I first joined volunteering team to gain some experience related for my course and to fill in some spare time. I didn’t know at the time that I would come to love volunteering so much that it has been my second home during my university life! It was also one of the reason why I decide to stay in the university I attended. This is because I honestly didn’t find the “Forensic” course as good I mean it’s accreditation from the Forensic Science Society was pending when I started and I have now graduated and it is still pending. I was confused to what course to take in university but since I came to like Forensic Science I thought I should do it in a more well known university. But hey I’m glad I stayed I have met amazing people, some who I know are for keeps. Jennie  is one of them, my biggest inspiration. She was the volunteer service manager while I was at university. She is seriously  A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! From being a university mentor to a life mentor to a great friend and great role model! She built the Vteam from a small family to a great huge family with strong branches that grew, some of who are now rooted with the Vteam and help run the management. I could talk about her and the team all day long but I will save that for my other posts.

For now here are the highlights of my volunteering projects:

– Forensic Science workshops; from a small class of 25 students to 3 sets of 20 students in a one day.

– 3 Peaks Challenge

– Sky Dive

– Cultural Awareness Day

– Sleeping out for YMCA

– International Volunteering in an orphanage in Romania

 

Skills that I have gained:

– Public speaking

– Self confidence

– Risk Assessment

– Safe guarding

– Budgeting: I got £200 per year to use for all of my project.

– Team work

– Writing minutes

– Leadership

 

Awards I was presented:

2014 – Winner of Student Volunteer of the Year

2014 – Winner Volunteer Team of the Year; collectively volunteering for 632 hours, created 195 volunteer opportunities, fundraised £1095 for charity, led 35 projects in the community and 48 community volunteer projects

2014 – Winner of Project Leader Platinum Award; 274 hours of volunteering, created 78 volunteer opportunities, fundraised £493 for charity, led 11 projects and attended 20 community volunteering projects

2013 – Winner of Student Volunteer of the Year

2013 –Winner of Volunteer Project Leader of the Year

2013 – Diamond Plus Award: For outstanding contribution to volunteering: 132 hours of volunteering, raised £589 for charity, created 75 volunteering opportunities for students, attended 17 One Day Challenges.

2013 – Winner of Fundraising event of the year: Cultural Awareness Day for Casa Alianza raising £281.00

2012 – Achieved Event of the Year Award at UWL VAwards Ceremony

2012 – National Gold Awards for Leadership, dedication and Achievements in Volunteering