Student ‘Oscars’ to celebrate contribution to Bristol life

Press release issued: 12 June 2013

Students at the University of Bristol will be dusting off their best suits and dresses for the end-of-term awards season – four glitzy ceremonies held to honour the students and staff who make a difference to life in Bristol. All aspects of student life will be recognised, whether it’s volunteering, fundraising, campaigning, getting involved in student media or sport.

All aspects of student life will be recognised, whether it’s volunteering, fundraising, campaigning, getting involved in student media or sport.

The events, organised by the University of Bristol Students’ Union (UBU), begin on Monday [17 June] with the Society and Media Awards, followed by the Sports Awards on Tuesday, then the RAG and Volunteering Awards on Wednesday before culminating in the black tie Union Awards on Thursday.

The RAG and Volunteering Awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of the students who have given up their time to fundraise, volunteer and help local and national charities.

Every year, dedicated students spend 100,000 hours volunteering and raise over £120,000 for local and national causes through innovative events and projects.

The money raised by students throughout the year will be presented to the local charities which have been selected through the Quartet Community Foundation - a local grant giving organisation which allows charities to apply for grants to fund local projects.

Samantha Budd, Chief Executive of UBU, said: “Thousands of students engage in a really wide range of projects and activities through the Students' Union every year. The contribution that they make to improving the University's reputation, as well as giving back to the local community, is often overlooked. We hope that that this series of awards will raise awareness of and recognise the quality and breadth of that contribution.”

The week will culminate in the Union Awards on Thursday, a black tie event celebrating the wealth of student talent, dedication and contribution to Bristol life.

UBU are offering the Bristol public the chance to vote in the Outstanding Contribution to Bristol Life category. To vote and for full details of the nominees, visit www.ubu.org.uk/bristollife before voting closes on Friday [14 June].

The five nominees are:

Pauli Platek: She’s started a new UBU Volunteering project called the Clothes Line which works with local charity 1625 Independent People to provide young homeless people with outfits for job and further education interviews.
Lucy King: A final year student who has been a dedicated committee member of the Amnesty International society, Oxfam, Bristol Hub, and a volunteer with the Moringa Tree based at Hamilton House in Bristol.
Bristol One World Film Festival: A group of students organised ‘One world, one minute, our moment’ - a short film festival to inspire imagination and creativity in sustainability.
FoodCycle Bristol: A group that brings together students and young volunteers with the aim of using surplus food to provide for those in need in Bristol. Every Sunday, a delicious three course meal is cooked up for people in food poverty at the Easton Community Centre. They also run a pop-up student restaurant.
Jump Cut Short Film Festival: a brand new short film festival held in May to showcase films by young and student filmmakers.