The hard work and impact of University volunteers was celebrated in May 2025 as alumni, students, staff and community supporters gathered for the annual Celebration of Volunteering Awards.
More than 90 people attended the ceremony at Whiteknights campus, which showcased the diverse ways our community is making a difference both locally and globally. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Robert Van de Noort, said: “Our annual Celebration of Volunteering Awards remind us of the extraordinary commitment our community is making to help others. The winners and nominees this year have shown exceptional dedication to causes they believe in.
“From supporting local schools to international development work, these volunteers extend our University’s positive influence far beyond campus. It is a privilege to recognise them with these awards.”
Volunteering Officer, Rachel Dean, said: “We’re so proud of all the ways our alumni and supporters give back to the University and help their communities.
The recognition that both our award winners and our nominees receive on a night like this is so well-deserved – all our volunteers really do make a difference.”
Read on to find out more about our winners in the Alumni and Supporter Volunteer of the Year category.
Linda Hopper
Linda Hopper, an 84-year-old Education alumna, was nominated in recognition of her work with the Kitega Community Centre in Uganda which has transformed hundreds of lives.
Those who nominated Linda said: “Linda exemplifies the values instilled in her during her time at the University, showcasing the impact of her education on her lifelong commitment to service.”
Linda said: “My journey began in childhood and was inspired by a cherished black doll named Lulu, which fostered my passion for diversity and inclusivity. Throughout my life I strived to serve my community through teaching and counselling roles, working with disabled children and leading youth groups.
“A pivotal moment came for me when I visited a children’s home in Nairobi, Kenya, coinciding with my 66th birthday. This experience reignited my desire to help children in Africa. Using my counselling training I aimed to address the emotional needs of vulnerable children and trained housemothers in effective caregiving.
“My work has included connecting orphaned children with their extended families and collaborating on sustainable projects, such as providing access to clean water, which has significantly improved the health of many communities. One of my most impactful initiatives involved producing reusable sanitary pads for girls, addressing barriers to education by enabling them to attend school with dignity.
“My most recent project has been the building of a village hospital which will have an outpatients clinic, a women’s and a men’s ward.
“I have helped to furnish and paint the hospital and it was a privilege to switch on the lights at the hospital, which were the first electric lights in the village.”
Linda’s dedication to service continues to inspire current students and alumni, highlighting the vital role of volunteers in creating a more equitable world.
Don Moseley and John Westwood
The ‘Wednesday Wheelbarrows’ are a small team of seven who volunteer their time every week to maintain the garden at the Museum of English Rural Life (MERL), performing a vital role in looking after the space for our visitors and community groups. Two members of the ‘Wednesday Wheelbarrows’ won the Alumni and Volunteer Supporter of the Year Award – Don Moseley and John Westwood.
Don brings a real passion to his role as Volunteer Gardener, which he took on nine years ago.
He said: “For the last few years I’ve been particularly involved with our demonstration vegetable bed – planning, seed sowing, transplanting, tending the crop, weeding, and last but not least, harvesting.
“As I live close by I also come in for extra watering duty to keep everything alive, and I get involved in off-season projects such as building compost bins and writing a guide for the trees in the garden.
“As well as museum visitors, the garden is used by community groups who I have enjoyed working alongside. Acting as a mentor to individuals who have less gardening knowledge has been a valuable experience for me.
“I also enjoy the social aspect – I get to chat with members of the public, with my fellow gardeners, and I enjoy receiving positive comments about the garden.”
Over the past five years alone, John has contributed 400 hours in his role as Volunteer Gardener and turns up whatever the weather.
He said: “I manage the hazel trees, ensuring an ongoing supply of hazel plant materials for MERL. I also look after the composting system to make sure we produce enough free compost for the garden, and conduct bramble removal around the paths and woodland spaces to keep the area safe, especially for younger visitors.”
John’s nominator said:
“John has a can-do attitude and is prepared to get stuck into whatever needs doing. He is extremely diligent, making sure jobs are completed to a high standard, and he will often stay beyond the session to make sure tasks are finished and all tools and equipment are put away.”
Find out more about the MERL volunteers:
Both Don and John are invaluable members of the MERL’s volunteer gardening team. It was an honour to recognise their dedication to this garden at the Celebration of Volunteering Awards.
Discover our other Celebration of Volunteering winners and nominees.
