Chloe Chatburn, third year Music and Drama student, is a Project Leader who looks after the volunteer project, Singalong Surrey. We recently caught up with Chloe to ask more about Singalong Surrey and what inspired her to take such an active role in volunteering.
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you study at Royal Holloway?
Hi, I’m Chloe and I’m in my third and final year of studying Music and Drama at Royal Holloway! I hope to pursue a career in teaching after graduating, as a music teacher.
2. You are currently a student Project Leader; can you tell us what this role involves?
My current role within volunteering is as a Project Leader, this is my second year within this role and there are many challenges and rewards involved within it! As a Project Leader, pre-pandemic, a lot of what was contained within my role was recruiting volunteers and liaising with groups to organise volunteering sessions.
3. Is there a particular volunteer project that you look after?
The project I volunteer with is called Sing Along Surrey, before the pandemic I would recruit volunteers to sing with the elderly in residential care homes, on a weekly basis. One of the greatest challenges regarding this was gaining as many volunteers as possible, due to the fact that it was at times difficult to recruit volunteers. However, advertising our volunteering project led more people to want to volunteer with us. One of the greatest rewards of this project is the ability to share music and connect with the older generation. Despite the pandemic, we have been able to continue to communicate with the residential homes we work with and share music with them.
4. What inspired you to become a student volunteer?
I first wanted to become a student leader for a multitude of reasons, the first being that I liked the idea of the responsibility held within the role, in addition to the opportunity to develop my organisational skills. I was also very passionate about the project and knew that would inspire me to be the best Project Leader I could be.
5. What do you enjoy most about studying at Royal Holloway?
In terms of what I enjoy most about studying at Royal Holloway, I love the community feel of the university, the campus is well connected and there is always something to do, along with many opportunities to volunteer and help the community.
6. How do you like to spend your time outside of studying and volunteering?
Outside of studying and volunteering, I enjoy performing with Savoy Opera Society and meeting with the committee there which I am part of. I also enjoy performing in the university choirs and going swimming with my friends.