Despite the COVID-19 lockdown, students from across the University have continued to support communities and engage with social responsibility activities.

The Ethical Grand Challenges program, a series of workshops which aim to produce more socially responsible graduates, has received record breaking completions this academic year (2019-20). Over 8,000 students from across the University completed the challenges which address current global issues on Sustainability, Social Justice and Workplace Ethics.

The Volunteering team have also seen hundreds of students engaging with supporting communities throughout the crisis. Above all odds, over 50,000 volunteering hours have been recorded this academic year, 1,000 of which were completed via remote online volunteering which was introduced at the start of lockdown.

Lindsay Gilbert, Volunteering and Community Engagement Manager who has been helping to support students with volunteering said: “At this extraordinary time the role of volunteers has never been more important. We are so proud of our students for stepping up to help their communities in a range of creative ways.”

The Volunteering team quickly adapted their volunteer offering in March when the lockdown began, setting up volunteering from home opportunities and positions which support current efforts around coronavirus including projects with foodbanks and NHS volunteers.

Poppy Osman, a first year Biomedical Sciences student who’s been volunteering in the East Sussex Trust said: “Volunteering has taught me new skills, provided me with essential experience and has also given me the chance to help ease the pressure of the pandemic on the National Health Service.”

For more, read Poppy’s full blog piece.