Hi!
So this is my first proper post…and though I haven’t actually started work yet, I thought I’d get some practice in at blogging and keep you updated to what I’m doing (besides revision!) at the same time!
So as the title suggests, this post is all about awards! Yes, April is the season of Awards, and this year was no different!
The 11th April was the Volunteer Awards (one of my favourite nights of the year) and the 16th was the Colours Awards…
The Duke of Cornwall Hotel played host to the annual Volunteer Awards. The evening is a celebration of all the hard work that volunteers from our Students’ Union have put in to various ViP* (Volunteering in Plymouth) projects within the community of Plymouth and surrounding areas. These projects range from working with older members of the community (for example at Winnefred Baker Court – just behind Cuba!) to planting trees and restoring ancient woodland on Dartmoor with Moor Trees. The awards ceremony also celebrated the work of the newly formed upsu: parliament, and the 1000+ course reps who work with upsu. This year has seen a record number of students sign up to our mailing list and get involved with volunteering, and our work with older people even won a national award from the Higher Education Academy!
Karen Turvey and I collecting the HEA Award for Outstanding Project!
There were 18 different awards given out in the evening, recognising the contributions of students and staff to all the different areas of volunteering. The ceremony clearly showed just how much work our students put into their volunteering, and how much work is done by upsu students in the community. The full list of awards and winners can be found in the volunteering section of upsu.com
Special mention must be made here of Claire Massey and Denise Hayward, our volunteer co-ordinators at upsu. Without them, volunteering at upsu would be nowhere near as successful and enjoyable as it is! Plus I wouldn’t have anywhere to go for tea! I know all our volunteers will join me in saying a massive thank you to them!
The evening finished off with a rather amusing dance in Annabels Cabaret bar! What fun!
Myself and Omar doing Air Guitar Solos in Annabel’s!
The Colours Awards were similarly successful – another evening to celebrate all the work and commitment of students at upsu, this time for Sports and Societies!
It was another thoroughly enjoyable evening, hearing about all our sporting achievements (beating Marjons in Varsity being of great importance of course!) and what our societies have been up to. This time it was the Holiday Inn’s turn to host us, and C103 of course for the after party!
The Top Table!
I was deemed responsible enough to sit at the top table on this occasion, which was great as I met the Director of Finance for the University and of course Anita Jellings, the Dean of Students. This was a great chance to chat about plans and opportunities for next year!
I was really pleased to be awarded Full Colours for contributions to the Big Band this year, and Outstanding Contribution and Gold Leadership Awards at the Volunteering Awards. It was a great honour to receive them, and thanks go to those that nominated me!
Anyway….I’ve rambled on for long enough now…
I have to thank and congratulate every upsu volunteer for giving up their time and effort to make such a huge contribution to the community, the Union and the University. I also want to say a massive congratulations and thanks to all our sports and societies men and women who also give so much to the Union and their clubs/socs! Thanks also go to all the upsu staff who help out throughout the year, and especially those who helped organise the award ceremonies!
Excellent work, and here’s to another successful year next year!
Anyway…..back to the revision!
James
Full Colours Winners – Congratulations Everyone!
This year’s annual Volunteering Awards were held at the Barbican Theatre. This was a refreshing change from previous years, and was a really enjoyable evening. The Awards have been by far my favourite UPSU event for the last few years, and they certainly lived up to expectations again this year.
