The Big Help Out is inviting people across the country to mark the occasion by signing up to volunteer in their communities. In Loughborough, the Scouts and some local community groups will be hosting a range of community-based activities including litter picking, painting planters, and more at the Village Green, Thorpe Acre.
Student volunteering at the University is led through LSU Action. Ellie Southern is the Action Community Lead. She said: “It’s great that the focus for the Coronation celebrations on bank holiday Monday is on volunteering, as that’s something we’re really good at here – last year we won a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee award for our local community support.
“We currently have more than 750 students involved in our Action projects, who have volunteered nearly 7,800 hours so far. I’d encourage anyone who’s been considering getting involved to get in touch and give it a go. There are around 50 projects running throughout the year, so there’s something for everyone.”
Staff are also encouraged to get involved, and there are details of the Supported Volunteering Policy available to view online.
In 2019, School of Social Sciences Lecturer Martha Wörsching was honoured for her contribution to the University with a University Medal. Martha is heavily involved in the Students’ Union Landscaping and Gardening Society (LAGS), continuing to support the group after her retirement. Martha is also part of the Loughborough Incredible Edible Project and the Loughborough Transition Community Allotment.
Reflecting on her volunteer work, Martha said: “I believe very much in the importance of volunteering, as it allows one to meet people from all walks of life, old and young, and we can all learn from each other.
“LAGS is a wonderful campus facility that would not have survived the pandemic if there had not been a very keen group of volunteers, and we are still enjoying our work with the students and making the garden a haven for all local residents to visit.”
Matt Youngs, Graduate Management Trainee at the University shared his experience volunteering as a Community First Responder (CFR) for the East Midlands Ambulance Service in a blog post last year. Matt said: “Whilst the prospect of voluntarily attending 999 calls is understandably not for everyone, I find it incredibly rewarding. I feel privileged to be that person walking into a room when someone has called in a moment of need.”
The Loughborough Sport Coach & Volunteer Academy (CVA) offers students valuable sport-based coaching, volunteering, and leadership opportunities to enhance their experience and personal development. Between September 2021 and August 2022, CVA volunteers logged over 62,000 hours of sports volunteering. You can read some of the volunteers’ stories on the CVA web pages. Members of the community can also get involved in the CVA Community Volunteer Programme by helping out at Loughborough Sport’s fixtures and events.
To get involved in the Coach & Volunteer Academy you’ll need to create an account on the volunteer management programme, the CVA Portal. If you have any queries, please contact cva@lboro.ac.uk.
The University Nursery will also be celebrating the coronation with a picnic for the nursery families on 5 May at 2pm. There will be a celebration parade, music and games.
To mark this historic event, Loughborough alumna Keziah Burt has recently completed a limited edition bust of King Charles III, and she is set to display in the Royal Tribute Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show at the end of this month.
Find out how you can volunteer as part of the Big Help Out and see what’s on in Loughborough to mark the coronation of The King.