Make a Difference Weeks
Make a Difference Weeks are an opportunity for students and staff to make a positive difference through supporting causes that impact the local community. Throughout the year, we will be running five themed weeks which will include a variety of activities including practical volunteering, fundraising, campaigning and awareness raising. These are one-off activities that don’t require ongoing commitment, giving you the opportunity to gain experience and support your personal development, well-being and sense of community.
Make a Difference to Homelessness
Monday 2 to Friday 6 December
Monday 2nd December: 'Give Leicester' Volunteer training session
Give Leicester is a new initiative to enable people who want to help rough sleepers in the city to give money to support a local night shelter using new donation points that have been set up across Leicester. The contactless donation points have been installed in shops, cafés and public buildings in the city centre and beyond. The Give Leicester donation points are small, contactless terminals, which will enable people to make a £3 donation simply by tapping their card.
Enthusiastic volunteers are needed to help with promoting the new ‘Give Leicester’ donation points in city centre to raise funds for One Roof charity. Sign up to attend the training session through MyCareers
Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th December: Homelessness outreach
Support the Homelessness Outreach Society who aim to help homeless people in Leicester through weekly outreach events, fundraisers and socials.
Volunteers don’t need to sign up and non-members are welcome. Meet outside the SU at 5.30pm. Find out more on their Facebook page or email: homelessoutreachuol@gmail.com
Thursday 5th December: Shoebox Challenge Collection Day & Coat Donations
Give a gift to a homeless young person by filling a shoe box with your friends for the youth homelessness charity, The Y.
Could your student group fill a shoe box with toiletries and essentials for a homeless young person?
The Y is the leading youth homelessness charity for Leicester and Leicestershire that provide young people with support and accommodation.
Items for the Shoe box challenge will need to be new and unused and can include this list
Step 1) Find a medium sized shoe box
Step 2) Decide and agree on which items your team will fill it with from the list provided
Step 3) Wrap the shoe box and lid separately OR drop off the shoe box to be wrapped by student volunteers
Filled shoe boxes can be dropped off in the Student’s Union Square on Thursday 5th December between 12.00pm-5.00pm
If you are a staff member, you can also participate in the Shoebox Team Challenge with your colleagues.
Volunteers will also be needed to help wrap the shoe boxes.
If you have any questions, please email: volunteer@le.ac.uk
The Homelessness Outreach Society will also accepting donations of jumpers, coats, scarfs for their Coat Drive event at the same time and location.
Friday 6th December: Fundraising with RAG (Raising and Giving society)
More details to follow soon
Get Recognition! Don't forget to log any volunteering that you do through the Students Union Volunteering Portal
Looking ahead
Make a Difference to Wellbeing
Monday 10 – Friday 14 February
Make a Difference to your Environment
Monday 16 – Friday 20 March
If you would like to get involved in regular or longer term volunteering in the local community, please log in to the Student’s Union Volunteering Portal.
