The National Student Fundraising Awards are an annual event where the best students, groups and charities are celebrated for the impact they have had on student fundraising throughout the year. We are delighted to have been nominated for 5 awards, the highest amount from one University. It's great to see the hard work and dedication being recognised at a national level.
Here is a summary of the nominations:
Most Improved Fundraising Group – Bath RAG
This award is for a student group who have improved significantly since the previous year, including increased funds raised and increased participation and engagement. Bath RAG has more than doubled the funds raised in just 12 months, from £4,000 last year to over £8,000 this year. They have organised an incredible 11 events this year which has unsurprisingly increased student participant and engagement in fundraising activities.
Collaboration of the Year – BUBT and Bath Women’s Rugby
This award celebrates student groups and/or individuals who have worked together towards a common fundraising goal to achieve incredible success. BUBT and Women’s Rugby collaborated throughout March for International Women’s Month, to organise an incredible timetable of events for students to get involved with. Their fundraising endeavours even attracted the attention of ITV News and Good Morning Britain – raising vital awareness for the 3 women’s charities. BUBT and Women’s Rugby were instrumental in Bath’s overall total for the month of £13,000.
Innovation Award - BUBT and Bath Women’s Rugby
This award celebrates students who use their innovation to create incredible fundraising activities with minimal resources - making a big impact with a small budget. BUBT and Women’s Rugby worked together throughout International Women’s Month to deliver some incredible and unique events which brought in significant funds. With a budget of zero, the two groups managed to organise events such as a Boobs n Booze life painting workshop, a Boob Ball tournament and a charity rugby match. Using initiatives such as a raffle with donated prizes and a ‘predict-the-score’ game to boost income, the groups were able to organise amazing events and raise significant funds.
Newcomer Impact Award – Hazel Joel
This award goes to a staff member within the charity sector who has started within 2 years. It is awarded to someone who has made a significant impact to student fundraising in just a short period. Hazel is our Fundraising Coordinator at the SU and having joined just over a year ago, she has already made significant improvements to the fundraising offer at the University, empowering students to organise some amazing events throughout the year. A whopping 107 fundraising events have been organised by students this year and an incredible £80,000 has been raised for various charitable causes this year alone.
Student Fundraising Group of the Year – University of Bath Rugby Club and Bath RAG
This award goes to the overall student fundraising group of the year who has shown exceptional dedication to fundraising and raising awareness of various charities throughout the academic year.
University of Bath Rugby Club - The Rugby Club has demonstrated unparalleled dedication to charitable causes across the year. Their Movember campaign saw them raise over £16,000 in just one month through events such as a 60-hour cycle, a charity rugby match, and a ‘Movember Day.’ The club also poignantly demonstrated its understanding of the cause through various viral videos in which members shared their own battles with mental health. Along with their Movember campaign, the club also were crucial to the success of International Women’s Month, raising awareness and funds for 3 female-oriented charities.
Bath RAG – Following a tough year for fundraising previously, RAG have shown incredible commitment to fundraising this year, more than doubling their fundraising total from the previous year and organising a huge calendar of incredible events across the academic year. Some of their ingenious events include the Zombie Apocalypse, Valentine’s Ball, and Fireworks at the Rec. Their events have been engaging, and unique and have most importantly helped to raise funds and awareness of some wonderful charities.
The award winners will be announced at a glitzy ceremony in Southampton on Tuesday 9 July. We wish all our students nominated the very best of luck, we’re so proud of everything that has been achieved this year!