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As Professor Anthony Smith, Vice-Provost (Education & Student Affairs) announced, the contribution that ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº student volunteers make to London is massive - 2,000 students were involved in 2014/15, collectively giving 53,000 hours of their time.Ìý

Behind those impressive figures are, of course, 2,000 separate stories of students stepping off campus and playing their part in the life of the city.

Professor Smith gave a few examples: ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº volunteers at Body & Soul, a charity supporting children and families living with HIV; the long tradition of students working with the Calthorpe project, a small community-owned green space in Kings Cross; and the 71 student-run volunteering projects that wouldn't exist without the creativity and hard work of ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº students.

The leader of one of those projects, Lydia Hong, spoke about her experiences setting up Science4Kids, which runs fun and engaging science sessions within London primary schools. Lydia had found that the best approach to volunteering is to start from where you are (at ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº), with what you know (in her case, science), and with what you have (the support of the Volunteering Services Unit).

Annie Tidbury, ¹û¶³Ó°ÔºU's Women's Officer, spoke about how volunteering can be a source of joy (according to a , it's second only to Scottish Country Dancing!). Annie has found that her involvement as a ¹û¶³Ó°ÔºU Welcome Volunteer had helped lift her own spirits and she explained how, as Women's Officer, she now relies on other student volunteers, for example in ¹û¶³Ó°ÔºU's Zero Tolerance campaign.

An awards ceremony is not complete, of course, without some awards. The prize for Volunteering Organisation of the Year - which recognises excellence in volunteer management - went to , the confidential listening, support and information service for students.

There was also a prize for the best new student-led project, which went to Viva la Vulva, which campaigns on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and sexual health-related issues. The group has only been in existence for six months, but has already achieved a lot, including a comedy night, an education programme at a local college and an information campaign.

The finalists for the Student-led Project of the Year Award were also announced. The four shortlisted projects are: MEDucate, which teaches interactive lessons about the human body in primary schools; ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Baking Project, which runs intergenerational cookery sessions with local older people; ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Student Hospital Fun Team, which organises play sessions for children in two London hospitals; and Next Top Doctor, which offers workshops on careers in healthcare to secondary schools.

The award recognises excellence in planning and running community projects, as well as innovation and creativity. The winner will be revealed at the ¹û¶³Ó°ÔºU Awards on 9 June - keep an eye on the for the results!

- John Braime, Volunteering Manager at ¹û¶³Ó°ÔºU Volunteering Services Unit.