The National Societies and Volunteering Awards 2023

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The National Societies and Volunteering Awards 2023

r o g r a m m e

#NSVAs2023

2-5PM

Development afternoon including sessions with Nick Smith Consulting, the UPP Foundation and Student Hubs.

6-6:30PM

Welcome to the Awards. An opportunity to mingle with other guests.

6:30-7PM

You'll be invited to take your seats as we welcome you formally to the Awards.

P7PM

The buffet will open.

7-9PM

Our judges will present the Awards. You can read more about each longlisted nomination in this programme.

The Awards

The National Societies and Volunteering Awards recognise the contributions of student volunteers and student-led societies from UK higher and further education institutions. This year Student Hubs are hosting the awards, after 15 years of supporting students to engage with social action we are so excited to be celebrating the achievements of the 2022/23 cohort!

Thank you for joining us to celebrate, thank you to our judging panels for sharing their expertise, thank you to Reading Students' Union for hosting us and thank you to our wonderful Awards hosts: Catherine Taplin-Thorpe and William Westgarth from Student Hubs.

SPONSORED BY

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#NSVAs2023
Nick Smith Consulting

The Collaboration Award

Recognising those that have worked alongside others to achieve something special, the collaboration award celebrates students who have worked together, across different groups or teams. We know that collaboration takes work, time, and dedication, but can have a huge impact.

The longlist

Entrepreneurs Society and Computer Science Society, Exeter Students' Guild - This collaboration organised the largest hackathon event in the South West, with opportunities for around 120 students to showcase their abilities.

The Elevate NI Committee, Queen's University Belfast - The computing society committee ran the first ever student conference with 70 attendees covering topics from Disability and Inclusion to Game Design.

Film and TV Society, UCL Students' Union - The society collaborated with TeamUCL's sports community to promote, highlight and stream London Varsity 2023. Ultimately achieving 38,000 views on their promotional material.

Engineers without Borders, University of Glasgow - The Sustainability in Engineering Conference in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde aimed to address problems within the curriculum.

Salsa and Bachata Societies, Northumbria and Newcastle universities - The two society committees came together for a year of socials and activities, supporting their members to make lifelong friends across different institutions.

The March for All, University of Essex Students' Union - The peaceful demonstration was held in solidarity with all victims of sexual violence and harassment. 31 diverse marchers came together for the event.

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The shortlist

Audrey Lo, University of Bristol

Audrey has connected with the local community in her role as Bristol Hub Campaigns Coordinator The judges said "A great facilitator of collaboration, clearly they have a real strength in bringing people together to make change Great legacy in this work and impressive examples of working with those who are underserved."

The Charity Showcase, Essex University Students' Union

Oluwanifemi Wilson-Adu, Kieran Phillips, Edward Lee, William Tennison, and Dorothy Akuamoa produced the first ever charity showcase, highlighting local charities and raising vital funds The judges said "An impressive project which will hopefully flourish into something even bigger each year An innovative way of connecting social issues and creativity to make change."

RAG and Paramedic Society, University of Worcester Students' Union

The societies ran a 24 hour CPR training marathon and fundraiser The judges said "A unique idea to raise money for an important cause whilst sharing life saving expertise and knowledge with the university community. We were blown away by the impressive impact of this nomination and this is a great example of collaboration which should be shared with others as best practice."

Exeter Labour Society, Exeter Students' Guild

The Labour Society have collaborated with 16 societies this year through activism, events and debates The judges said "Impressive ability to collaborate with people from across the political spectrum - both within the university and in the local community. Appreciated the openness in bringing together all societies and individuals with an interest, regardless of their views."

One Health Bristol, University of Bristol

This society brings together students from different disciplines with an interest in environmental health The judges said "Great reach across students with different medical interests and focuses - it is commendable to bring such a wide range of people together successfully. This initiative will have a long lasting impact and the aim to reach people who are typically underserved is impressive."

