In 2022 while volunteering as a Student Leader, Jayden founded the Homeless Project, an initiative that seeks to bridge the gap between students and local charities that support homeless people.
Jayden has recently been named as one of 500 Coronation Champions. The Coronation Champions are volunteers from across the UK recognised by their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort. Almost 5,000 entries were received, with nominations made for individuals aged 14 up to 103. Jayden has also been shortlisted for the National Societies and Volunteer Awards’ Community Award, the ceremony will take place on Tuesday 23 May.
On the back of these fantastic achievements, we caught up with Jayden to learn more about her volunteering efforts.
1. Congratulations on being named as one of the 500 Coronation Champions and shortlisted for the National Societies and Volunteer Awards Community Award!
You have been heavily involved in volunteering throughout your time at Royal Holloway. How did you get into volunteering and which projects you have been involved in stand out for you?
I volunteered occasionally prior to moving here for my degree and attempted it again during my International Foundation Year but it wasn’t until Covid hit that I really began to get involved in volunteering at Royal Holloway. I came across a call for Response Team volunteers and delivered food parcels for isolating students during late 2020 and early 2021. Following this, I interviewed for a project leader position and helped run the Nature Conservation project during the 2021-22 academic year. I have also participated in volunteer work with community partners and my experience with Browns Community Services definitely stands out. They are a Slough-based CIC that offer a wide variety of social services, but I reached out expressing interest in their domestic abuse services. They took me on as a volunteer domestic abuse and exploitation counselling coordinator, meaning that I call and speak with potential service users about their situation and the support offered at Browns. It’s incredibly bittersweet as it is difficult hearing their circumstances, but I also hear feelings of hope as I tell them about the counselling they are eligible for. Volunteering for them really confirmed my interest in the social work sector and following graduation, I’ll be beginning a similar role, albeit in an in-person capacity.
2. Please could you tell us more about the Homelessness Project you founded last year?
I have always had a special interest in helping the homeless, even when I was a little kid, so I wanted to pursue volunteering in this area as well. In my Foundation Year and second year, I collected donations from other students to put together bags of essential toiletries and would hand them out in Central London. I wanted to do this in a more formal capacity, so I reached out to the Volunteer Hub manager, Phil Simcock, and pitched him the plan I developed for the Homeless Project which he then approved of. I reached out to local homeless charities and spoke with Meg from the Chertsey-based Just a Helping Hand who make high-quality rucksacks of essential items that they hand out in Runnymede and surrounding areas. The Homeless Project promotes their Amazon Wishlist, and they were the recipients of the £715 raised during the sleep-out. We hosted this sleep-out in February and had around 20 students spent the night in Founders Square to get a feeling for what it’s like to not have a roof over your head when it’s cold. I also connected with Slough Homeless Our Concern who operate a day centre in Slough and provide a variety of services to homeless individuals. I coordinated soup kitchen sessions where I take a group of students to cook and serve hot food each month to around 50 service users each month. It’s been incredibly rewarding to serve a dish that could very well be someone’s only hot meal that day and it’s been great to hear the positive response from the service users, SHOC and students alike. We also hosted a menstrual product drive in March for Women’s History Month to be donated to Just a Helping Hand. These items are not donated as often to homeless charities but are absolutely essential, so we were very pleased to have collected around 50 items from different societies. It’s been really great to work with these different charities and see the direct impact being made in the community.
3. What are your hopes for the project moving forward?
I will be graduating in July so the project will be handed to current project leaders Deya Kombakova and Maria San Miguel Vidal, and a third new project leader. They are very passionate about the project and I am confident it’s in good hands. I would like to see the sleep-out become an annual event with the fundraising goal being raised each year. Now that the project has established a presence on campus, I hope that more students will participate in the event. Slough Homeless Our Concern (SHOC) are very keen to have the next cohort of project leaders continue the soup kitchen sessions next year so those will remain as staple events. I would love to see the next group run more unique fundraiser events, such as a sponsored walk to London or work with local businesses to carry-out a raffle. There are also plans to collaborate with an additional charity, Spelthorne Rentstart, and assist with and promote their volunteer opportunities. Since I will be remaining in the UK following graduation, I hope to stay in contact and participate in future events.
4. What skills do you think you have developed through volunteering at university?
I have become so much more outgoing and show more initiative since volunteering at university. I was incredibly shy when I moved here and found volunteering opportunities to be a great way for me to immerse myself in the new community and meet like-minded people. I am no longer afraid to advocate for myself and others, feel comfortable asking for help and am generally more confident in myself. As for career-specific skills, I have really learned how to work with individuals in sensitive situations and managing stress. I consistently work with people from all walks of life and have become much more informed of different cultures, disabilities, beliefs and circumstances. I believe that the volunteering I have done has really set me up for success as I pursue work in the social care sector.
5. How does it feel to be recognised for your volunteering efforts and how have you been celebrating?
It is really flattering. It is especially so given that I am an international student so to me it also represents being involved and recognised in a different community than the one I grew up in. I was invited to the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle for the Coronation Champion award so I can say that I celebrated with Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Take That!
6. Do you have any tips for others who may be considering getting involved in volunteering to help make a positive impact in their own way?
My biggest piece of advice is to not be afraid to put yourself out there if you do not see a specific volunteering opportunity that catches your eye. If you know an organisation that you would like to volunteer for, but they have not advertised volunteering or their listing doesn’t feel applicable to you, don’t hesitate to send an email expressing interest. Many organisations are keen to have help and by reaching out first, you will show them that you are passionate and willing to take initiative. You may be able to organise volunteer work that will help you gain the specific skills and experience you are after. Everybody has to start somewhere and the first step can be daunting, but the charity sector is full of lovely people who are willing to lend a hand.