Supporting Collegians to become leaders that positively impact their communities is at the heart of our purpose here at King’s.

So, it’s fitting that this week (on International Volunteer Day no less) we sat down with the outgoing Residential Leader, and UCA Annual Residential College Award Program recipient, James Hall, to discuss his work in the Community in 2024.

Why motivated you to get involved in community work?

I was involved with Rotary’s RARE Program where they repurpose medical and educational equipment and send them to disadvantaged communities in Australia and the Pacific.

It was such a rewarding experience that I became a member of Rotary, and I was keen to do more and share this experience with others at King’s.

When Kings began a relationship with Rotary and established the Community Convenor Position at the College, It seemed like I was the right person for the job and I dived right into it.

What is the most rewarding aspect of volunteering?

You are surrounded by people all trying to do a good thing and this creates a really positive environment. Ultimately, you are making someone’s life a little better or giving them the support that they need to get through a tough time. There is a certain kind of happiness that you get from doing good and making a positive impact on your community.

What has been the biggest challenge of volunteering this year?

There are just so many projects out there that need people's help. It was hard to see initiatives that could really help people not get off the ground or not be as successful as they could have been due to a lack of people power.

That’s why as a Community Convener this year I really focussed on driving more participation from within King’s. With how busy life is now it's hard to find people that can fit time in their schedule to give back.

How do you balance your other commitments with volunteering?

It can get hectic with Uni, work, and other life commitments. But you just kind of make it work. The key is to find a way to help that you are passionate about. As students, we can have busy lives, but they will only get busier so now is a great time to be involved in volunteering.

What advice would you give to those considering volunteering?

Just give it a go! As we have seen this year with Rotary, there are so many worthy causes and there are so many ways to help out.

With two new Community Convenors next year in Amelie Riley and Lucy Clements I know there will be plenty of opportunities for Collegians to get involved.