��«Ӱҵ

Staff and students at the University of ��«Ӱҵ have come together to donate more than 150 Christmas shoeboxes to local charities which support families, homeless youth, isolated elderly, and others facing challenges this Christmas. 

The shoeboxes, packed with toys, toiletries, treats, and handmade gifts, will be given to ��«Ӱҵ Shoebox Appeal and distributed to charities, including St Vincent De Paul and Roundabout. Each charity serves a vital role in the community, offering support to vulnerable groups during the holiday season.

The scheme has brought together staff, students, and the wider community to work together to donate and collect items. There have also been generous donations from businesses including Tesco, Lidl, and Sainsbury’s, and community groups such as in Upperthorpe, which donated hand-knitted and hand-crocheted hats, scarves and toys. 

Last week staff, students, and members of the local community gathered to wrap and assemble the boxes, each tailored for young children, adults, or the elderly to ensure they receive gifts suitable for their age and needs. 

The University donations were coordinated by staff at the student residences and the Students’ Union volunteering service.

Andrew Woffindin, Contracts and Sustainable Coordinator at the University of ��«Ӱҵ, emphasised the importance of coming together to support the local community.

He said: “This project is about much more than the shoeboxes; it’s about building connections, spreading kindness, and showing that we can make a real difference when we work together. 

“By bringing together students, staff, and local organisations, we’re not just helping those in need - we’re fostering a sense of shared purpose and community spirit that lasts far beyond the holiday season.”

At the wrapping event, Daniel, a student volunteer with Residence Life, shared his motivation for getting involved. 

He said: “It’s really nice to do something that makes you feel involved in the local community, and like you can give something back. If you were in need, you’d want someone to help you - that’s why I wanted to help out this year.”

Kay Limb, from the Accommodation and Commercial Services (ACS) team at the University, who volunteered at the event, said:  “I’m so proud of how much bigger the event is this year. There’s lots more variation in the donations, and lots more time and effort has gone in. We’ve collected shoeboxes for three years now and this year is by far the biggest, meaning we can reach more and more people in the local community each year.”

Donations for this year’s shoebox appeal have now closed. The University thanks everyone who contributed to making this initiative a success.