Tips on choosing student recipients for the National Volunteer Award.
1) Form a judging panel
It is for you to decide who should be involved in judging the awards at your university or college. We suggest you try and involve students in the decision making process,
perhaps a student representatives or any other student groups. Whether you are a college, university or Students’ Union, this is a great opportunity is to use members of your senior management team as a means of raising awareness about your student volunteers. You might like to combine students with senior management, student volunteering practitioners, lecturers, or sabbaticals – it is completely up to you.
2) Create a shortlist of students for your judging panel
Depending on the number of nominations that you receive, you may need to create a shortlist of students to present to your judging panel, then consider the four criteria
and choose students who really display these qualities. Using the suggested award allocation, decide how many awards you should present.
3) Make your decision
Brief your panel so that they understand the criteria on which the volunteers are being judged. The panel should be made aware that this a prestigious national award, and that the award is a mark of excellence. You can then consider why each student is worthy of an award. Then decide on the winners.
4. Request the Certificates
Once you have selected winners, request the appropriate number of certificates, by completing the application form on the www.studentvolunteeringnetwork.org
5. Presenting the Certificates
You might want to:
Invite someone prestigious to present the award, perhaps the College
Principal or the University Vice Chancellor.
Organise an awards ceremony to raise the profile of student volunteering at your college, university or student’s union.
Have an official presentation by a senior member of staff;
Allocate the award during another major event to integrate into wider organisational initiatives.
The awards are a great way to get recognition for your students outside of your institution or organisation, so don’t forget to:
Work closely with PR departments;
Invite a professional photographer along to take a few snaps of the winners along with representatives from your college, university, or student’s union,
Invite local press (working with your Press Officer) to come along and witness the awards
Send a post-awards press piece to your local paper
Let Student Volunteering Network know about any press coverage you have gained.
1) Form a judging panel
It is for you to decide who should be involved in judging the awards at your university or college. We suggest you try and involve students in the decision making process,
perhaps a student representatives or any other student groups. Whether you are a college, university or Students’ Union, this is a great opportunity is to use members of your senior management team as a means of raising awareness about your student volunteers. You might like to combine students with senior management, student volunteering practitioners, lecturers, or sabbaticals – it is completely up to you.
2) Create a shortlist of students for your judging panel
Depending on the number of nominations that you receive, you may need to create a shortlist of students to present to your judging panel, then consider the four criteria
and choose students who really display these qualities. Using the suggested award allocation, decide how many awards you should present.
3) Make your decision
Brief your panel so that they understand the criteria on which the volunteers are being judged. The panel should be made aware that this a prestigious national award, and that the award is a mark of excellence. You can then consider why each student is worthy of an award. Then decide on the winners.
4. Request the Certificates
Once you have selected winners, request the appropriate number of certificates, by completing the application form on the www.studentvolunteeringnetwork.org
5. Presenting the Certificates
You might want to:
Invite someone prestigious to present the award, perhaps the College
Principal or the University Vice Chancellor.
Organise an awards ceremony to raise the profile of student volunteering at your college, university or student’s union.
Have an official presentation by a senior member of staff;
Allocate the award during another major event to integrate into wider organisational initiatives.
The awards are a great way to get recognition for your students outside of your institution or organisation, so don’t forget to:
Work closely with PR departments;
Invite a professional photographer along to take a few snaps of the winners along with representatives from your college, university, or student’s union,
Invite local press (working with your Press Officer) to come along and witness the awards
Send a post-awards press piece to your local paper
Let Student Volunteering Network know about any press coverage you have gained.
