College smashes 24-day community kindness challenge

Walsall College students, staff and partners have completed their most generous and uplifting activity of the year so far – the BRIT Challenge.  24 Acts of Kindness have been carried out throughout March as a way of promoting positive mental health, fitness and fundraising through volunteering.

Examples of their acts of community kindness include computing and protective services students carrying out litter picks around Walsall, supported learning students making donations to Midland Langar Seva Society (MLSS Community Hub), health and social care students hosting a health check day on campus and hair and beauty students delivering pampering sessions to local care home and social housing residents.

The Students’ Union who led on the challenge also arranged for Sister2Sister to deliver a workshop on empowerment, gave out chocolates and period products on separate occasions and hosted a jewellery sale in aid of Newlife.

“The BRIT Challenge has been about showcasing all the feelgood things happening at our campuses every day,” said Helena Platt, head of student experience at the college.  “Students have seen firsthand that even the simplest things we do for others, from sharing a positive handwritten message to giving up a small amount of their time to support someone can make a huge difference to our individual and collective wellbeing and outlook.”

Helena added: “We’ve seen many moments of joy, gratitude and pride from those on the giving and receiving end of our acts of kindness, which has been great to see.  There’s a momentum here that we know will encourage even more of these gestures to be made in and outside the college in future.”