JCR Outreach

JCR Outreach Officer Rory Leventhorpe

For as long as I can remember over most of this year, emails have been signed off with a variant of "hope you are keeping well in these strange and uncertain times". Unfortunately for some, these 'strange and uncertain times' have hit them much harder than anyone could have imagined. Whilst we as students complain that we can’t go to the library for a 24hour stint and the bars are closing too early, there are others whose lives have been radically altered by the times we find ourselves in. It is now, more important than ever, that charitable deeds, compassion and selfless acts happen.

This term in Snow, a lot has been going on as part of our Outreach, Charity and Volunteering initiatives. We had an outstanding number of applications to the newly formed 'Outreach Committee', which really highlighted the desire for people to get involved and I was pleasantly surprised by the number of applicants from first years, thank you. We have already had our first meeting and the ideas being put out there are sure to make next Term a good one.

We have been working in the confines of COVID security so some of the big plans we had have had to be curtailed but we have found a way to do our bit as a community. Our newly created connections and work alongside DUSVO means that Snow is much more actively involved in the wider Durham community and we have volunteers, (from first years through to Postgraduates), engaged in an assortment of projects. There has been work with BeyondFood, to create a food donation drop-off point in the JCR which is going to be running throughout the year. We also have a book drop off point for unused and unwanted books which will eventually be used in a Durham Wide book swap, with all funds raised going to charity, so over the holiday period please have a sort through your books and bring any unwanted ones back with you.

In addition to Jack’s incredible Snowvemeber online programme, Outreach in Snow has been taking a different twist on this month with Movemeber. Whilst this year we are not dying people’s hair pink or listening to the dulcet tones of George Hall singing Abba, there has been a massive effort to raise money for men’s health. We have had Bake Sales, shaved heads, many a mile run and even more, a moustache grown. A huge shout-out is needed for both the men’s and women’s rugby teams who have collectively raised £3,366.00 with their own Movember campaign.

Finally, this festive season we are running the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Child Shoe Box appeal. At a time when Christmas and the Holidays will feel different for everyone, it is important to recognise how different the experience will be for people, especially children, less fortunate than ourselves. We will be distributing these boxes to livers-in and livers-out, our target is 100 boxes.

It’s been a strange year for everybody but hopefully we have all realised the importance of giving back to others and can continue this in to the next year.

Best wishes to you all!