If you’re planning on making New Year’s Resolution today then we have a suggestion – why not pledge some time to help others with #DMUlocal?
Thanks to our dedicated students and staff, #DMUlocal is able to transform lives of families and communities through a series of projects to support schools, improve health and wellbeing, and champion Leicester as a great place to study, live and work.
During the last academic year more than 2,800 students took part in projects, committing more than 33,000 hours of volunteering. This year, we want to do even more – and have set a target for a record year in 2018.
By the end of June, we aim to have more than 3,500 DMU students engaged in #DMUlocal projects, giving back to the city of Leicester and overseas – including India, Thailand, New York City and Berlin!
And there’s never been a better time to get involved, with more than 25 new projects due to launch this year. Click HERE to find out how you can join.
Mark Charlton, head of public engagement at De Montfort University Leicester, said: “It’s going to be a record year for #DMUlocal in 2018. We are excited to be working on new projects which will deliver real benefits for people and communities.
“We would urge anyone thinking of volunteering with us to get in touch and find out how they can get involved. Our student volunteers give back to the community which has become their home while studying at DMU – not only do they get to feel good by doing good, they make new friends and enrich their studies.”
From helping to teach coding to primary school children to doing the weekly shop for people living with cancer, students can choose how they volunteer. And this week students fly out to New York where they will be working with the United Nations on projects to help refugees.
Imtiaz Kapasi, a Business and Marketing student, volunteered at children’s technology showcase Create-A-Con, which aims to inspire youngsters about careers in science. He said: “I think the benefit for me is actually seeing happiness on the kids’ faces.”
Accounting and Finance student Vinita Raichande and English MA student Andrea Porter gave up their time to wrap teddy bears so men in prison could have gifts to give their children at Christmas. Vinita said: “Volunteering at DMU helps you get to know more people and I feel this is a really good cause.”
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Andrea added: “It is such a lovely idea. I have a friend who is a prison tutor and when I told her what I was doing she said ‘Thank you. The one thing the men feel strongly about is being able to give their children a present at Christmas.”
DMU’s public good focus began in 2011 with the launch of DMU Square Mile – working in a literal square mile immediately surrounding the campus.
We've since created two more Square Miles - one in Leicester's Thurnby Lodge, Leicester, and another in Ahmedabad, India but our team of volunteers will go wherever they are needed to support the aims of #DMUlocal.
#DMUlocal works closely with partners including the NHS, Leicester City Council, Curve, Leicester Comedy Festival, Leicester Phoenix Cinema, Macmillan, local businesses, AGE UK and arts organisations to deliver its projects.
Posted on Monday 1 January 2018