Club, saw the Whiteknights Campus beset by Santas on Sunday, December 10.
Five hundred runners took part to raise funds for three charities: Starting Point, Reading Community Learning Centre, and the Rotary Benevolent Fund.
It was the second year the event took place at the university, and this year additional funding from the University’s Community Fund meant that Santa suits were provided for those taking part.
This year the institution is teaming up with The Giving Tree, a campaign to help organisations and businesses work with charities to help residents in need run by Connect Reading.
For the second year, the university has been partnered with the Royal Berkshire Hospital, which means it will be providing gifts to children and young people in hospital during the Christmas period.
It hit its target of providing 150 presents, with 164 gifts from both staff and student donations now destined for the wards.
The Students’ Union also hosted a Christmas dinner event for the community on Tuesday, December 12.
Students were joined by residents for the dinner and invited to take part in decorating gingerbread and a screening of classic Christmas movie Home Alone.
It ran alongside jointly-hosted afternoon tea events in Woodley, a two-course lunch and quiz combo in Whitley, in collaboration with Whitley CDA, among others.
Molli Cleaver, Community Engagement Manager at the University of Reading, said: “It is great to see the University engaged in so many community-based Christmas activities.”It wonderful for us to connect with those beyond our campus and help to build positive relationships between both our staff and student body and residents in the local area.
“It was wonderful to host the Reading Rotary Santa Run again this year and to welcome so many people to our campus for this festive event that raises vital funds for local charities.”