Notts Oscars Awards, Nottingham Trent Students' Union

Five societies came together to host the Awards, celebrating their shared passions The judges said "A great example of five societies coming together to host a student-led event they are passionate about - the enthusiasm which went into it is commendable! An impressive use of the resources and skills available to them to achieve success despite the issues faced "

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The Community Award

Recognising those individuals, societies, or projects that have had positive, meaningful impact on a wider community. For this award, the community could be the student community in their university or college, or the local, national, or international community.

The longlist

Discovery Project Coordinators, Swansea University - The project coordinators recruit and support students to get involve in the community. They coordinate activities, create resources and facilitate social groups to support the volunteers.

Mentorship Subcommittee, In2MedSchool - The subcommittee works to support aspiring medical students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue this dream. To achieve this they support a team of 74 volunteers to get out in the community.

Clubbing Crew, University of Sheffield - Students connect with adults with learning disabilities at Students' Union club nights. They have lots of fun at the parties which often include karaoke and games.

Rosie Waspe, University of Essex Students' Union - Rosie founded the Poetic Legacies project which allows students to come together to create poems, express themselves and make friends. This year they have worked shared a monthly anthology of poems with people at the local hospital.

African and Caribbean Society, University of Oxford - The society has delivered four outreach initiatives to support over 100 students across the UK with their aspirations to study at Oxford.

Refugee Teaching Project, University of Essex Students' Union - Volunteers provide English lessons to refugees. They have 37 active volunteers and reach at least 25 individuals per session.

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The shortlist

Jayden Bookout, Royal Holloway University of London

Jayden is involved in a wide range of activities, logging around 350 hours of community support The judges said "This application shouts community! Acts as an example for other individuals and institutions moving forward Struck a balance between impact, innovation and passion, demonstrating truly meaningful work. The care taken in this application shows the impact Jayden has made."

Imogen Arden Jones, St John's College Cambridge

Imogen has volunteered with the Cambs Youth Panel supporting their mission to platform young voices The judges said "Clear example of passion, dedication and tenacity A very strong nomination from an individual with big impact across a variety of initiatives, and a clear commitment to community as a medical student."

Crafts Society, University of York

The Crafts Society promotes creativity and this year collaborated with Changing Lives, a national homeless charity bringing crafts to the wider community The judges said "Sounds like a fun, inclusive and warm place to be. Amazing that it not only benefits the student community but has also been taken out into the local community."

Zero Food Waste, UCL

The project diverts food from landfill across the University

The judges said "A great blend of promoting sustainability and impacting community The way in which they work with different providers is smart, stands out and should be shared across institutions as a way this work benefits university strategy. A lot of potential going forward and a project that is definitely going to grow."

Education for Choice, UCL

The group led by medical students provides workshops to local secondary schools to educate young people on abortions, contraception and other related topics The judges said "We were impressed with the strength of impact and tailored approach to ensure attendees got the most out of sessions. A brave approach to tackling a sensitive topic head on with professionalism and pragmatism."

Cultural Welcome Project, University of Essex Students' Union

The project has distributed over 1250 copies of a booklet supporting international students to better understand British slang and culture. The judges said "A very unique concept and a great example of practice to be shared across institutions both in terms of co-design, development and delivery. Impressive amount of awareness raised so far, definitely a lot of potential moving forward "

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The Committee Excellence Award

Recognising the teamwork and achievements of a committee of a society or volunteering project. This award is for those outstanding teams who work together effectively, perhaps have overcome difficulties as a committee or have just been outstanding this year.

The longlist

EcoSoc, The SU (Exeter and Falmouth universities) - This society supports 204 members to gain experience in ecology and related areas. This year they have run 175 events including the BioBlitz which supported the local community to learn more about nature.

Islamic Society, Greenwich Students' Union (the Hub) - The Islamic Society facilitates opportunities for students of faith from a variety of cultures. This year they delivered Iftar, bringing together students for prayer, food and socialising.

