Volunteers’ Week Time to say Thank You

There is no better way to start Volunteers’ Week, 1 – 7 June, than to highlight volunteering efforts here at SERC.   Whether it is taking the lead with food bank collections, organising fundraisers, putting learning to use to raise awareness or funds or taking on the challenge of a fun run, marathon, trek, or cycle, we have seen and heard about some heroic volunteering efforts and donations of time from our students - individual classes and through the Students’ Union- staff, and the wider SERC community this past year.   To date, we calculate almost £6,000 has been raised by staff and students for various charities and fundraisers.

Often at the lead of the volunteering effort are SERC’s first year BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Protective Services and second year BTEC Level 3 Public Services students, who have been recognised with Volunteer Now Impact Awards for making a standout contribution in voluntary work through their efforts at SERC. Three of the students also achieved Challenger Awards for participation, while five students achieved 30-hour volunteering recognition certificates and 14 students received the coveted 50-hour recognition certificates. 

Irwin Pryce, Lecturer and Coordinator of Uniformed Services courses at SERC said, “Throughout their course, the students have volunteered their time and efforts at numerous activities.   This has included organising a goods collection point for Ukrainian refugees, representing the College at the Belfast City Marathon in a relay team whilst classmates volunteered as marshal support at the event for Cancer Focus N.I. They have completed a gruelling 1,000 miles of running, cycling and walking on Strava and to date have raised almost £1,000 for Fight ED and RNLI. They have volunteered their time to steward at local charity events, carried out a litter clean up and been recognised for voluntary work with organisations such as St John Ambulance. Second year students have recently returned from volunteering in many roles for 2 weeks in Fuerteventura, Spain.”  

He added, “It’s great to see young people recognised for making a difference. As well as benefiting others, the students have developed transferable skills which enhances their employability.   Volunteering is win-win for everyone.”

The Public Services students have completed their volunteering requirement for their Duke of Edinburgh Awards and first year Protective Services students will continue to donate their time aiming for 100-hour volunteer recognition through Volunteer Now.

Congratulations to all the students on their Volunteer Impact Awards and a huge THANK YOU to everyone for their voluntary efforts to support the wider SERC Community.  

Happy Volunteers’ Week to you all.

Pictured Above: Protective and Uniformed Services students who have been recognised with a Volunteer Now Impact Award: (Back) Aaron walker, Rachael Martin, Elle Mairs, Rebekah Baxter, Rebecca Hall, Louise Clarke, Emma Milligan, James Cairnes, Toby Hopps  (Middle) Irwin Pryce (Lecturer and Course Coordinator), Max Bradley, Dylan Greer, Josh Brown, Lewis Cairnduff, Chloe Winter, Dawson Whan, Zofie Nelson, Josh Finlay, Joel Lockwood, Chris Beck  (Front) Eli McCullough, Patrick Morgan (absent from photo -  Niamh Braniff).