Volunteering students at University of Chester win accolades for their community work

VOLUNTEERS at the University of Chester have carried out more than 14,000 hours of work in the community in the past academic year.

To thank them for contributing enormously to life in and around Chester, the university has handed out accolades to just some of these unpaid workers.

Since September 2008, almost 400 staff and student volunteers have been recruited to the National Youth Volunteer Programme, and UCV, the university’s own scheme recognising volunteers aged 26 and over.

In that time, these volunteers carried out 14,193 hours of work at 280 placements.

Rachelle Johnson, Stephen Foot and Jess Carolan were the latest students to be acknowledged, receiving awards from the Lord Mayor of Chester at Volunteer Centre Chester’s annual ceremony.

They had completed more than 100 hours of voluntary work each.

Their success follows the university’s annual Valedictory Service, in which several other volunteers were honoured.

And another volunteer, Cassie Elliott, has been invited to the Royal Garden Party in recognition of her voluntary work.

In June, university volunteers carried out environmental activities and a towpath tidy event, and helped with stewarding and marshalling at the Race for Life and Chester Bikeathon.