VAST Society (Video Game, Anime, Sci-Fi, Tabletop), Kingston University - This society with over 300 members is run by a small team of seven people. Their activities include a regular safe and welcoming social space specifically for those from underrepresented backgrounds.

BSU Basketball, Bath Spa University SU - For the first time the men's basketball team has played competitively. The team came together when their coach was subject to sexist comments with the 'Her Game Too' event, highlighting the need for safe spaces in sports.

Epigram, University of Bristol - Epigram is a student publication which despite a challenging year has been able to thrive. This year they led the conversation on Bristol's links to slavery through their award-nominated documentary.

CHAOS, University of Bristol - CHAOS works with the Physics Department, SU, industry partners and other societies to give their members the opportunity to share their passions, try new things and meet likeminded people.

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The shortlist

Art Society, University of Huddersfield

Art Society has run 13 events focusing on inclusion, wellbeing and employability for their 295 members The judges said "Art Society has really shown clear evidence of the impact they’ve had together and how well they’ve worked together The culture and environment they’ve intentionally curated is something all societies should strive for."

Sheffield PLAN, University of Sheffield

The society aims to bridge the gap between university and careers for LGBT+ students The judges said "We felt Sheffield PLAN has shown a lot of impact and future potential for a committee that was only started in September 2022! Their mission and vision is clear and it’s impressive they’ve held 11 events already this academic year. This was only possible due to the effectiveness of the committee."

Women in STEM, University of Essex

This society has the vision of providing a supportive and uplifting environment for under-represented individuals in STEM This year they have supported 55 members with a huge variety of events The judges said "The breadth of activities run by this committee is admirable and the effort the committee have put in to have a positive impact on its members was noted by the judges."

Southampton Hub, University of Southampton

The Hub committee deliver six volunteering projects engaging 168 students and supporting 702 members of the community The judges said "They were able to show very clearly the evidence of the impact of their activities this year, and how they had tailored the way they worked together to alter offerings to better support their members to get involved in a wide range of volunteering."

The Volunteering Exec, University of Essex Students' Union

The Exec is a new initiative to represent the views of student volunteers They led the 'Essex Got Talent' show, a fundraiser with 450 attendees The judges said "The Volunteering Exec have achieved so much in the space of one year, and the teamwork they showed was really clear in their nomination. We’re excited to see how this initiative grows next year."

Strathclyde Book Club, University of Strathclyde

The book club hosts weekly meetings, bimonthly bake sales and runs a free book library The judges said "We felt Strathclyde Book Club went above and beyond this year in its activities offering and deserve recognition for not limiting themselves by taking a more intersectional approach to their events " #NSVAs2023

The Development Award

Recognising outstanding development opportunities created through student volunteering and societies. We want all volunteering and society involvement to give students chances to develop confidence, new skills, and have new experiences. These will help students grow and to achieve their full potential.

The longlist

LEX Law Society, Nottingham Trent Students' Union - The Law Society creates opportunities for members to build confidence, gain new skills and achieve their potential. This year they hosted their first networking dinner for students and professionals in the legal field.

Engineering Design Society, University of Bristol - This society enriches student experience for STEM students through weekly talks, networking events, external speakers, outreach events at local schools and coffee mornings.

Exeter Entrepreneurs Society, Exeter Students' Guild - This society has put on the ExCode event to develop students' coding capabilities, facilitated a mentorship programme and delivered workshops and events with external speakers.

Sexpression, Exeter Students' Guild - Sexpression develops their members' skillsets so that they are able to deliver sex education workshops across Devon. This includes training weekends consisting of six hours covering how to facilitate the sessions, and child protection training.

Exeposé, Exeter Students' Guild - Exeposé is a student newspaper which supports its members to build their writing, proofing and editing skills. The reporter scheme, launched this year, aims to create a wide group of news and exhibit reporters providing more opportunities for members to get involved.

