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Celebrating Student Volunteering Week 2025

28 Mar 2025

Last month’s Student Volunteering Week saw the University and Students’ Union host an incredible five days of activities, including four volunteer days, six information sessions, and a ‘Get Into Volunteering’ fair. More than 200 students took part, making a real difference in the community.

Student volunteering

Our academic Schools also got involved, running five on-campus ‘Post Pals’ sessions, where students created cards and handmade gifts to send to children in hospitals across the country.

The Big Volunteer Day – A Community Success

The highlight of the week was Wednesday’s ‘Big Volunteer Day,’ where 100 students joined forces with Ardwick Climate Action to clean up the area around Kale Street, just a 10-minute walk from campus.

Students planted a new hedge, which will act as a carbon sink, provide a habitat for sparrows, and help reduce noise pollution. They also prepared the ground for new lavender plants, set to be added in the coming weeks.

The impact went beyond the environment—100% of surveyed students said the day had a positive effect on their mental health. One student shared:

"I even ended up speaking to some new people, and we're meeting for coffee tomorrow!"

Recognising Our Volunteers

Student Volunteering Week not only benefited the local community but also helped students build new connections and support their wellbeing. To recognise their incredible contributions, we sent out 6,240 University Thank You e-cards to celebrate their efforts in making a difference.

Get Involved

For staff interested in learning more about student volunteering, why not join our Student Volunteering Network (SVN)? We meet three times a year—usually over coffee and cake!