Student volunteer wins national volunteering award

Claire Sedgwick, 20, was crowned overall winner in the Bridge Category for her Writing in the Community project, in which local refugees and asylum seekers collaborated with Northumbria students to improve their English skills through creative writing.

Vinspired is a national organisation which places 16-25 year olds in volunteering roles with local organisations. More than 700 nominations were entered to the awards, with judges’ short-listing 30 finalists from among 85 regional winners.

Claire, and fellow Northumbria student Kirsty McDine, both won regional awards for their efforts, supported by Northumbria Student Unions’ volunteering programme (Northumbria Student Community Action NSCA), and attended the national award ceremony at the O2 Arena in London as finalists.

Claire, from Middlesbrough, was the project leader of Writing in the Community during her voluntary work with the North of England Refugee Service, which provides support for refugees and asylum seekers in the local area.
 
Due to the wide variety of nationalities involved with the group, the project gave students, refugees and asylum seekers the opportunity to learn about different cultures. The group produced an anthology of their work and held a reading at Newcastle’s Literary and Philosophical Society, the largest independent library outside of London.

Claire, currently in her third year at Northumbria, said: “I was really pleased to find out that I had won the award as it was so unexpected. I was glad to have the support of NSCA throughout the project and feel that the award is a representation of their hard work as much as mine.

“The project has allowed me to develop skills in a way that I don’t think would have been possible in a part time job. I’ve also made great friends at the project and continue to go to the writing group.”

Professional Practise student Kirsty McDine won the regional Genius category and was also shortlisted for the national finals, after staging an indoor music festival for people with Multiple Sclerosis and other debilitating diseases. Her project, Infest, transformed the Students’ Union with fake grass, tents, market stalls and bands performing on stage.

NSCA aims to support students to devise and deliver their own community volunteering projects within the North East.

NCSA Student Volunteering Coordinator, Lady Kitt, said: “I am delighted that two of our student volunteers have won Regional Vinspired Awards, and I’m so pleased for Claire that she has won a National Award as well.

“It’s wonderful to see students receiving recognition for the hard work, organisation and enthusiasm that goes into devising and leading projects like these.”