Collingwood Music and Art Outreach Projects
Collingwood College students worked with the Durham City Youth Project this year to raise the aspirations of young people who are more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds through music and art.
Volunteering Awards 2024
Volunteering Awards 2024
Thank you to everyone who made the Volunteering Awards 2024 such a huge success.
Read more about the evening here.
Best Cultural Effort
An award for a volunteering effort that has widened access and participation to arts and cultural activities.
Stephenson College Lunar New Year Schools Outreach Project
2024 WINNER
The Stephenson College students who worked on this project delivered three sessions across six local primary schools where they shared their language, culture, food, songs and dances, and Lunar New Year traditions with the pupils.
Zhihan Liu and Durham Global Schools
Zhihan has led Durham Global Schools (DGS) this year, a project that enables international students to go into local schools and talk about their home cultures. Zhihan and the DGS volunteers have also engaged with the Durham Global Alliance, the Durham Lights Festival, and events for Lunar New Year.
Best Educational Effort
An award for a volunteering effort that has increased educational opportunities and academic enrichment.
Code Club
2024 WINNER
Code Club teaches coding and programming skills to young children through their weekly sessions at Elvet Riverside and visits to local primary schools. Teaching children to code allows them to develop their problem-solving skills and think in ways they may not be taught in school.
Primary School Project
This is a Van Mildert College project that supports local primary schools that are struggling with understaffing and resourcing, it’s now in its 17th year of running! The students provide classroom and extra-curricular support, and expanded into their fifth school this year.
St Chad’s College School Visit Programme
St Chad’s College offers schools across the North East the opportunity to visit Durham University for a variety of personal development and university-related activities. This allows St Chad’s Students to engage with the local community and visiting pupils to get a look into university life.
Amanda Hayton
Amanda volunteers with Beamish Museum and assists in the delivery of various activities as part of the STEM event and young engineer project Crank It Up! She is passionate about sharing science and technology with the next generation of young people.
Megan R
Megan has been a co-opted school governor for the last five years, ensuring that children have a safe and outstanding education. She also volunteers as a Maths and Geography tutor.
Professor Simon James
2024 WINNER
For many years now Simon has used his passion for reading and English Literature to enrich the lives of inmates at a high security prison. He engages actively with inmates to discuss a wide range of literature, including novels and poetry.
Best Environmental Effort
An award for a volunteering effort that has made a positive impact and/or raised awareness for environmental and/or sustainability issues.
DUSVO Gardening Project
The Gardening Project offers both regular and one-off volunteering opportunities around Durham City, including maintaining church yards, gardening with Old Durham Gardens, and any other gardens in the city that need support.
Stephenson College Volunteering and Outreach
2024 WINNER
Stephenson students have committed to environmental volunteering this year. They’ve done monthly litter picks along the River Wear, two beach cleans, tree planting, support for St Cuthbert’s Christmas tree recycling scheme, and the delivery of environment outreach sessions.
Wade Bittleston and Dragon Park Project
Wade Bittleston and their team of University College volunteers have collaborated with the Gilesgate Residents Association to rejuvenate the Dragon Park area. The team have been clearing the ground and cutting back brambles and planting trees to improve the accessibility, sustainability, and appeal of the area.
Clare Collyer
2024 WINNER
Clare volunteers with Seascapes to clear rubbish off local beaches. She has taken part in individual beach cleans as well as team challenges with her department.
Jane Fullard
2024 WINNER
Jane is involved in daily litter picks and regularly volunteers with Seascapes to clean rubbish off local beaches. She does important volunteering to keep the county clean, rain or shine!
Best Health and Wellbeing Effort
An award for a volunteering effort that supports and promotes wellbeing and healthy lives.
Ella Maurici
Ella has volunteered on our Team Durham Junior Tennis Club for the last 2 years working with groups of children aged 3-8 years of age. She is passionate about health and wellbeing and introducing children to tennis and developing their skills.
Patrick Hughes
2024 WINNER
Patrick has been a volunteer with Parkinson’s Pals for the past two years, taking on the role of project manager in the 2023-24 academic year. He supports the organisation in raising awareness about Parkinson’s Disease to promote research and social acceptance.
