Posted on 03/03/2015
In preparation for the Magna Carta 800th anniversary celebrations, over 60 students from Royal Holloway, University of London’s Community Action scheme were busy last week, tidying up Egham High Street.
Over three days, the Community Action Team prepared and painted street furniture, planted hanging baskets and tidied up Egham High Street, alongside volunteers from Brunel University and Strode’s College. Royal Holloway students from the men’s and women’s rugby teams also picked up litter in the local area during the week, as part of the student led Love Your Community project.
The initiative was part of Student Volunteering Week which aims to encourage and inspire students across the country to get involved in their local community.
To coincide with the Magna Carta celebrations this year, student volunteers will also be running workshops with local community groups, including making decorative bunting with care home residents, heraldic flags with Egham and Englefield Green Youth Centres and a mosaic with local schools, all of which will be displayed in Egham as a backdrop to the anniversary festivities.
Phil Simcock, Community Action Volunteer Manager at Royal Holloway, said: “It’s been fantastic to see so many young people getting involved in Student Volunteering Week 2015 and making a real difference in the community. Royal Holloway is running a number of events this year with the aim of engaging people with the principles of the charter and what it means in the 21st century, ensuring that the local community fully enjoy the Magna Carta anniversary celebrations.”
Waitrose, Egham kindly provided food and drink for the volunteers throughout Student Volunteering Week.
The Magna Carta workshops have received funding from Runnymede Borough Council and Surrey County Council.