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The shortlist

Women and Law Society, Exeter Students' Guild

The society have hosted a series of workshops from networking to interview skills to Linkedin The judges said "We were really impressed with the dual focus of this society and the ways they have innovated their offerings to ensure students with a wide range of backgrounds and interests were supported to engage and participate."

NTU Events, Nottingham Trent Students' Union Events Society is run and operated by students from the Confetti campus, which has historically been less engaged due to distance from the main campus The judges said "NTU Events is a great example of how opportunities can have an impact for both society members but to other students too The judges really liked how innovative their vision is by mimicking real world client relations."

Cosplay Society, University of York

Cosplay Society has worked extremely hard to provide a safe space open to students from all backgrounds The judges said "Cosplay Society has shown how to offer a wide range of development opportunities in a society that is very broad and reaches many different students. The growth of their community is very impressive and it’s great to see how supportive the environment is."

UCL Leaders, UCL

The UCL leaders conference brings together current and future leaders in areas such as Business, Art, Technology and Politics The judges said "UCL Leaders put on an exciting event which not only had a range of development during the conference, but follow on opportunities for both students at UCL and students internationally."

Strathclyde Speakers, University of Strathclyde

This group facilitates workshops to remove the barrier between students and speaking coaches The judges said "They offer very clear opportunities for personal and professional development We were very impressed in how the programme was designed and delivered, and how much has been achieved in the time it has been running. We can’t wait to see how the programme develops."

Spanish and Latin American Society, UCL

This society has successfully grown their membership by 11%, offering a wide range of events open to all. This year they have implemented a new committee structure and improved their Spanish class offer. The judges said "We felt Spanish and Latin American Society have shown how a society with a niche interest can provide a range of novel opportunities with clear development goals "

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The Event Award

Recognising a brilliant event organised by a society or volunteering team. This event doesn’t have to be largescale with a huge budget. We are just as interested in smaller scale events – as long as they made a difference to attendees. We’re looking for real innovation and a fantastic experience for attendees.

The longlist

iNUGSC 2023, UCL - This is the UK’s largest student-led surgical conference. Over 400 attendees joined the 2 day event which included world renowned international speakers Dr Jeelani and Dr Swee Chai Ang.

LGBTQ+ History Month Ball, University of Bristol - The ball had over 150 attendees and included vegan food, a photobooth, a jazz orchestra, a DJ and a raffle raising money for Bristol Refugee Rights. As well as a celebration, the event raised awareness of notable icons from LGBTQ+ history.

Holi Celebration with Dundee University Indian Society, University of Dundee - This year’s festival brought together more than 500 people to enjoy food, a DJ and access to coloured powder and white t-shirts. The aim was to build community and connect cultures.

Bristol Chinese Students' and Scholars' Association, University of Bristol - The spring festival marketplace celebrated the 2023 Chinese New Year and was open to all students and staff at the University. Over 400 students joined the celebrations.

The Midnights Release Party with Taylor Swift Society, Exeter Students' Guild - The Taylor Swift society ran a Midnights release party with a quieter listening section for the first hour, before a club event. This ensured all members would enjoy themselves.

The Big Geek Fundraiser, Edge Hill University - The Big Geek Fundraiser included 15 stalls and gaming tournaments including cards and Super Mario Brothers. It raised £680 for the Proud Trust.

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The shortlist

Nutrition Society, Roehampton Students' Union

The blue poops event saw the society deliver a presentation on gut health, including baking blue muffins to better understand how long food takes to travel through our bodies! The judges said "Though a new initiative, this is incredibly unique and more than just a fun activity There is tremendous potential to hold bigger events and impact other institutions going forward"

SWOT Fashion Show, Queen's University Belfast

The SWOT fashion show showcased 19 dances by more than 80 medical students, raising money for fourth years to distribute amongst their elective hospitals 900 people attended the event and they raised £22,500 The judges said "This event engaged an incredible amount of people and raised a lot of money for a worthy cause, exemplified by the fact this event is not a core part of their society."

