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6 Mar 2013

Prime Minister’s Big Society Award for º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Students' Action Group

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Students’ Action Group was founded in 1997.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Students’ Union is celebrating today (Wednesday 5 March) after learning its Action Group is the latest winner of the Prime Minister’s Big Society Award.

The Big Society Awards were set up by the Prime Minister in November 2010.  The aim is to acknowledge individuals and organisations across the UK that demonstrates the Big Society in their work or activities.  The Action Group has been honoured for harnessing the volunteering power of students to help community groups across º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ.

Commenting on the award Prime Minister David Cameron said: “We have seen through the National Citizen Service that once someone has tried volunteering they are likely to carry on giving their time.  That’s why the work º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Students’ Action Group does in helping a whole generation of local students make their first steps in volunteering is so important. Their commitment to involving the whole student community including international students with the local community is fantastic.

“By making volunteering the norm in their community Action has given thousands of hours of time to making a difference to local people and this Big Society Award recognises that.  I hope they continue to inspire even more people to get involved.”

The Action Group has been operating since 1997 and offers students volunteering opportunities ranging from one-off mass events like litter picking or making over a community centre, to regular sessions like a weekly soup kitchen or delivering reading support in schools.  During 2011-12 the group

  • had 2300 volunteers
  • contributed 19,000 hours of time volunteering worth £120,000
  • Raised over £70,000 to fund projects
  • Ran 36 regular projects and 150 one-off projects

Billy Marsh, Chair of Action said: “Winning this Big Society Award is indescribable – it’s something I’ve always believed in and I believe that Action embodies. There are a hundred and one reasons why people volunteer but at the end of the day, we like to think that our volunteers do it because they genuinely care.”

Congratulating the Action Group Professor Robert Allison, Vice Chancellor of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ commented: “This is great news for º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ and º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Students’ Union.  Year after year the Action Group volunteers quietly go about their outstanding volunteering work supporting many different projects and groups across º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ.  We know they are tremendously valued locally for the work that they do but recognition at a national level is wonderful for all involved.”

Action were nominated for the Big Society Award by local MP, Nicky Morgan who has seen Action’s work first-hand after attending a number of events and volunteering herself at their first soup kitchen project in October 2011.  She said: “I am thrilled Action has won this award. They do such wonderful work in our local community and they have helped so many people in º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ – we are very lucky to have them all. Each and every one of them deserve this award. Congratulations to the whole team!”

Each year º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ acknowledges the contribution student volunteers make to the local community by presenting the TS Shipman and Hannah awards.  The presentations for this year will take place in May at a celebration event to be held at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Town Hall.

−ENDS−

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 13/32

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It was awarded the coveted Sunday Times University of the Year 2008-09 title, and is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in national newspaper league tables. In the 2011 National Student Survey, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ was voted one of the top universities in the UK, and has topped the Times Higher Education league for the Best Student Experience in England every year since the poll's inception in 2006. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, the University has been awarded six Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

It is a member of the 1994 Group of 11 leading research-intensive universities. The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching. Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience.

Contact for all media enquiries

Alison Barlow
Senior PR Officer
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ
T: 01509 228696
E: A.J.Barlow@lboro.ac.uk