Community Events
Durham University Volunteering Events
Durham University Volunteering holds and supports many events throughout the year in partnership with local organisations. Scroll down to see the latest information about what community events are happening!
DUVO Festive Campaign 2024
Festive Volunteering success
Our Volunteering and Outreach Team are sending a heartfelt thank you, to everyone who has contributed to their successful festive campaign for 2024. The support of staff and student volunteers across three projects, Festive Food Drive, Festive Crafts and The Christmas Card Appeal, has enabled us to positively engage with 47 charities and organisations this Christmas.
Festive Food Drive
Throughout November, staff, students and community groups contributed food donations, to the annual Festive Food Drive, with the total collection weighing in at 1,233.07kg. Staff and Students from the sports centre at Queen’s Campus, Stockton, collected 217kg of donations alone. To put this achievement into context, this is the approximate weight of a Mini Cooper car!
In December, 25 staff and student volunteers, as well as 5 volunteers from Bowmer and Kirkland weighed, checked and sorted the donations for delivery to families supported by the Trussell Trust (foodbank), Feeding Families and A Way Out. These generous donations will allow the charities to make up food packs for 1,300 meals.
We would especially like to thank Durham Women’s Football Club, Park Run and Coxhoe United Football Team (Lioness Pinks) who all fully supported this drive by hosting collections.
Christmas Card Appeal
Building on the success of last year’s Christmas Card Appeal, which collected over 200 cards for delivery to residents of local care homes, the scheme was opened to departments and colleges. This year over 1,000 Christmas cards were written and delivered to 22 care homes. The care homes were incredibly grateful for these kind and thoughtful gestures.
Festive Crafts
Our Volunteers also supported local charities with their Christmas crafts and gift making projects, helping to make 1,300 bags of reindeer dust and 1,700 festive lollipops. These will be distributed by many of our charity partners including:
| St Cuthbert’s Hospice |
| Tiny Lives Trust |
| Willow Burn Hospice |
| St Oswald’s Hospice |
| Pittington Community Association |
| Beyond Limits |
| Durham Wildlife Trust |
| Durham Area Youth |
| Durham Gilesgate Primary School PTFA |
| Friends of Laurel Avenue Society |
| Groundwork NE & Cumbria – Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre |
| Feeding Families |
| Stray Aid |
| Friends of Durham Cathedral |
| Friends of Wharton Park |
| If U Care Share |
| Brandon and Carrside Youth and Community Project |
| NSPCC |
| Durham Area Disability Leisure Group |
| TCR Hub |
| Burnside Academy |
| Durham City of Sanctuary |
Charities and organisations are encouraged to utilise the crafts however would be beneficial for them. Anya from Durham City of Sanctuary highlighted ‘’Your team’s efforts to create these festive crafts are truly appreciated, and I’m sure they will bring a lot of joy to the children during the holiday season.’’
Christmas Card Appeal
Last year Student Volunteering started the Christmas Card Appeal this collected over 200 cards. This year the opportunity was opened to departments and colleges. A total of 1105 Christmas cards that have been delivered to 22 care homes. We were highly impressed with the time and detail people put into the cards. The care homes were incredibly grateful for these kind gestures. A special mention must be noted for Emma Allison who organised the collection this year.
The support of staff and student volunteers over this festive season has enabled the university to positively engage with 47 charities or organisations. A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you.
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For a full list of staff volunteering events, volunteering fairs and team challenges please visit our TeamKinetic calendar here.
For a full list of student volunteering events and opportunities please visit the student TeamKinetic calendar here.
