By Sophie Almack, Volunteering and Enterprise Communications Officer

Every year, we take the opportunity to thank our incredible student volunteers at our Student Volunteering Awards ceremony. Though we’re sad to say we couldn’t host our awards in person this year, we wanted to make sure we took time to recognise all of the amazing work our students have done – so we took our celebrations online! Last week, in National Volunteers’ Week, we shared the stories of some of the inspirational students who have given their time and skills to help the York community this year. These students were nominated for awards by local schools and charities, and whilst we couldn’t possibly share them all in one blog post, here’s a few of the fantastic volunteers who have helped to make a difference.

Our first amazing volunteer is Nikhita. Nikhita has carried out some wonderful work with Lollipop, a charity that supports people with hearing loss. She’s been supporting clients of the charity over Zoom and even fundraised for Lollipop during the 2.6 challenge! Nikhita is considered an inspirational volunteer by everyone both at Lollipop and the Volunteering Team and is absolutely deserving of a student volunteering award.

Another amazing volunteer featured last week is Harry, a York Students in Schools volunteer. Harry is always greeted by a chorus of children shouting his name whenever he arrives in the classroom, and for good reason! From encouraging male pupils to try drawing and other craft activities to keeping the classroom tidy, Harry is valued by both staff and students.

Next is Rachel who volunteers for York Carers Centre, a charity supporting carers and their families in York. She has taken the time to befriend a young carer, helping them improve their confidence. Rachel is still supporting the young person over Skype during lockdown and is a huge help to her and her family. 

The final volunteer we want to highlight is Emma, who’s spent over one hundred hours volunteering with SNAPPY, a charity specialising in supporting children and young people with special needs. Emma is a huge asset to the SNAPPY team and is valued by staff and clients alike. She’s a volunteer who’s dedicated to making a positive impact in the community. 

Everyone in the Volunteering Team and the wider Careers and Placements Service want to say a huge THANK YOU to every student volunteer for the amazing work you do in the community and beyond. Be proud of yourselves, because we’re proud of you!

If you want to read more about our amazing volunteers, you can meet all of the award winners and learn more about their stories on Twitter and Instagram.