Tobias Threlfall-Holmes & Joseph Ford
Tobias and Joseph volunteer with the Gilesgate and Belmont Wellbeing Project, who collect donated food and deliver it to residents who are struggling due to poverty or who appreciate a chat with a volunteer. They have been instrumental in combating food insecurity and loneliness in the local area.
Anna P. Judson
Anna has been volunteering with the Gilesgate and Belmont Wellbeing Project for nearly two years. The project collects donated food and delivers it to residents who are struggling due to poverty or who appreciate a chat with a volunteer.
Chris Walker
2024 WINNER
Chris organises two charity fun runs to raise money with the Yarm District Lions every year. The funds from these events go towards community grants to support initiatives such as swimming lessons and equipment for local schools and clubs.
Julie McIntyre
Julie has supported the Team Durham Holiday Sports Camps over the past few years, helping children learn to play Fives. Her support is greatly appreciated by the holiday camps staff team and children who have been involved.
Best New Volunteering Initiative
An award for a new volunteering initiative that has positively impacted the community.
Charlie Edwards
Charlie has volunteered with Age UK Culture Champions this year, a project that connects volunteers with elderly people who would like to visit museums or galleries but do not have anyone to visit with. By volunteering, he has been combatting loneliness in the local elderly population.
Durham University Scout and Guide Group
This year, DUSAGG expanded their annual Indoor event to include local Girlguiding groups. This event provided fun and challenging activities to Scouts and Guides.
Queer Awareness Project
2024 WINNER
This is a Van Mildert College project supporting a local school with LGBTQ+ awareness. Volunteers give assemblies queer history and good allyship, share resources, help teachers with LGBTQ+ specific safeguarding issues, and work with a sixth form pride group.
Warm Hearts
Warm Hearts supports the local NHS by providing services to uplift the morale of service users and create a sense of community. Eleanor James, their founder and project manager, is dedicated to supporting the NHS amid the widespread lack of funding.
Durham Mining Museum
The Mining Museum provides valuable insights into the lives of coal miners, the coal mining industry, and the social and economic impact of coal mining on the local communities. Staff volunteers have attended multiple sessions at the museum to create an archive and catalogue of these items.
Earth Sciences Team
2024 WINNER
The Earth Sciences team has done seven team challenges this year, including beach cleans, festive crafts, pebble painting for RT Projects (a local mental health charity), and socialising with cats and dogs at Stray Aid. This has been possible through the leadership of Sarah Richardson.
Langley Park Community Gardening
The Langley Park Community Garden volunteers have been assisting the garden’s team to rejuvenate an overgrown and unloved community garden back into a thriving and active space for community groups of all ages to enjoy.
Best Social Inclusion Effort
An award for a volunteering effort that has enriched the lives of people who are from traditionally socially isolated groups. For example, the elderly, the homeless, people living with disabilities and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Ellie Cumbley
Ellie has been volunteering weekly with Girls Friendly Society (GFS) in Chester-le-Street since she joined the university this academic year. GFS gives girls a safe space to have new experiences, feel valued, and be inspired.
Iesha Agnihotri
2024 WINNER
Iesha has been volunteering with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau in Spennymoor, which has seen a steep rise in need over the past two years. This organisation gives free and reliable advice to citizens on a wide range of issues.
Josephine Butler Intergenerational Project
Josephine Butler College works with Waddington Street Church to deliver monthly Intergenerational Project sessions. Students and older residents of Durham chat and build connections which decreases isolation and works to lessen the divide between students and locals.
234 (City of Durham) Squadron, Royal Air Force Air Cadets
RAFAC is a military youth organisation that a group of Durham University volunteers have devoted hundreds of hours to. They support the unit and encourage the development of the cadets by sharing their skills and passion.
Mrs Deborah Page
Deborah is a dedicated volunteer with the local Beaver (Scouts) group. She has used the staff volunteering scheme to support the administration, planning, and running of Beaver sessions.
Natalie Brown
2024 WINNER
Natalie has been involved in three different volunteering opportunities since 2017; SHOUT Mental Health Crisis Volunteering, Women’s Aid Community Ambassadors, and the Police Ethics Committee.
College of the Year
An award for a College who have shown continued commitment and dedication to making a positive impact on the community through volunteering.
