Student Community Awards 2011 - nominate a student

Thursday, 17 March 2011

Students, (left to right) Sophie, Laura and Stacey help at the Ridgeline Trust Therapeutic Garden

Each year the University's Student Community Awards recognise the brilliant efforts of students who give up their spare time to help others. These unsung heroes help with local youth groups, organise fundraising activities for charities or carry out acts of kindness and generosity just because they see a need and want to help.

Nominations are sought from staff, students and members of the local community, so this is your chance to reward any students you may know who give up their spare time for others.

The nominations are all considered by the Student Community Awards committee and its members have the difficult task of choosing a winner, although all nominees receive well-deserved recognition for what they have done. The awards are presented at a small ceremony in May, to which all nominees and nominators are invited.

Committee member Peter Kayes, who is a local resident and Chair of Redlands/University Neighbourhood Action Group said: "In the past two years we have seen some wonderful examples of the contributions made by students and all the nominees have shown enormous generosity towards the local community. Their selfless actions are highlighted by the fact many of them gave their spare time towards a sustained commitment to helping others."

Last year Siobhan Burke, a second year English student, was crowned joint winner for single-handedly co-ordinated the Students' Union entry into the Reading Half Marathon raising over £5,000 for local charities, Autistica, Reading Single Homeless Project and ReadiBus. Susanne Durrant , in her fourth year studying German and Management, co-ordinated the town's Giving Tree Appeal involving the huge task of distributing over 3,000 Christmas gifts to underprivileged children, donated by local business and members of the public.

Mark Laynesmith, University Chaplain who also sits on the SCA committee, said: "You don't have to be the co-ordinator of a grand scheme or project to be recognised for one of these awards - each year we say a huge thank you to students who week in week out help out at local youth groups, with guides and scouts or other organisations in the area. These groups rely heavily on the regular commitment made by their student helpers and are very grateful for their lively and creative input."

Do you know a student who deserves one of these awards? Download a nomination form at www.reading.ac.uk/about/about-scaawards.asp or contact Ann Westgarth a.westgarth@reading.ac.uk / 0118 378 4479.

The closing date for nominations is 25 March 2011.