K.S.C.V Awards night 2011-2012

I thought I might write a few words about the K.S.C.V awards nights. These are annual events at Medway and Canterbury Campus which celebrate all of the hard work and time that is given so freely by dedicated students at the University of Kent.

Medway's Asian Society

Last Night's Medway awards was well attended, volunteers collectively contributing 5,000 hours+ with the vast majority being within the local community. Certificates were awarded by the Deputy Major of Medway also giving a speech with Tom Ritchie (Union President). There was a dance performance from Medway's Asian  Society as well as a buffet which was enjoyed by all.     

This year over 80,000 voluntary hours were logged by Kent students across the Campuses which was nearly a doubling of last year's 45,000 hours. A very impressive figure. Apart from the 250 attendees recieving awards from across the spectrum from 25 hours 'Bronze award' to the highly demanding 'platinum award' which constitutes a 15 credit module which can be taken as part of the volunteer's degree or can be used for additional credits. The University Of Kent is one of only three universities I am aware of that offer a volunteering award like this. 

The K.S.C.V Gold Certificate is awarded
to volunteers contributing at leas 100 hours

In Canterbury, Special congratulations were given to Simon Smith of the Magic Society for contributing a total of 1,000 hours of volunteering during the course of his platinum award. Certificates were also awarded by Kent Raise and Give the charitable arm of Kent Union's volunteers who's 'escape and evade' event had seen volunteers raise over £500 for charitable causes. In the event, students must try to get as far away from the University as possibe and back for free. 

As well as the awardees themselves there were also speeches from Tom Ritchie Union president who's speech stressed the 'transformative' nature of volunteering changing the individual and community for the better. Keith Mander spoke on behalf of the University thanking the volunteers for their continuing efforts over the years and expressing that time is a comodity more valuable the money which is being donated. Thirdly Derek Smith, graduate of the univeristy of Kent and external trustee on Kent Union's Board shared his memories experiences of the people met and experiences shared at University, his message was that 'people are more important than things' and giving an alternative meaning to the student certificate in Volunteering as 'Keep Serving, continue volunteering.'

'Platinum' Awardees 2011, Canterbury   

My own message was of the responsibility that we have as a generation for the continuation of Voluntary work, that not only are we contributing to the community through the work we do but that in doing so we are passing on our personal values, giving something back and the idea that every individual can make a difference. Often Students dont think of themselves as volunteers because the projects that they are working on are of personal interest to them as if the fact that they are passionate about a good cause makes it less valuable. This is of course not the case. Finally, the work that we are doing in the community is combating ageism and the misconceptions that students have a negative net impact on the local community. If you were to ask any of the local causes that students have been working with I think they would confirm that the contrary is true.

If you are interested in getting involved in something new or want to further your volunteering experience you can contact s.l.j.hughes@kent.ac.uk for details of how to get started. It may be the most rewarding thing you ever do and you don't know what it could lead to... this was the case for me. 

Exciting Developmental Developments for Kent Union Volunteers

Exciting Developmental Developments for Kent Union Volunteers

I feel that one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of the work I do and also the most important is the development of our volunteers. Students at the University of Kent this year have already contributed over 70,000 hours through the K.S.C.V awards scheme which is a volunteering certificate awarded by Kent Union and the University of Kent, at its most advanced level this takes the form of a 15 credit module which can become part of your degree or can be taken for extra credit. The award covers a wide range of volunteering skills and types which like all volunteering has the power to develop the individual but also has the benefit of developing an academic understanding of the place that volunteering holds in society.

We all love Bursting Bubbles....

An interesting study was held dispelling some of the misconceptions about young people and volunteering called 'Bursting the Bubble.' I found it very useful and there are some real surprises such as the disparity between the assumptions that employers make about young people's reasons for volunteering and the reasons that young people gave. If you would like to read it you can check it out here http://tinyurl.com/6jgq4or. I highly recommend it.


The 'platinum award' has been offered at the University of Kent for some years, although it has recently been shortened from an 18 month course to a 12 month course making it more accessible for volunteers who start mid-way through their University experience. However, there are several exciting new developments that Kent Union has made for volunteers for the year 2012-2013 including the introduction of the new certificate in volunteer management. This new course will be made available to approximately 100 key volunteers representing students at Kent's Canterbury and Medway campuses with a curriculum including:

4 modules (1 compulsory plus 3 optional):

1.      Promote volunteering to potential and actual volunteers (compulsory) - ASSIGNMENT

2.      Provide leadership and direction for own area of responsibility  (optional) (include content around project management in the training)

3.      Build support and manage a team  (optional) (include content around conflict management in the training)

4.      Manage the motivation of volunteers (optional) - ASSIGNMENT

In order to achieve qualification:

·         Attend at least 2 mentoring meetings

·         Attend all 4 of the training days

·         Complete 2 assignments

·         Wednesday 13 - Friday 15 June, inclusive (modules 1-3)

·         EITHER Friday 5 or Saturday 13 October (module 4)    

Kent Union is A registered
investor in Volunteers

This is an exciting opportunity with a cash value of hundred of pounds, for volunteers working with teams of volunteers and as a professional level qualification is going to be invaluable on the CV for anyone who completes the programme.


Two of the groups that will be but through this training are the Volunteer committees at Canterbury and Medway who champion community and campus volunteering, monitor, develop and champion the KSCV volunteering certificate and help to distribute funding to any volunteering group that exist.  Societies Federation Committee who hold a similar role for societies at the Canterbury Campus also being responsible for working on issues such as facilities and policy surrounding societies will also be able to benefit from this training.


Nominations for these positions are open now! If you would like more information about any of the roles please contact:


Medway Volunteering Committee (Kent University Students only) David d.coldwell@kent.ac.uk 
Canterbury Volunteering Committee Steph s.l.j.hughes@kent.ac.uk
Canterbury Societies Federation Committee Union-activities@kent.ac.uk

Many other roles exist in Representation and Democracy and there are still some vacant positions so drop Mel Sharman an e-mail if you are interested. As I will also be going on this training programme I am looking forward to meeting the new volunteer leaders (and managers) of Kent Union!