Good turns from uni students
BRUNEL’S ANNUAL DAY RAISES MONEY FOR MAYOR’S CHARITIES
GOOD Deeds Day 2020 proved another annual success thanks to free activities run by volunteers from Brunel University London and Uxbridge College – and the support of organisations from across Hillingdon.
The annual day of mass volunteering, which has been a local fixture since 2013 in and around Uxbridge, included bag packing, free henna painting and manicures, craft workshops, performances and yoga classes.
Students ran stalls in The Pavilions, and other activities took place in Uxbridge Library, intu Uxbridge and other borough venues.
The event was opened by the Mayor of Hillingdon David Yarrow and Mayoress Mary O’Connor and raised £227 for the mayor’s charities – Hillingdon Autistic Care and Support and Hillingdon Brain Tumour and Injury Support Charity.
Professor William Leahy, viceprovost (students, staff and civic engagement) at Brunel University London also went along to support the event, while William Byrd School Choir gave a performance.
Professor Leahy said: “Good Deeds Day 2020 was the seventh successful year of Brunel’s continuing community outreach working in collaboration with Uxbridge College students. Brunel students volunteered for a variety of activities that brought smiles to the shoppers in Uxbridge Pavilions.”
Nancy Rawlings, Brunel Volunteers manager, said: “Good Deeds Day is an extremely important event in the Brunel Volunteers calendar.
“It was inspiring and uplifting to see so many students taking part and donating their time.
“Staff and students at Brunel volunteer on a regular basis within the local community, giving thousands of hours to help support others. Good Deeds Day is a visual example of the positive impact that volunteering can have.”
Sharon McCann, senior student support officer at Uxbridge College, said: “This year’s Good Deeds Day was another fantastic event and a great opportunity for Uxbridge College students to both give and receive in their local community.
“It’s always extremely worthwhile to be able to work in partnership with Brunel University London, and we’re really pleased to have been involved in this successful day of mass volunteering yet again.”
As well as the performance by William Byrd students, K-pop (Korean pop) dancers, singers from Brunel and Uxbridge College dancers provided entertainment.
Also taking part in the event were St Margaret’s Church, offering lunches; Christchurch; Hillingdon Foodbank; Wilko, M&S and Tesco, who provided opportunities for bag packing; Brunel Gym with the Row Britannia Challenge; Uxbridge Library with its digital drop-in – help with phones, computers and other technology, and Tovertafel – an activity for people with dementia; Thames Valley Hospice charity shop; Shopmobility; West Drayton & Yiewsley Community Centre and DASH (Disablement Association
Hillingdon); St John’s Ambulance; Uxbridge FM; Halo; Hillingdon Women’s Centre and H4All.
The Uxbridge College students who took part in the February event were from beauty therapy, ESOL (English for speakers of other languages), foundation studies, performing arts, creative studies and travel and tourism courses.