Trashion Show by Fashion Forward Society, University of Bristol

A sold out event with over 20 designers creating and showcasing styles made from recycled materials The judges said "The Trashion Show was an incredibly innovative event and we loved that sustainability was at the heart of it. Its impact goes way beyond awareness raising of sustainability by also supporting students to get involved with practical opportunities and fundraising"

Sheffield PLAN Panel Discussion, University of Sheffield

Sheffield's Professional LGBT+ & Allies Network hosted a panel discussion on LGBT+ inclusivity in the workplace The judges said "We were really impressed with everything they have managed to achieve as a society only founded this academic year. Of all the events, the Panel Discussion showed the most innovation and is paving the way for all students to be more comfortable in a range of roles."

The Tea Party, Bangor University

The Tea Party connects students with older members of the community This year more than 40 people attended The judges said "We loved the fact that Bangor’s Tea Party is an annual activity It’s incredibly impressive that it has been running for as long as it has, yet continues to be very relevant to current students, in particular international students, providing connections outside of the university."

Langar on campus with Sikh Society, Aston Students' Union

Langar is a free community kitchen and the Sikh Society brought this to campus Over 1200 students have attended to enjoy food and connect. The judges said "Langar on Campus has been a very impactful series of events, especially given the cost of living crisis and other challenges facing students this year The effort and compassion that went into running this is truly commendable "

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The Opportunities for All Award

Recognising those that are engaging more students, encouraging wider participation, and helping to dismantle barriers. This award is about equity, equality, inclusion, diversity, and liberation work.

The longlist

It Happens Here, Newcastle University - It Happens Here supports survivors and allies of sexual violence. This year they ran a #DoBetterNCL campaign which surveyed students and aimed to improve policies and procedures at the institution

Bethany Scott, University of Salford - Bethany Scott is on the Fencing Club committee and is working to change the sport to be more inclusive. Including role modelling, sourcing kit which is more suitable for members and making sure training sessions are inclusive.

Genshin Society, University of York - They organise a range of socials to make sure no members feel left out. An example of going above and beyond this year was supporting a hard of hearing member with better subtitles and British Sign Language support.

Debate Society, University of Worcester - Debate Society place their members at the centre of their weekly sessions and social events. This year they implemented deaf training into their sessions to support Hard of Hearing members.

Medway Music Society, Greenwich Students' Union (the Hub) - The Medway Music Society hold a weekly event where musicians get the chance to perform in front of a crowd. They have collaborated with other societies to ensure international students can listen to, and perform, music from their culture.

Tremough Politics, the SU (Exeter and Falmouth universities) - This society facilitates regular debate evenings with wide participation, including meaningful conversations around important political issues. For example their debate on climate change.

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The shortlist

University of Bristol Phab, University of Bristol

Phab promotes inclusivity and equality through opportunities which everyone can engage with One event this year was a trip to the cinema which met all members’ accessibility needs and dietary requirements The judges said "The testimonials provided in the nomination really painted a clear picture of the impressive work Bristol Phab has achieved."

Briony Anstis, University of Essex Students' Union

Briony is the President of the Arts and Crafts Society, Project Leader of Art Club and the Accessibility Rep on the Volunteering Exec In all of their roles they embrace and champion inclusion, supporting all of the groups to be accessible for all The judges said "Briony has achieved a lot and the impact of their work was really clear, specifically their collaborative work with the community felt innovative."

Mu'sab Ibn Zakeer, Greenwich Students' Union (the Hub)

Mu’sab is Head Brother of the Islamic Society The judges said "We were incredibly impressed with Mu’sab’s impact, not only on the Islamic Society, but for all students They’ve worked really hard to dismantle barriers to opportunities and to educate others in a supportive way. Spearheading a collaborative approach, Mu’sab’s leadership is an example to all student leaders."

