Student adventures and RAG societies rewarded at London ceremony

The achievements of students who have encouraged fundraising through adventure challenges were celebrated this weekend at the first Student Adventures Adventure Leader Awards.

Sponsored by not-for-profit online fundraising service Virgin Money Giving, the movie premiere-themed ceremony took place at the British Film Institute (BFI) on London’s Southbank on Saturday 30th November.

Student Adventures works with Rags and charities to encourage students to participate in charity adventures. The Student Adventures Adventure Leader Awards 2013 were designed to celebrate success and achievement, as well as inspire new student adventure leaders for 2014.

More than 70 students from across the country were welcomed with a special surprise video from Sir Richard Branson, in which he thanked them for their hard work.

There were ten awards presented on the night, and these were:

Student Adventures Photo of the Year - Richard Francis from Portsmouth University
Student Adventures Team of the Year - Portsmouth Rag
Recruitment and Fundraising Campaign of the Year - Nottingham Karnival
Marketing Campaign of the Year - Plymouth University
Fundraisers of the Year - Warwick University’s five-day cycling team
Most Improved Rag - Southampton Rag
Fundraising Idea of the Year - Lee Watson (pictured) from Portsmouth University for his naked playing cards
Student Adventures Rag of the Year - Warwick Rag
Outstanding Achievement of the Year - Hollie Foster (pictured) from Portsmouth University
Adventure Leader of the Year - Laura Jane Ryves from Kent University

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And a special mention went to Tom Silcock from Loughborough University who put together the show reel for the night, making it feel like the Oscars!

Student Adventures was founded in 2009 by Jock Wright, the organisation’s Events Director, and Managing Director Jonathan Hansford, following their own experience of fundraising at university.

Over the years, hundreds of students have taken part in a variety of challenges, ranging from hiking to the top of Kilimanjaro or over the Andes to Machu Pichu, cycling to Paris and driving across Europe. In partnership with Rags and charities, it is estimated that Student Adventures has inspired students to raise more than £3.5million for charity over the last three years.

Jock said: “Our volunteers, who we call our Adventure Leaders, are at the heart of Student Adventures and they give their time to inspire and support student teams in raising tens of thousands of pounds before leading the way to some far flung destination.

“The inaugural Adventure Leaders Awards Night, which was kindly sponsored by Virgin Money Giving, gave us and the benefiting charities a fantastic opportunity to recognise the incredible work of these students, who in the last full academic year, helped their student teams raise in excess of £2 million for causes such as Practical Action, Meningitis Research Foundation and Breast Cancer Campaign, to name a few.

“It was a terrific night and I hope it will be the even bigger and better next year. Our thanks have to go to Virgin Money Giving, which is also our official fundraising partner, for their sponsorship to help make this possible. “

To find out more about Student Adventures, visit studentadventures.co.uk. To find out more about Virgin Money’s not-for-profit fundraising website Virgin Money Giving, visit virginmoneygiving.com.

Student adventures and RAG societies rewarded at London ceremony

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