The event will see over 200 staff and students take part in numerous activities in Sheffield from Wednesday June 18 until Saturday June 21 2008 – making it the University's biggest ever volunteering event.

On Wednesday June 18 a group of students will create and prepare a school garden at Wybourn Community School ready for the nursery children to plant out.

On the same day, over 30 staff from the University's Department of Finance will develop a meadow garden for residents of Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice and their families to use during their time with the hospice.

Other activities taking place during the rest of the week include: Staff creating a patio area on Darnall Community Allotment; staff repairing planters in Broomhall to brighten up the streets; light conservation work of the Parkwood Springs; the creation of a memorial garden at Lodge Young People's Centre and students working with the British Heart Foundation to make heart themed costumes, which they will then wear to collect money for the charity.

Staff and students will also work with the Swamp Circus Trust to put on a show of street theatre to raise awareness about environmental issues.

'Summer Volidays' has been organised by SheffieldVolunteering at the University of Sheffield's Union of Students. The event is designed to enable staff and students at the University to give something back to their local community and encourage more people to take up volunteering opportunities.

Stella McHugh, Head of SheffieldVolunteering, said:

" 'Summer Volidays' is all about getting people who have never volunteered before involved in activities and showing them how fun and rewarding it can be. For students it is also a great opportunity to give something back to the community before they leave for their summer break.

"I am extremely grateful to all the staff and student volunteers who have decided to get involved and who are making a positive contribution to the city in which they work and study."

Caroline Artschan from Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, said:

"We are delighted that the University of Sheffield is supporting our attempts to ensure that everything is in place for the Hospice opening in September.

"At the moment the proposed garden is a strip of baron land, rather reminiscent of a former building site, and our resources are all being stretched to the limit to provide essential medical equipment and furniture for the opening. We are really pleased that SheffieldVolunteering has once again come to the rescue."


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