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Forge Press MONDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2023
Sheffield students took part in over 36,000 hours of volunteering last year Luke Hand (he/him) In figures released by Sheffield Volunteering, students at the University of Sheffield spent 36,621 hours helping over 180 local Sheffield charities and projects between 2022 and 2023. Across the year, over 1,800 students volunteered across internal and external projects alongside give it a go sessions. In a message on social media, Sheffield Volunteering said: “Thank you to our student volunteers for dedicating your time and skills to making a difference in the Sheffield community this year.” Sheffield Volunteering is a Students Union run service with over 2000 student volunteers. Volunteers worked on a range of projects, from assisting mental health charities to preparing and serving meals to the homeless. Professor Koen Lamberts, President and ViceChancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: "Dedicating more than 37,000 volunteering hours to support local schools, charities and businesses shows the pride our students have in being part of the Sheffield community. "I would like to thank all of our student volunteers for their important contributions and for making a difference to people's lives."
THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
FORGEPRESS.ORG
The end of the 80p ‘Zoom Card’ • Students’ Union take campaign to Mayor’s office in battle to stop transport fare hike
George Devo (he/him) The University's Students’ Union have called on Oliver Coppard, the Mayor of South-Yorkshire, to halt the scheduled increase to travel fares for young people. The South-Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Zoom Beyond scheme currently allows residents of the region aged between 18 to 21 to buy single tickets on buses and trams for 80p, from the 1st November this is set to rise to £1.50 for most of Sheffield’s bus services and £2 for trams.
Launched in 2021, the scheme quickly grew in popularity amongst Sheffield’s students, with the ‘Zoom Card’ - the provided proof of registration becoming a common sight on campus. The Students’ Union (SU) has teamed up with its equivalent at Sheffield Hallam and the South Yorkshire Youth Combined Authority (SYYCA) to call for restoration of the 80p rate. In an email to Oliver Coppard, the two institutions stated that they were “deeply concerned” by the news,
describing the consequences that the “financial strain” of greater prices risked causing for students: “With 40% of UoS students reporting a major impact [on their mental health] due to financial pressures, accessible and cost-effective transportation options become crucial in supporting students' mental well-being.” “A concerning 6% of UoS students (equivalent to 1,800 students) are contemplating dropping out due to the cost of living crisis. "Affordable transport can be a pivotal factor in...
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