BGU Staff Wrap Up the Winter Semester Preparing Charity Presents

For the second year running staff at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) volunteered their time to ensure vulnerable individuals in Lincoln would not be forgotten this Christmas.

Beginning at 10.30am on Monday, dedicated volunteers set to work, successfully wrapping over 300 presents by the end of the day.

Donated by various well-wishers from the local community, the gifts are all in aid of Mental Health Trust Wards and Community Mental Health Groups across Lincoln who will be supporting vulnerable people over Christmas. Recipients include:

Peter Hodgkinson Centre

The Francis Willis Unit

Discovery House

Age UK

AddAction

This is the University’s second event in support of the programme and organiser Val Strawson believes the initiative couldn’t be more important at this time of year: “It means so much to those who receive gifts. Christmas can be an especially lonely time for people and these presents go a long way to showing them they are not alone or forgotten”.

Alongside the 12 full day volunteers (many of whom gave up annual leave to take part), members of staff dropped in throughout the day to lend a hand.

One volunteer, Amber Edwards, said she was excited to be involved: “It seemed like a nice thing to do, some my colleagues took part last year and had a great time. Also I love Christmas and was happy to volunteer some time to get in the festive spirit”.

Plans are already in motion to run the event again next year which is sure to be another roaring success. If you would like to know more about how to get involved in the BGU Staff Volunteering Scheme information - which supports and encourages staff to take time off for charitable activities - you can contact Sophie Saunders (Executive Assistant to the Executive Deans) or Victoria Thorne (HR Assistant).