Falmouth and Exeter Asian Society, The SU (Exeter and Falmouth universities)

The society has created casual spaces for Asian students to connect this year These have included sports sessions and Check in with Chai The judges said "The Society has done a tremendous amount to bring together a wide range of communities and individuals. Particularly, we felt the society had shown great innovation in how they were reaching their communities."

Disabled Students Network, Bath Spa University Students' Union

The network created and shared society guidance on social media accessibility, introduced the sunflower lanyard scheme to campus and created a safe space for disabled students to share experiences. The judges said "The Disabled Students Network have achieved a lot this year and the impact of their actions will be seen for a long-time to come."

Amelia Doherty, University of York

Amelia is involved with three societies and has given hundreds of hours of time to support students from a wide range of backgrounds. The judges said "Amelia has shown an impressive amount of leadership and their hard work has created a clear impact on the community. Amelia’s impact goes beyond what they have achieved this year, but has built opportunities for the future/future students "

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The Wellbeing Award

Recognising those individuals, societies, or projects that have championed student wellbeing. Student volunteering and societies provide a crucial space for students to feel comfortable, do what they love and make friends – and this award celebrates the importance that has on wellbeing.

The longlist

Bristol Nightline, University of Bristol - Bristol nightline is a confidential listening service run by students for their peers. This year they have promoted the service widely and experienced a 48% increase in calls and messages.

LOCO Show Co, University of Worcester - This society is dedicated to promoting and supporting members’ wellbeing. Their consent line initiative explores how consent extends to all physical contact including shaking hands, or hugging.

Midwifery Rocks, University of Derby - The first cohort of student midwives at the University has worked hard to promote wellbeing. They facilitated a fundraising event for a baby loss charity which included activities for those who had lost loved ones, as well as raising awareness.

Connect, Bangor University - Connect brings students together to explore their thoughts and feelings, as well as hosting wellness activities such as mindful colouring. Over 60 students have signed up to Connect this year.

Afro-Caribbean Society, Aston Students' Union - The Afro-Caribbean Society have organised multiple events to improve the wellbeing of their members. These include a Girls’ Night and Cornow and Braiding workshop.

Paige Shilcock, University of Salford - Paige is the Health and Wellbeing Officer of the University’s Cheerleading group. As part of this role they have supported members who feel able to approach them with personal and club related concerns.

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The shortlist

CASHES, University of Southampton

CASHES provides wellbeing and sexual health support for students The judges said "An important focus on making space for a silenced group Impressive reinvention of sex education to make sure everyone is involved and represented - amazing that it has been taken beyond the university, including holding local council to account."

Exeter University Open Water Swimming Society, University of Exeter

EUOWSS support their 400 members with weekly wild swims, popular even through the colder months The judges said "A unique way of approaching wellbeing support, able to reach groups who may not normally engage with wellbeing services You are so much more than a sport, with both your green impact supporting the sustainability of the spaces you use, and your wellbeing work."

VTeam Cafe

The monthly Volunteering Cafe has seen students engage with a number of activities The judges said "A radical use of space, your unique and open activities for specific cultural practices is so valuable

An impressive level of choice and loved that students can shape their experience in a way that suits them, with a clear understanding of the pressures students face."

Headucate, UEA

Headucate aim to raise awareness of mental health and tackle stigma through workshops, social events and photo campaigns The judges said "A really impressive global reach and impact So much value in creating engagement opportunities between students and the wider community around them. Additionally, commendable efforts fundraising for organisations working towards important goals."

The Wellbeing Ambassadors, University of Essex

This group runs a variety of wellbeing initiatives These include bringing therapy dogs to campus, organising ‘A March For All’ against sexual violence and facilitating plate smashing The judges said "Particularly liked the proactive approach within the community, listening and implementing initiatives which are in demand. Collaborations across the university are clearly valuable."

