News: Students join forces to help those in need

As part of the College’s tutorial programme, students get the opportunity to work together in groups, on a social action project. This involves choosing a charity or organisation, deciding on an event or fundraiser, marketing and promoting the project, and liaising with College staff and stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of raising funds and awareness for their chosen charity.

This year, our students have been busy organising and managing some fantastic projects, and there’s some great work in the pipeline for the new year too.

Switch Up and Emmanuel House

You may have noticed and/​or contributed to the festive foodbank boxes, located across our campuses, over the past few weeks. This was a collaborative effort between staff and students. The boxes at our City Hub were led by a group of Level 3 Business students, who chose the Switch Up community appeal and Emmanuel House for their social action projects.

Switch Up aims to empower Nottingham’s young people, children and young adults to break the cycle of offending and reoffending. In support of the charity, students managed to collect over 200 pieces of food, drink and hygiene products, and almost £100 in cash, which will all go to vulnerable and struggling families in Nottingham.

Supporting these charities was something the students felt passionate about. For many, they were able to draw upon their own personal experiences of mental health and living with or knowing people struggling with low incomes and the daily challenges that brings.

Level 3 Business student, Marcia Cardoso , said: ​“It was good experience to manage an event like this. We worked as part of a team and were responsible for different roles. I’ve seen people struggle myself, so this was something very close to my heart and a way of giving something back to the community.”

Switch Up Founder, Marcellus Baz, said: ​“This group of students have stood up and done something extraordinary. This work is so important, and they’ve worked as part of a team to go above and beyond. The fundraising they have done will help people who are suffering in silence, from deprived backgrounds, struggling with their mental health, or going hungry. We are very grateful at Switch Up for what they’ve achieved and I’m looking forward to working together with the College again in the future.”

Improving Lives

Well done to a group of A Level students from our High Pavement campus who recently completed a Christmas candy cane and bauble sale, raising over £100 their social action charity, Improving Lives, which helps to support people with complex health and social needs.

To help top up the total, students also held a book sale, which raised around £50.

Helping Hands

One to look out for in 2023 is a new student-led initiative ​‘Helping Hands’, which will see students supporting fellow students with a drop-in food and hygiene bank, they can access on campus if they need it.

It’s still in the early planning stages, but a group of healthcare students have already presented their plan to a panel of College senior leaders to get the ball rolling in the new year – so watch this space!