University students who give up hours and weeks of their free time volunteering in the community have been honoured at a special awards ceremony.
More than 130 students attended the ceremony at the Queen’s Hotel in Southsea to see 25 people given recognition for their voluntary work.
Recognition: the awards lined up at the ceremony
One student, Dawn Williams, 24, gave up 250 hours of her time volunteering in a police custody suite as an appropriate adult when juveniles were being questioned. She is studying for her MSc Forensic Psychology and was working for young people’s charity Motiv8.
Other students worked for charities, theatres, clubs, small organisations and at sports events across Portsmouth.
It is the first time the University and Students’ Union have joined forces to celebrate the achievements of students who volunteer their time and skills to the city.
The University’s employability department, Purple Door Careers and Recruitment, rewarded 13 volunteers. The Students’ Union winners highlighted the diverse opportunities taken up by groups and individuals, and Up For Sport volunteers rewarded those who volunteer their time in the city as coaches in dance, rugby and cheerleading.
Alice Hickman, the University’s volunteering officer, said: “I am so pleased with how the awards ceremony went and that so many students turned out to support their friends who give so much back to the local community.
“It was humbling to hear how many students choose to freely give their time and make such great contributions. The diversity and range of activities is quite staggering.”
