Matt Spencer Award

Matt Spencer Fund

The Matt Spencer Fund was set up in memory of Matt Spencer, who sadly passed away on 26 September 2001 aged just 23 years. Matt epitomised student volunteering. He cared deeply about people, the exploitation and oppression they face, and passionately challenged it with his lateral approach.

Matt became involved with Student Community Action at Queen Mary and Westfield College (now Queen Mary, University of London) where he became the SCA officer. The following year he was elected Vice President Education and Representation at the Students’ Union and joined the Trustee Board of Student Volunteering UK as a student director.

He was a prime mover in setting up the London branch of Student Volunteering UK putting together a bid for the London Development Worker and successfully moving a motion to the University of London Council that the worker be based at ULU.

Matt’s commitment, enthusiasm and sense of fun inspired us all and will always continue to do so. He is greatly missed by many people.

Matt's family have set up a fund in his memory to recognise the work of outstanding student volunteers. The fund intends to award one outstanding student each academic year with an award in the form of an inscribed tankard (Matt always enjoyed a drink or two), a cheque for £100 and a bottle of champagne.

Matt Spencer Award 2010

Nominated by Del Thorpe, Volunteering Manager at the University of Exeter’s Students’ Guild Community Action.

Callum joined Community Action at Exeter Students’ Guild in October 2008. Volunteering on three children’s projects, Callum made a huge impact through not only his relationship with the children but also the other volunteers.

1. Summer Adventures
“Summer Adventures” is the largest student led children’s residential camp for children across the South West. Volunteers take young carers from across Devon away on a two week holiday where they can rest from caring for parents or siblings with disabilities. These children do not get to experience a childhood in the typical way many do.

When Callum was appointed manager of Summer Adventures, the project was in financial difficulty and it was likely that this project would be its last. The initiative, determination and high levels of commitment that Callum brought to the project resulted in over a 50% save in budget last year, leaving Summer Adventures with enough money to continue. The impact this has had is phenomenal. Callum’s strict budgeting, willingness to think outside the box and sheer determination that the holiday should not suffer in terms of activities due to a lack of budget, astounded staff and students.

2. Active Children in Exeter (ACE)
Whilst running Summer Adventures, Callum became project leader of a weekly project called Active Children in Exeter (ACE). This project worked with a smaller group of young carers in Exeter facing the same situation at home, but who needed more regular ongoing support. As project leader of ACE, Callum takes young carers out to learn and play a different sport or active game every Sunday so that the children may experience team games and learn that they are not alone in their situation.

3. Young Carers Project
Callum has also developed one off projects with the Young Carers Project - encouraging young people to think about the environment by taking them out for the day with local environmental organisations on to Dartmoor and showing them areas of natural beauty.
With all Callum’s voluntary work with Westbank, his biggest achievement is the high quality of work he produces. He is as committed to his role as a paid member of staff and as such brings massive value to any project he participates in. Westbank are extremely grateful for all the work Callum has done as without him, service delivery would have been significantly lower.

Whilst taking on these leadership roles within Community Action, Callum has proven himself a team player in all other areas of student volunteering at Exeter. He voluntarily became a member of the volunteer recruitment team and publicity team, ensuring that the team leaders were well supported and working hard in essential areas to Community Action.
Callum has also dedicated himself to student charity fundraising. This year, alongside all his Community Action work already mentioned, he has been active member of both the Safer Sex Ball committee and Fashion Show committee both run by Exeter RAG.

“Callum’s contribution to student volunteering at Exeter has been exceptional. His fantastic relationship with a local charity has promoted student volunteering across Devon, and his dedication to helping others has had a level of impact which has astounded staff. Callum fully deserves this award as furthermore, he never expects to be thanked for any of the voluntary work he takes part in.”
Del Thorpe
Volunteering Manager
University of Exeter’s Students’ Guild Community Action

Presentation of the Matt Spencer Award 2010

Callum was presented with the Matt Spencer Award at Volunteering England's policy event "Can student be 'good' citizens?" on 17 February in central London. The award was presented to Callum by Volunteering England's Chief Executive, Justin Davis-Smith.

"I am immensely humbled to have won this award, I was in complete shock when I was told and it still has not quite sunk in that I have won. I can not imagine my university experience being complete without being involved in the volunteering opportunities that the university has to offer, everything I have done has been immensely enjoyable and been so worthwhile. I can not thank all of the students who I have worked alongside and the children I have volunteered with who have made these amazing experiences possible, as well as all the support I have received from staff and friends here at the university. I only hope now I can continue volunteering and enjoying it as much as I have done.”
Callum Mackay - Matt Spencer Award winner 2010

Matt Spencer's mother, Joyce English, was unfortunately unable to attend on the night, but left a message for Callum:

"Congratulations to Callum, this year's worthy winner. I'm sorry that I'm unable to be there at the presentation but delighted to know that he is able to attend and that his parents and brother are also able to come and see him receive the award. Callum epitomizes all that Matthew believed in, and helping others less fortunate than himself was just one example of his caring nature. Thank you, Callum for all the hard work you do, especially for running the Summer Adventures project. Please enjoy the Matt Spencer Award, you deserve it. Have a good evening and celebrate your achievement."
Joyce English

Matt Spencer Award 2009 winner

Last year's Matt Spencer Award winner was Karen Turvey – an outstanding and innovative student at the University College Plymouth St Mark and St John.

Karen volunteered on numerous projects and activities, including conservation projects, street clean ups, beach cleans, tea dances, community sports days, activities working with homeless people, evening and weekend youth clubs, coffee and lunch clubs for elderly residents, befriending the elderly and local festivals. Karen successfully sourcied and received funding for many events (including those above), and was responsible for recruiting and training different groups of volunteers to support these events.

Debbie McAllister - Student Volunteering & Employability Co-ordinator UCP Marjon says of Karen - “Since enrolling at the University College Plymouth St Mark and St John (UCP Marjon), Karen has demonstrated her dedication to volunteering in numerous ways working alongside the SOLVE (Student Opportunities for Local Volunteering Experience) initiate. Her commitment to projects is outstanding, often taking on co-ordination responsibilities and initiating new opportunities within the community. She continues to play a vital role in establishing and building relationships with our local community through breaking down barriers and stereotypes and engaging with people who can often feel isolated”.

In 2008, Karen initiated one of her biggest projects to date, changing the opinions of hundreds of people through a city-wide recycling campaign. “Sac-it-in” aimed to raise awareness and change consumer opinion on the use of plastic bags. Plymouth residents were encouraged to bring any plastic bags they had to a specified location in the city centre where numerous activities were available for public participation, including creating decorative items out of the bags. Bags-for-life were also distributed to members of the public, upon the hand-in of plastic carriers. Karen’s personal connections with powerful citizens of the city complimented this day, bringing the Lord and Lady Mayor of Plymouth to the event, the BBC’s Agents for Change campaign and the local media, including BBC local radio and the press.

Karen is a worthy Matt Spencer Award winner and a shining example of the positive impact student volunteers can have on their local community.

"It was a complete surprise to receive the award, I was unaware I had even been nominated. Volunteering for me is being able to make a positive difference and enabling others to do it too, so the Matt Spencer award is particularly special for me because of what it represents.”
Karen Turvey – Matt Spencer Award winner 2009