Celebrating the recent success of your HFC Society, and a round up of ways to do good in your community!
Help us to celebrate the massive achievement of Jess Caldwell, the Committee Manager of the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Society (HFC), in helping Staffordshire University become bronze accredited by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society!
The Students’ Union chatted to Jess about how this started and what accreditation means for our student community…
What is Hedgehog Friendly Campus (HFC)?
Hedgehog Friendly Campus is a national programme funded by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS). It aims to recognise and award UK primary schools, colleges and universities that modify their campus to improve the habitability for European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), to combat the declining hedgehog populations.
Those participating progress through bronze, silver, and gold levels by completing a choice of actions.
How and why did you get involved?
During my third year of my Biological Science studies, I focused my dissertation on recommending habitat improvements for European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in my hometown, and I’ve never stopped talking about hedgehogs since.
My supervisor Dr Eleanor Atkins mentioned the Hedgehog Friendly Campus (HFC) accreditation scheme in a planning meeting. We discussed using hotdogs to attract hedgehogs to footprint tunnels at the time! After that I read up about the scheme, saw that Staffordshire University wasn’t involved and went for it!
I’m very pleased at where we’re at now but I’m already aiming for the silver accreditation.
What activities did you do to achieve the award?
To achieve the bronze accreditation, we implemented a variety of actions across the campus including:
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A hedgehog home (amazingly named Hedgehog Quarters) on campus, across from the Sir Stanley Matthew Sports Centre
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A bug hotel on campus – the Wild Staffs project implemented 2
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A few hedgehog surveys conducted predominantly by Dina Till – hedgehogs have been detected on campus!
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Participating in the Big Hog-Friendly Litter Pick Challenge (we collected 28 bags total)
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Fundraised for the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
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Placed hedgehog awareness posters around campus, including in the groundskeeping staff room.
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Checked for warning labels on groundskeeping equipment to check for hedgehogs before undertaking work.
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Regularly updating social media with hedgehog facts, updates on the campaign and interacting with other universities about the campaign.
What do you think this award means to the university and its students?
Staffordshire University is committed to becoming a more sustainable university and reducing our environmental impact.
Helps the ‘university’s goal of achieving major changes in environmental sustainability through research, innovation and enterprise and student and civic engagement.’ The award, especially being driven by students and attracting hedgehogs to our campus, really contributes to this goal.
Where can I volunteer?
There is a plethora of organisations and opportunities available, which can be a bit overwhelming if you're not sure where to start, so we've done some of the groundwork for you and compiled a list of the latest opportunities that you might be interested in:
Sustainability & the Environment
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Green Gym Volunteer, TCV– This volunteering role will help maintain and develop the environment at Silverdale Country Park and Hassall Green Nature Reserve whilst benefitting the volunteers wellbeing through physical activity, social connections and spending time in the natural environment.
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Cycle Support Volunteer, Green Door CIO - Helping to maintain a variety of cycles, preparing cycles prior to hire, and assisting beneficiaries with the hiring of cycles
Care In the Community
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Trustee, Fegg Hayes Futures - are looking for up to four enthusiastic and committed individuals to join their Trustee team and contribute towards making a real difference in the communities we serve.
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Support Volunteer, ACE Research - ACE are looking for volunteers aged 55 or over who are not in full-time employment. Volunteers will be supporting older people aged 65 plus to get active within their local community and connected again. The volunteering roles are only 6 months long and all volunteers will be matched with local participants that have similar interests to them.
Digital Skills
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Digital Champion, Stoke-on-Trent City Council Libraries Division - Digital Champions can help bridge the gap between getting started and becoming a confident user. You will work with people on a one-to-one basis in libraries and also support library work clubs. Help to promote library online services including eBooks, eAudio Books and eMagazines.
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Social Media Officer – The Gingerbread Centre are looking for a social media savvy volunteer to help shape how they use existing social media platforms and develop our online presence. This will include Facebook and Instagram pages as well as exploring new ways to engage their followers and share our message. If this sounds like you, please have a look at their website, and social media channels, design a post you think they could use to raise awareness of the charity, and send this via email to: Chris_Belyavin@gingerbreadcentre.co.uk explaining why this post will help increase engagement.
Working With Animals
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Dog Fosterer – Canine Partners. Puppy Parent volunteers experience all the joys and challenges of having a new puppy in the home, helping the puppy to learn how to behave by taking verbal and visual cues.
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Fundraising Co-ordinator – Guide Dogs for the blind. As Lead member of your local fundraising group, you are the key liaison between staff and volunteers. You will organise and manage volunteers, meetings, events, collections and keep group members up to date with news and events.
Online / Remote
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Post Pals - to ‘Post a Smile on a Sick Child’s Face’ by the sending of cards, letters, emails and little gifts to seriously ill children and their siblings in the UK. It couldn’t be easier for anyone of any age to get involved, requires no commitment and costs only a stamp and 5 minutes of your time.
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IT Support Coordinator, Citizens Advice Cheadle - We use IT for keeping track of cases, keeping in touch with our clients, assessing e-services on their behalf and monitoring trends. As an IT Coordinator you would: - Support local Citizens Advice Cheadle staff and volunteers - Get to the root of any technical problems and help to solve these - Web design - Assist with email advice etc.
Please check your Students’ Union volunteer page to find more local, national, and international volunteering opportunities.
As always, don't forget to log all of your volunteering hours on your Volunteering Profile, it's quick and easy to do and relevant entries will be included in your HEAR.