It has been a whole year since I wrote the first alumni digest in May 2020, and what a year it has been. Our network of students and staff have achieved so much, from bringing the Social Innovation Programme online to launching the 2020 Graduate Impact Survey to sending 150 Christmas cards to isolated older people. As always, here are some of the Student Hubs highlights that made my May!
Award winning students
May is definitely awards season – at least in the student volunteering world.
Cambridge Hub celebrated their third Vice-Chancellor’s Social Impact Awards. The Awards recognise outstanding students at the University of Cambridge. You can read more about the awards and meet all of the amazing winners on the Cambridge Hub blog. Meanwhile, in Southampton, the hub’s student leaders won a community impact award from SUSU.
Finally, we are incredibly proud of Winchester Hub’s Communications Officer, Rosanna Foster. Rosanna was a runner up at the National Student Volunteering Awards in the Opportunities for All Award, recognised for achievements in championing social issues amongst the Winchester student population and encouraging more people to engage with Winchester Hub.
Out in the community
As restrictions ease in the UK, we have been able to get out and about more in our local hub communities. In Southampton Hub, Branch Up days are in full swing. On 15 May they held a day led by Invent Plus volunteers including the student leaders being gunged, all in aid of their Gunge-raiser, raising money for future activity days.
In Winchester Hub, staff and students headed to the Carroll Centre for a day of painting. Sorcha Young, Winchester Hub Programme Manager, said “painting in the Carroll Centre was a lovely step away from the computer and back into the community! It was nice to interact with students in person again, and see our community partners in action.”
Social consultancy
Since March, 20 students in Bristol have been taking part in the Social Innovation Programme. The teams received training and support to deliver consultancy projects for local organisations. This round the briefs included a building proposal for Clevedon Aid, research for Help Feed Bristol, sales and branding advice for My Future My Choice and market research for Creative Tuition. Hear what one of our partners had to say about the teams’ presentations below.
I was blown away by the presentation… They were also dynamic and thorough; dynamic because they were able to take on board obstacles that came their way and move around them creatively and innovatively and thorough, so much so that the presentation has already meant that we can hit the ground running. It’s gone to the district council, it’s gone to the town council and it’s provided us (that have an 100% voluntary capacity) the opportunity to slow down and think about things in the midst of what we do. The team has been able to be our birds eye view and give us insight of that, which we’re incredibly thankful for.
In the spotlight
This month we want to put Isobel in the spotlight. Isobel (pictured bottom left) has been part of the Student Hubs family since August 2019. As Cambridge Hub Programmes Manager she has supported Impact Labs, the Social Innovation Programme, LinkAges, Edible Garden and the local committee as well as getting involved in lots of national projects.
Isobel has been instrumental in growing our alumni network, a community for students to join when they graduate. Thank you for your hard work, creativity and laughter Isobel – we’ll all miss you.
What to look out for
- In case you missed it we wrapped up our Spring Fundraiser raising a fantastic £1779.50
- Keep an eye on our socials in the second week of June for a celebration of all things Student Hubs alumni
- Cambridge Hub are supporting the Cambridge Climate Forum on 4 and 5 June, open to all