Volunteer of the Year

This Award recognises individuals who have committed themselves to a cause, activity, or event for the greater good of their society, University, or wider community. They have consistently dedicated their time and effort in a selfless manner to help others succeed in their goals, overcome challenges, and undertake tasks by making valuable contributions that have positive impact.

Do you know someone who is always the first to offer help? Within a society there's often someone who's always keen to get involve. Many society members dedicate their spare time to helping others both on and off campus; some volunteer with charities either fundraising or raising awareness, whilst others offer valuable support to those in need.

Only individuals can be nominated for this Award.

See an example of a great nomination:

As the 2020 Volunteer of the Year, Paige Ramsden's nomination is a great example of what the judges are looking for:

Paige Ramsden is a tour-de-force in every task she puts her mind to, with her work across multiple societies truly setting her apart and proving her dedication and commitment. A huge advocate for increased diversity in STEM, Paige’s position as Publicity Officer for WISE allowed her to increase the society’s presence, a feat she continues to strive for as their newly elected Chair. In the autumn, Paige organised the WISE Inspire! Event, which celebrated successes of women in STEM and allowed for communication centred around inclusivity in a positive setting. When WISE recruited another school for their Girls in STEM outreach programme she stepped up to become their main contact, providing weekly email updates so the school knew exactly what to expect from the upcoming workshops. As a tutor herself, she was also a constant contact for everyone volunteering. With PPS, she put a huge amount of work in, particularly as a volunteer for the National Student Space Conference. She always looks to help others and when she noticed an excess of food she contacted a homeless charity and donated the food to those in great need. Her work during the Conference was very impressive and integral to her successful campaign to be elected to the UKSEDS Executive Committee. She aims to use this position to advocate for inclusivity and champion outreach and diversity. Paige is an inspiring student and great role model for women in STEM, as evidenced by her efforts and achievements within the roles she has undertaken.

More strong examples can be found in the 2020 Shortlist brochure.