Volunteer Figures on the Rise

The 'Year of the Volunteer? may be coming to an end however students at Edge Hill are determined to keep up the good work.

The institution?s Student Community Action group is particularly thriving with around 180 members now on board ? a number that has doubled in the past two years.

The SCA ? which has been organising events and activities for children with disabilities in the West Lancashire area for almost 30 years ? hosts a two-week summer play scheme, monthly fun-days and a three-day event at Easter.

SCA Co-ordinator Rosa Hussey said: "A lot of our volunteers are undergraduates from Ormskirk and Skelmersdale however a number of former students keep returning to help out.

"Our events are a great chance for students to put something back into the local community and it's really pleasing to see that our database of volunteers is just getting bigger and bigger."

The two-week summer play scheme involves volunteers collecting children from home and taking them to places such as Knowsley Safari Park and Camelot Theme Park, before dropping them off at the end of the day.

The fun-days give children the chance to get involved in a range of sporting activities alongside trips to cinemas and bowling alleys, with the last event being a visit to the World Museum Liverpool in November.

"The students really enjoy taking the children to places they may not usually get the chance to go to," added Rosa. "The children themselves have a great time as well and I know that parents are extremely grateful for SCA?s support."