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19 Feb 2007 13:22:04
Students at the University of Bedfordshire will be helping in the community next week as part of the national Student Volunteering Week campaign.
The campaign, organised by Student Volunteering England, runs from Monday 26 February until Friday 2 March 2007, to raise the profile of all the valuable work students undertake in the community.
More than 550 students are registered as volunteers across the Bedford and Luton campuses, helping a range of organisations including hospitals, schools, the Youth Offending Team, the Red Cross and promoting health and well being in deprived communities with the Primary Care Trust.
Community Projects Co-ordinator, Andrea Thorogood, said: “Volunteering week is important in highlighting all the hard work students’ contribute to their community, as well as trying to recruit more volunteers.
“Volunteering is invaluable as students meet some amazing people, build up contacts, develop new skills and gain invaluable work experience, which enhances employability when they graduate, plus it’s fun and enjoyable.
“We also encourage students to get into volunteering as it’s something worthwhile outside of their studies and promotes good relations between the University, the Students’ Union and the local community.”
The campaign gets underway early on Wednesday, 21 February. Students will be helping to re-model Pirton Hill Junior School’s garden in Butely Road, Luton, into a fresh and exciting area for pupils to play.
On Monday, 26 February, students will be going into schools around Herts, Beds and Bucks, to collect books for children in Tanzania to help improve their reading skills, to educate them about the risks of HIV and AIDS.
The University of Bedfordshire is one of five universities involved in the Tanzania Book Project appeal, which aims to collect 25,000 textbooks, under the umbrella of the charity, READ (Recycling Education Allowing Development) International.
The country is the 11th poorest in the world with 1.6 million people living with HIV and AIDS. Research has shown that educating people about the risks can reduce the number contracting HIV to less than 50 per cent. But with only one book shared among five children, it is difficult.
Students will also be fundraising during the week to raise £8,000 to cover all the costs of collecting the books and shipping them to Tanzania.
On Wednesday 28 February students can learn about the range of volunteering opportunities available to them at a Make a Difference exhibition which will include stands from 25 organisations.
They can also attend a professional Conference to learn about graduate opportunities in the health and social sector. Speakers include the Head of the Children’s Service at Luton Borough Council, Tim Skinner, and Chief Crown Prosecutor from the Criminal Justice System, Richard Newcombe.
For further information visit www.careers.beds.ac.uk/volunteer
Latest news» 2007» Feb» Students make a difference during volunteering week