Survivors' Support Network, Nottingham Trent Students' Union

The network is for those who have experienced sexual violence They provide a safe, open space for student members and work to educate others. The judges said " It's commendable to approach a difficult topic and create open, targeted, supportive spaces as well as taking preventative measures. A special shout out to Rose Taylor for doing amazing work which huge teams can struggle to achieve "

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The Extra Mile Award

Recognising someone that has overcome significant challenges to volunteering or society involvement. We know that thousands of students volunteer despite personal difficulties, and we want to showcase some of these students. The winning student doesn’t need to have done hundreds of hours of volunteering but they need to have had an impact on those around them.

The longlist

Danny Humby, Southampton Solent - Danny is the chair of the Student Radio Association. They have supported the charity through a challenging financial period and secured industry sponsorships, whilst running an accessible Student Radio conference.

Emilia McRobie, Edge Hill University - Emilia is the team leader of UniBoob, supporting over 50 members. They have empowered their team and brought their love for education into their role, spreading the message widely across campus.

Emma Reavey, University of Strathclyde - This year in their role as President of the Women In Leadership Network they hosted the #CelebrateHer Ball receiving £4000 in sponsorships so that all students could attend the event.

Penny Tate, Bath Spa University Students' Union - Penny leads the Eco Society, running events to promote sustainability. This year these included petitioning the careers service to stop advertising fossil fuel careers and collaborating with other students to establish Student Signal which delivers peer-led workshops on a wide range of topics.

Bethany Spain, University of Strathclyde - Bethany has founded three societies: Book Club, Journalism Society and StrathZine. This year they have worked hard to create a community and supported a committee from five societies to run the media ball.

Viviana-Georgiana Tif, University of Essex - Viviana-Georgiana has participated in a number of volunteer initiatives. A highlight is their involvement with the Aid of Unicef Society organising biweekly bake sales and supporting other fundraising activities.

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The shortlist

Joshua Airstrop,

Joshua is the chair of the Societies Committee which supports the creation of new societies, allocates funding to student groups and organises big events The judges said "Joshua has been an impressive champion and facilitator for students, and has a wide impact across the union Their commitment is incredibly commendable."

Rose Taylor, Nottingham Trent Students' Union

Rose is the community leader of Survivor’s Support Network The judges said "We were very impressed with Rose’s commitment Their nomination was very powerful and showed how the power of collaboration and personal drive can make change It was particularly noted that the impact supported goes beyond society life, into influencing the institution as a whole."

Taylor Allsop, Cardiff University

Taylor has introduced diversity and wellness spaces in societies at the University, especially the show choir The judges said "Taylor has shown themselves to be an impressive leader at Cardiff and the impact they’ve had on increasing society diversity and inclusion, as well as increasing audiences, will be seen for many years to come. "

Dimitris Menelaou, University of Essex Students' Union

Dimitris is the Project Leader for Lingo Project, which runs after school clubs teaching languages to primary school pupils The judges said "It's very clear that volunteering has been a very important and impactful part of Dimitris’ life. Dimitris has had a significant impact on the Lingo project, utilising new and innovative methods to increase the reach of the project."

Alfie Benson, University of Essex

Alfie is the President of Maths Society and Project Leader of VTeam Numbers Project, delivering weekly maths sessions at a local primary school The judges said "It’s important to recognise how Alfie's impact extended across the society, volunteering in general, and out into the wider community. Alfie has gone above and beyond this year, showing a profound commitment to their volunteering."

Anton Korchagin, UCL

Anton is the President of the Ukrainian Society The highlight of the year was hosting the UCL portion of a special event with guest speaker Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing concerns of young Ukranians living abroad. The judges said "Anton has shown a tremendous strength in leadership and resilience through a very challenging year, providing support to individuals and creating a sense of community "

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T h e N a t i o n a l S o c i e t i e s a n d V o l u n t e e r i n g A w a r d s 2 0 2 3

@nsvawards @studenthubs

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