Winner of inspiring student volunteer award announced

Governance | Kirsty Weakley | 24 Feb 2012

A University of Southampton medical student has won Volunteering England’s inspiring student volunteer award 2012.

Nathan Highton was given the Matt Spencer Award as part of Student Volunteer Week which took place from 20 - 26 February.

He was nominated by a course mate for his involvement in charities including HIV education charity HIVE, the student branch of Anthony Nolan, known as Marrow, and for volunteering at a local youth club.

Highton has been on the committee for both HIVE and Marrow and was also the national president of the latter. In his term as president he has increased the number of people signing up to donate and reached an all-time fundraising high.

He said: “I was very surprised at even being nominated, let alone receiving this great award. To me I just do what I enjoy and it’s really humbling to be recognised for doing this.”

Justin Davis-Smith, chief executive of Volunteering England said: “We are delighted to give the Matt Spencer Award to Nathan, who embodies the true spirit of student volunteering.”

Volunteering England received 19 nominations after launching a social media campaign five weeks ago. It chose a shortlist of three which was sent to Matt Spencer's family to select a winner from.

Matt Spencer was an active student volunteer at Queen Mary and Westfield College and was responsible for setting up the London branch of Student Volunteering UK. Following his death in 2001 his family set up the award to recognise the work of student volunteers. Each winner receives an inscribed tankard, a cheque for £100 and a bottle of champagne.

To find out what else has been going on during Student Volunteering Week click here.

Directory: Volunteering England

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