Winchester Hub and Winchester Student Union are both student led organisations, who are interested in social and environmental issues, and empowering students to take up leadership roles in pioneering change.
At Winchester Hub, we're heavily involved in the community, providing additional school tuition, access to the arts, and the opportunity to get involved in a variety of one-off volunteering events such as litter-picking and maintaining Stanmore's green spaces. We also provide support for students interested in starting their own social enterprise, or tackling relevant social problems such as social isolation.
As well as Winchester Hub, there's also a variety of different charity groups and non-profits which operate on campus. Here's some a selection of some great student led groups that you can get involved with during your degree at the University of Winchester:
Uni Boob Team
Winchester's Uni Boob group are all about spreading awareness about breast cancer and fundraising for the national charity, Coppafeel! Uni Boob has aligned itself with Coppafeel!'s mission to challenge taboos and misconception surrounding breasts and breast cancer.
Uni Boob host approximately six fundraisers each year, which have the dual purpose of spreading awareness about the symptoms of breast cancer, and how women can recognise them early on.
Unlike a lot of societies, Uni Boob have no joining fee, so if you'd like to find out more about how you can help fundraise for Uni Boob, click here.
Winchester Marrow
Winchester Marrow is part of a national network of Marrow groups in UK universities and colleges. Winchester Marrow regularly run donor recruitment events on campus to encourage more people to register as potential stem cell donors with Anthony Nolan.
The young people who join the register have a 1 in 100 chance of being matched with a blood cancer patient. These incredible group of 16-30 year olds who are willing to donate their stem cells are often crucial in curing blood cancers like leukaemia.
Winchester Marrow also run several fundraising events throughout the year, with the proceeds going to Anthony Nolan's work with stem cell donations. If you'd like to find out more about Winchester Marrow, and perhaps help out with some of their events, click here.
RAG Society
The RAG in the RAG Society stands for 'Raising and Giving.' RAG is the official fundraising branch of Winchester Student Union.
The society has their own week of events in Week 3 of Semester 2. RAG Week features a colourful programme of events hosted by students, societies, and representational networks to raise money for RAG's approved list of charities. You can find that list here.
Amongst lots of other events, this year:
- Several dedicated fundraisers received shaving foam pies to the face in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness.
- The SU's weekly quiz donated their proceedings to Wessex Cancer Trust
- A group of brave individuals were sponsored to participate in the 'Runderpants Mile' for Nerve Tumours, in support the 26,500 people affected by nerve tumours across the UK.
RAG also encourage societies to fundraise for the various charities from their approved list throughout the year. If you'd like to get involved in RAG, or you'd like to find out more about raising money for one of their approved charities, just visit the Student Union's website.
BSL Sign Language Society
One of the most recent additions to the list of societies supported by Winchester Student Union is the BSL or British Sign Language society.
70 billion people use sign language globally as their primary method of communication, so the important work the BSL society does helps bridge the language gap between hearing people and the hearing impaired.
You don't need any prior knowledge of BSL to join, just come along on Monday evenings to social, informal sessions designed to teach you everything, from basic greetings to cheesy chat up lines!
The committee also run fundraisers and varied social events throughout the year for their members to get involved in!
If you'd like to do your bit to increase awareness for the need for BSL, whilst also learning a new skill, find out more here.
Skill up this semester
Winchester Hub run regular, free-to-attend training sessions throughout the year on a variety of topics. Over the past year, our committee have run sessions on Autism Awareness, Environmental Action, and Volunteering to Employment. Keep an eye on our Facebook page to stay up to date with the latest training events!
Veggie and Vegan Society
Veganism has become a popular way to do your bit for the planet. Reducing your meat consumption helps to reduce the growing need for farmland, which results in less deforestation, and less business for the inefficient and pollutant meat industry.
The Veggie and Vegan society are particularly concerned with animal welfare, but are also passionate about making memories together. The Veggie and Vegan society meet for great days and nights out, which of course, includes mutual enjoyment of great food!
Everyone is welcome - whether you don't eat meat for the animals, or the environmental and health benefits, or you're just interested in finding out about something new, you're sure of a warm welcome! Find out more here.
Fancy mid-semester boost?
Join Winchester Hub for our second Project SOUP event, where we'll be making some delicious vegetable soup for you to try! Project SOUP is a way for us to raise money to Support Our Upcoming Projects and reduce food waste, as our ingredients were kindly donated by local supermarkets and restaurants.
Join us this Friday in the Food Hall 4.30-7pm for a delicious winter warmer to keep you going through the semester. We hope to see you there!
