Across our network, students are working with local communities to create positive change. Student-led volunteering projects at our Hubs range from tutoring disadvantaged school pupils and running activity days for vulnerable children, to befriending isolated older people and supporting the homeless. In order to maintain and grow this work, we need your help.
Between now and 28th February, which marks the end of Student Volunteering Week, we are running a crowdfunding campaign. The £10,000 we hope to raise will enable us to support 20,000 volunteering hours for a wide range of local organisations, including schools, homeless shelters, children’s services and homes for older people.
These volunteering opportunities will generate over £130,000 worth of support in local communities, adding capacity to services and charities in high demand. Due to a lack of sustainable funding for social action of this kind, it is vital that we come together to support communities in need. With your help, we can continue to fill gaps in local provision and become more sustainable.
We know that when students are supported to tackle social challenges, both students and their communities benefit. High quality social action creates a double impact, as acknowledged by Step Up To Serve’s #iwill campaign, which aims to see an additional 1.5 million young people active in their communities by 2020. Further evidence for this dual benefit can be found in a recent report by the Behavioural Insights Team and the Cabinet Office, which highlights that ‘investment in social action in general leads to benefits for young people taking part as well as for the intended beneficiaries’.
Watch our video to hear more about the impact that student social action can make:
If you believe in what we are doing, please give what you can today. You could even enjoy a dinner at our sister social enterprise, the Turl Street Kitchen, or a night at the Tower House B&B in central Oxford, as a reward!