A big thank you this Volunteers’ Week: Celebrating our Loughborough Family

Two people. A student holds a microphone whilst Amy Ward speaks.

Amy Ward, a member of the Alumni Advisory Board being interviewed by Jemima Biodun-Bello who is a Student Ambassador at the University's Alumni Reunion Weekend.

This Volunteers’ Week (3-9 June), we would like to say thank you to the many alumni who have generously given their time to support the University and our students over the past year. Your dedication and efforts are significantly valued by the entire Loughborough community.

People standing looking towards someone on a stage, speaking. There is a screen on the wall behind the stage with “Welcome to TalkSport 2024” on.
Jo Maher, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Sport at Loughborough University speaking at this year's Talk Sport Conference.

There has been over 260 volunteering activities since June 2023 and more than 180 alumni have participated, with some alumni giving their time for multiple events. This included a range of activities where alumni supported students through guest lectures, mentoring, and career advice, contributing significantly to the development of students. 

Alumni also contribute by giving their time year-round as board members, advisers and ambassadors. 

Our Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) is made up of more than 20 dedicated members who meet regularly under the leadership of President Dr Luke Stott. Its members offer support with all aspects of alumni engagement, from advocacy to supporting events and providing an alumni perspective on the University’s strategic development. 

Our International Alumni Ambassadors help us to engage and with alumni networks worldwide. They help to build and develop the alumni network in the region that they are based in and provide insight into their experiences of life at Loughborough with current and prospective students. Having commenced their brand-new roles in January, we have already seen several events and meet-ups supported by our ambassadors, with plans for other regular activities in the pipeline in locations worldwide.  

Globally, alumni have contributed to pre-departure events for incoming students, and supported offer-holders at the University. In May, 30 alumni gathered in China and worked with The Global Engagement Team (China) to offer practical tips for things such as campus life and pre-departure information to offer-holders at the University.  

Some of our voluntary activities take place every year. For instance, in February, our Talk Sport Conference engaged over 400 students, staff, alumni and exhibitors across the Loughborough and London campuses.  

Alumni also support many Inspiring Minds sessions, contributing to panels on topics such as business and economics, STEM, social sciences and humanities, and sports. Alumni share their career journeys, emphasise the importance of internships, passion, and university resources, and discuss challenges like industry competition and technological advancements. 

Recently, Careers Network hosted the first ever Women in Enterprise Conference where several alumnae contributed to panel discussions sharing their expertise. Alumna Lara Milward delivered an empowering keynote on boosting women entrepreneurs by advocating for mental strength, embracing challenges, using the PRR method, and supporting female networks. 

Many alumni choose to contribute in other ways, too. From offering job opportunities and advocating for Loughborough, to mentoring or donating philanthropically, we are grateful for all the support that we receive from our alumni and friends.  

Thank you to everyone who has stayed connected with Loughborough. If you’re interested in offering your time and expertise in the future, please get in touch