Yes, we students can do more then lie around in bed, watching endless hours of TV series on Netflix, and we actually can be a rather helpful lot.

The Students Union at Bournemouth University is running activities this week as part of the national Student Volunteering Week to raise its profile and get students helping in the community.

The week started off with a bang with Monday and Tuesday being Good Deed Days, which involved five-minute volunteering stations where anyone could join in and make a card that will later be sold for charity.

Throughout the week, the normal student led MAD (Make A Difference) days will be held, with a lot of different activities to choose from, including Conservation rangers, Beach champions, the Alzheimer’s project and the Slades farm development scheme.

The Slades Farm project involves students helping around the grounds, to one day create a wildlife area, alongside a vast vegetable patch.

This week was no different, and even with the rain didn’t stop the eight volunteers from taking the time out of their day to help build a trench to lay plants. As a result, hedge of flowers and edible blackthorn plants will eventually shield the wildlife area.

One of the volunteers, Sangita Sivanesan said, “I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was surprisingly fun, and a good workout too, the time really flew by.”

So the afternoon lead to the roots of the project being shaped by young people, alongside the professional gardeners working together to create a better space for the community.

Sara Ardin, Project Manager, said: “I am always amazed at the dedication and willingness to learn of all our student volunteers. Without them the community garden would not be as wonderfully developed and ecologically diverse as it is now, but there is always more work to be done! The project aims to not only develop the garden but the students getting involved. This can be through working as a team or something as simple as getting fresh air and exercise.”

Although the week doesn’t end there: Wednesday will host a volunteering fair giving more information about how to get involved in helping the community. This will be followed up by an employability lecture explaining just how useful volunteering is when applying for jobs.

The leaders of this week will also be noting down what activities people have contributed towards, giving them a chance of a free ticket to the social at Lollipop on Friday.

For more information have a look at the SUBU Volunteering Website.