Josephine Butler College
Josephine Butler College has continued running their Intergenerational project with Waddington Street Church. They also hosted its very first, and successful, volunteering day with over 50 volunteers getting stuck into a variety of opportunities and a special Christmas-themed intergen session.
Stephenson College
2024 WINNER
Students have done riverside and beach litter picks, befriended elderly residents at Sherburn House, and consistently supported St Cuthbert’s Hospice. They held a Cubs and Beavers day, ran the Brilliant Club, a Lunar New Years Project, and the staff team volunteered at DASH in December 2023.
Van Mildert College
Van Mildert Outreach has run six different volunteering projects this year, covering a range of areas including the environment, elderly people, refugees, LGBT+ education, and primary & secondary school children.
Longstanding Volunteer
An award for a volunteer who has shown inspiring levels of commitment and dedication to volunteering.
Flynn Edwards
Flynn is the Stephenson College volunteering student representative and has led the college through an impressive year of volunteering. The college has had a strong focus on environmental volunteering but has also run an intergenerational project with Merryoaks Community Hall and Lunar New Year volunteering.
Lottie Gravelsons
2024 WINNER
Having won Outstanding Newcomer in her first year, and Best Environmental Effort in her second, Lottie has demonstrated continued impressive dedication to volunteering at Durham University. She is in her second year as project manager of the Gardening Project.
Rosa Aziz
2024 WINNER
Rosa is a final year student who has volunteered with CATSS (Children Achieving Through Student Support) since her first year, completing over 250 hours of volunteering and achieving the Hall of Fame volunteering badge.
Amanda Hayton
Amanda is a longstanding volunteer with Beamish Museum, supporting the delivery of their activities as part of the STEM event and young engineer project Crank It Up!
Natalie Brown
Natalie has been involved in three different volunteering opportunities since 2017: SHOUT Mental Health Crisis Volunteering, Women’s Aid Community Ambassadors, and the Police Ethics Committee.
Stacy Porter
2024 WINNER
Stacy is a dedicated volunteer with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets and her local Beavers group, supporting the development of countless young people. She is also the chair of the County Durham Kinship Carers Groups, and is a passionate advocate for this cause.
Outstanding Newcomer
An award for a new member of Durham University, who has shown inspiring levels of commitment and dedication to volunteering.
Hyo Sung ‘Eric’ Jun
Eric has been involved in a variety of projects since the start of the year, including Lumiere, crafts, and three different Van Mildert projects. He’s involved in an impressive range of projects and is an example of commitment and reliability.
Nicolas Restrepo
Nicolas is a dedicated volunteer with The Auckland Project, commuting to Bishop Auckland twice a week. He has also actively encouraged his peers, including his fellow Archaeology course members, to get involved in volunteering.
Sakura Doody
2024 WINNER
Sakura is a first year at Stephenson College who has thrown herself into volunteering. She has gotten involved in Riverscapes litter picks, Seascapes beach cleans, and the college’s Intergenerational Project.
Sophie Smyth
Sophie has been a committed volunteer with Josephine Butler’s Intergenerational Project this year and was also involved in the college’s volunteering day. She has gone out of her way to get involved in volunteering, even joining another college’s project as it matched her interests.
Dan Theodorou
Dan uses the staff volunteering scheme to support the Bowburn Heritage Room, regularly visiting to catalogue their collection. He was an instrumental part of the volunteering team supporting their re-opening.
Nicola Candlish
Although not new to the university, Nicola has used the staff volunteering scheme this year to support Girlguiding, an organisation who she has long been involved with. She is currently UK Head of Contingent for Roverway (Norway) jamboree. This will see over 100 young people aged 16-22.
Sarah Richardson
2024 WINNER
Sarah has led the Earth Sciences team through seven team challenges this year, from dog walking to festive crafts. The team has done an impressive job this year under her guidance.
Team of the Year
An award for a team (e.g. sports team, society, department, college team, DUSVO project) who have shown continued commitment and dedication to making a positive impact on the community through volunteering.
Durham Nightline Training Officers
2024 WINNER
Bradley and Rowan have dedicated an impressive 800 collective hours to volunteering this year, both running and elevating Nightline’s training programme. This project plays a key role in supporting Durham University students who may be struggling.
