Prize win followed by Queen's Award nomination for Royal Holloway volunteers

Royal Holloway’s Community Action volunteering group has been awarded a FutureSense Partner Award for their work with Challenges Abroad. In the same month, the group has also been nominated for the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for their work in the local community.

International challenges

Earlier this month, Community Action won the Partner Award from FutureSense for their work with Challenges Abroad, which is part of the FutureSense Foundation. Challenges Abroad organises volunteering trips for students, where they take part in a socially responsible, sustainable, projects.   

Royal Holloway has worked with Challenges Abroad for many years, and have sent students on trips to India, Romania, and Thailand.

Royal Holloway in Romania

Sophie Clempson, who is studying Geography at Royal Holloway, was a team leader on a trip to Romania earlier this year. "This summer I spent 3 weeks volunteering with orphaned and abandoned children in rural Transylvania, Romania," she said.  "I loved every minute of the experience, from fundraising for The FutureSense Foundation, to forming amazing friendships with a group of fellow students from Royal Holloway."

"I got to see the impacts that our fundraising efforts have had on disadvantaged communities first-hand and this is something I shall never forget. Seeing the smiles on the children's faces when we sat round the table helping learn new English words and running the art activities was truly priceless."

The MBE of volunteering

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is an annual award given to groups of volunteers who provide a service that meets the needs of the local community. Groups have to be highly respected in their local community and have been volunteering for more than three years. Community Action, which has been running for more than a decade, have been involved in many local projects, including helping with the relief effort following the local floods in Egham in 2014.

Community Action Manager Phil Simcock said, "This award is considered to be the MBE for voluntary groups, and so we are honoured to have even been put forward for something so prestigious."

More than 3,000 students are currently registered as Community Action volunteers. You can find out more about volunteering at Royal Holloway by visiting the Community Action website.