LSU Action provides volunteering opportunities for students and staff at Loughborough University to ‘give back’ to the local area. It continuously works across 38 projects in addition to weekly ad-hoc requests, with projects ranging from social support, education and outreach initiatives to sustainability work, all led by students from across all years and disciplines.
The initiative – which has been running for 25 years – regularly exceeds 10,000 hours’ worth of volunteering each academic year, and during the 2021/22 academic year there has been over 750 active student volunteers. Some of the most impactful projects include:
- ‘Covid Community Champions’: This project supported Loughborough University with the provision of vital supplies to students who had to self-isolate during the Covid-19 pandemic. Student volunteers delivered parcels, printing, textbooks, sanitary products as well as prescriptions for students unable to leave their accommodation. In total LSU Action helped 2,000 self-isolating students.
- A weekly intergenerational event where students and local nursery children visit elderly residents at Abbeyfields Care Home in Loughborough to connect through music, song, and dance.
- The Ukraine Hardship Appeal, where over a metric ton of non-perishable foods, bedding, clothes and sanitary products were donated by staff and students to families in Ukraine displaced by the ongoing conflict.
Mike Kapur, the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire awarded LSU Action and 69 other organisations with the accolade, with each one representing a year of Her Majesty The Queen’s reign.
Jodie Evans, Action Chair for LSU said: “We are extremely grateful to be recognised as a section for the hard work our student volunteers have done, not only this year but over the past 25 years which Action has been established. I am consistently overwhelmed by the generosity, enthusiasm and dedication our volunteers show year on year. This award is a true honor and I believe all volunteers who have been involved in the section will be incredibly proud of themselves!”
Mr Kapur commented: “I would like to congratulate all the award winners and nominees. In recent times, we have experienced unprecedented and extraordinarily difficult times and yet throughout, it has been wonderful to see schools, businesses, volunteer and community groups across the city and county have remained unwavering in the commitment to making a big difference in their local communities. I’m delighted to shine a spotlight on the outstanding work that takes place and would like to thank everyone who took the time to make a nomination.”
Find out more about the initiatives of LSU Action through their dedicated webpage.
LSU Action will be presented with their award later this year by a Deputy Lieutenant on behalf of the Lord-Lieutenant.