Durham University Scout and Guide Group
DUSAGG volunteers dedicate countless hours to volunteering with young people, running weekly events and camping trips with Scouts and Guides. They have also run three large events this year: Midnight Madness, the Indoor event, and the Outdoor event.
International Study Centre
International Study Centre students have been involved in a variety of projects this year. This includes but is not limited to food bank support, dementia awareness training, fundraising, and supporting Daisy Chain.
Business School
The Business School have taken part in around 20 team challenges this year, which have included assisting Trimdon Community College, Seascapes (beach cleaning), working alongside the DUSVO gardening project, festive crafts, Feeding Families hampers, and Stray Aid.
Finance and Procurement
2024 WINNER
The Finance and Procurement team have been involved in a variety of volunteering projects this year, which includes foodbank volunteering, walking and socialising with cats and dogs, festive crafts, and much more!
Marketing
The Marketing team have been dedicated to volunteering this year, supporting our annual festive crafts, various mental health charities, providing media consultancy for a local community organisation, and much more.
Volunteer Leader of the Year
An award for a volunteer who has successfully led, developed and progressed a volunteering project or opportunity, to support the community.
Flynn Edwards
Flynn is the Stephenson College volunteering student representative and has led the college through an impressive year of volunteering. The college has had a strong focus on environmental volunteering, but has also run an intergenerational project with Merryoaks Community Hall and Lunar New Year volunteering.
José Stewart
José is the project manager of Code Club and has spent the last three years developing the project from a small weekly club in Elvet Riverside to a larger outreach project that visits local primary schools to teach children to code.
Summer Revely
2024 WINNER
Summer is the exemplary Outreach and Fundraising Officer for Van Mildert College. She has unfalteringly supported the college’s six outreach project leaders and their cohort of volunteers. She is invested in the outcomes of all projects and has also volunteered on the Young Person’s Project.
Jennifer Smith
Jennifer is a champion of volunteering within the business school, and regularly encourages her colleagues to volunteer. She has created a volunteering hub for the department, facilitating broader access to a variety of volunteering opportunities.
Paula Willerton
2024 WINNER
Paula is an incredible leader with the Finance and Procurement staff, liaising with a variety of parties to organise team challenges that suit everyone’s schedules and interests. She has gone above and beyond by offering lifts and arranging lunches for staff volunteers in her team.
Sarah Richardson
Sarah has led the Earth Sciences team through seven team challenges this year, from dog walking to festive crafts. The team has done an impressive job this year under her leadership.
Volunteer of the Year
An award for a volunteer who has gone above and beyond in their volunteering role, by supporting the community, developing personally and inspiring others.
Flynn Edwards
Flynn is the Stephenson College volunteering student representative and has led the college through an impressive year of volunteering. The college has had a strong focus on environmental volunteering but has also run an intergenerational project with Merryoaks Community Hall and Lunar New Year volunteering.
Myles Foy
2024 WINNER
Myles has devoted the past two years to increasing access to STEM education by supporting two Code Clubs in County Durham. He runs a Code Club out of a primary school in Chester-le-Street as well as supporting the one run out of Elvet Riverside at the university.
Rosa Aziz
Rosa is a final year student who has volunteered with CATSS (Children Achieving Through Student Support) since her first year, completing over 250 hours of volunteering and achieving the Hall of Fame volunteering badge.
Jennifer Smith
Jennifer is a champion of volunteering within the business school, and regularly encourages her colleagues to volunteer. She has created a volunteering hub for the department, facilitating broader access to a variety of volunteering opportunities.
Megan R
Megan has been a co-opted school governor for the last five years, ensuring that children have a safe and outstanding education. She also volunteers as a Maths and Geography tutor.
Miss Caroline Julia Adamson
Caroline dedicates every Monday night to coordinating and organising a Brownie group, supporting the development of young people in the local area. The group has flourished under her leadership.
Stacy Porter
2024 WINNER
Stacy is a dedicated volunteer with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets and her local Beavers group, supporting the development of countless young people. She is also the chair of the County Durham Kinship Carers Groups, and is a passionate advocate for this cause.