Volunteering @ Angus College
THE FOCUS was on volunteering at Angus College last week as the facility hosted its first ever volunteering fair alongside its annual volunteer awards ceremony.
Over 95 students were nominated to attend the event which formally recognised their volunteering efforts both in the college and externally.
The awards ceremony took place in the Angus Conference Centre. It was was hosted by college principal John Burt and Volunteer Centre Angus manager Gary Malone.
All nominees received certificates of recognition and three students were also presented with special prizes for outstanding contribution to volunteering.
This year's first Student Volunteer Scotland Gold Award went to Ashley Cooper who dedicated many hours of her own time to working as a volunteer care assistant within Lochbank Manor in Forfar.
Judyta Sadowska's efforts were also recognised with a gold award for her two volunteering positions as multi-cultural buddy and Student Representative Council member.
Shaun Mitchell also received a gold award for his outstanding volunteering efforts within a local community flat and at OB's community cafe in Arbroath.
Following the ceremony, students from across the college were invited to attend the Volunteering Recruitment Fair. It featured representatives for a range of organisations offering volunteering opportunities including NHS Tayside, Active Schools and Victim Support Scotland.
Students were able to drop by on their lunch hour and gain some valuable information about the different ways in which they can get involved in volunteering.
The development of this new event is part of the 'learning by volunteering' project which was officially launched in March. It is being led by Angus College, working in partnership with Adam Smith College and Langside College.
The project aims to develop and embed a culture of volunteering in Scotland's colleges, where engaging in volunteering activities whilst at college becomes commonplace amongst all our learners.
It recognises that students can enhance their formal learning by engaging in volunteering activities and, in particular, volunteering experiences can help build the attributes and skills of the four capacities of the Curriculum for Excellence.
In addition, volunteering is linked to many other college agendas including active citizenship, employability and essential skills development, core skills development and lifelong learning.
Angus College's volunteering projects officer Stewart Roy commented: "This year's student volunteer award ceremony has been a real success.
The awards ceremony took place in the Angus Conference Centre. It was was hosted by college principal John Burt and Volunteer Centre Angus manager Gary Malone.
All nominees received certificates of recognition and three students were also presented with special prizes for outstanding contribution to volunteering.
This year's first Student Volunteer Scotland Gold Award went to Ashley Cooper who dedicated many hours of her own time to working as a volunteer care assistant within Lochbank Manor in Forfar.
Judyta Sadowska's efforts were also recognised with a gold award for her two volunteering positions as multi-cultural buddy and Student Representative Council member.
Students who were nominated for Angus College volunteering awards pictured with volunteering projects officer Stewart Roy, principal John Burt and Volunteer Centre Angus manager Gary Malone.
Shaun Mitchell also received a gold award for his outstanding volunteering efforts within a local community flat and at OB's community cafe in Arbroath.
Following the ceremony, students from across the college were invited to attend the Volunteering Recruitment Fair. It featured representatives for a range of organisations offering volunteering opportunities including NHS Tayside, Active Schools and Victim Support Scotland.
Students were able to drop by on their lunch hour and gain some valuable information about the different ways in which they can get involved in volunteering.
The development of this new event is part of the 'learning by volunteering' project which was officially launched in March. It is being led by Angus College, working in partnership with Adam Smith College and Langside College.
The project aims to develop and embed a culture of volunteering in Scotland's colleges, where engaging in volunteering activities whilst at college becomes commonplace amongst all our learners.
It recognises that students can enhance their formal learning by engaging in volunteering activities and, in particular, volunteering experiences can help build the attributes and skills of the four capacities of the Curriculum for Excellence.
In addition, volunteering is linked to many other college agendas including active citizenship, employability and essential skills development, core skills development and lifelong learning.
Angus College's volunteering projects officer Stewart Roy commented: "This year's student volunteer award ceremony has been a real success.
We had over 90 students being formally recognised for their volunteering efforts across Angus and with the success of our first Volunteer Recruitment Fair which followed the ceremony we now expect these numbers to increase."
“Volunteering has allowed our students to put theory from their learning into practice, while at the same time giving something back to the community."
“Volunteering is very much on Angus College's agenda and we are working hard with our other partners nationally to support Scotland's colleges to get on board with developing student volunteering.”
“Volunteering has allowed our students to put theory from their learning into practice, while at the same time giving something back to the community."
“Volunteering is very much on Angus College's agenda and we are working hard with our other partners nationally to support Scotland's colleges to get on board with developing student volunteering.”