The LSE Volunteer Centre has received some fantastic nominations for the LSE Volunteer of the Year Award 2024! Students have been nominated by charities, fellow LSE students and LSE members of staff. We’re incredibly proud to recognise and support so many committed, enthusiastic and passionate student volunteers.

The award winners will be announced at our in-person LSE Volunteer Awards ceremony on Thursday 2 May, and we’ll be tasked with the difficult decision of choosing them. Congratulations to the following nominees for their excellence in volunteering while being students at the LSE and read more about them below!

Jessie Reid (MSc Human Rights and Politics 2024)

Jessie has been an incredible part of our Churchill War Rooms family over the last few months. Not content with mere participation, Jessie goes above and beyond to support us wherever possible. As well as constantly expanding her knowledge of the site and its history, she has focused too on the desire to inform and enlighten our visitors. Jessie has already earned the respect of her volunteer peers and staff, and readily discusses points of interest with them.  Jessie has also shown a keen interest in expanding her volunteering by supporting our ‘Hands on History’ sessions; whereby objects and materials from the Second World War are handled by members of the public. We consider ourselves very fortunate that Jessie has chosen to volunteer with us. She is a quietly motivated and brilliant person who is always willing to learn more and contribute towards presenting IWM in a very positive light to our visitors. We always know that it will be a good day when she is coming in.

Joe Card (BSc History and Politics 2025)

Joe has worked with a range of LSESU societies to organise a variety of events to raise money for RAG Charity Partners. Events have regularly taken place over the course of the year and have included Corsica club night, Stonewall sales, Casino Night, Craft Society Sale, LGBT quiz, Dance workshop, Grimshaw Palestine Week and Loose TV film festival. As Director of Events Joe has worked within RAG to raise a total of £21,700 (to date), collaborated with stakeholders within the charity sector (e.g. brought representatives from charity partners to speak at the Fashion Show), engaged a wide range of students from different academic disciplines to volunteer for charity and given his own time throughout the year to ensure these events are a success and that all partnering societies are supported and able to successfully raise money.  A key difference Joe has made is with engaging other societies in fundraising; societies involved in RAG events include AU, Creative Network & cultural societies.

Joelle Lok (LLB in Laws 2024)

This student deserves to be the LSE Volunteer of the Year for their exceptional dedication and skill in managing relationships between the LSE RAG and external charities, notably including Safe Passage. Their proactive approach to inviting us to events, consistently keeping us informed about upcoming opportunities, and making efforts to visit the Safe Passage office to discuss fundraising ideas demonstrates a commendable commitment to not only bridging LSE with vital community causes but also actively contributing to the betterment of those causes. Their initiative and involvement have significantly enhanced our collaboration and have set a shining example of what effective, meaningful volunteer work can achieve.

Johanna Zackenfels (BSc in Sociology 2025)

Jo was the definition of dedication throughout the entire fashion show process. I worked closely with her from the initial conceptualisation of the show to the final execution. She managed over 200 people with patience, diligence and clarity. Jo also sacrificed an immense amount of personal time to ensure all the bureaucratic process of the shows logistics were in order every step of the way. She operated with efficiency and knew exactly how to manage difficult situations under pressure. Since I was supporting Jo from the start, I can testify that she made so many sacrifices for the good of others. She didn’t want recognition or just to put it on her CV, she genuinely cared about promoting charity and creativity at LSE. I will always thank her for facilitating my creativity. We set our goal for £5k and Jo took on extra complications to accomplish this. Although everyone (including RAG members) doubted we could pull it off, Jo’s incredible leadership meant we met our goal!

Koshiki Chauhan (BSc Economics and Economic History 2025)

Koshiki did a summer Research placement with VSO in Kenya In June 23-August 2023 as part of the Laidlaw undergraduate Programme internship. Koshiki was an amazing lady and did an excellent research work producing a good report that has fed into our programme design. Her conduct as well was excellent, good team spirit, respectful of the local culture and people she worked with. She was an absolute delight to work with.

Kristen Holdsworth (MSc International Social and Public Policy 2024)

Kristen is a very impressive volunteer. Not only is she committed to making the world greener and to standing up for the rights of children around the world, but she has also been really good at bringing together volunteers from all over the capital to campaign on Generation Hope (Save the Children’s campaign) whilst also studying for a Masters degree.

Kristen is a volunteer Changemaker Co-Leader within the network, a role that she shares with Rasha, another Co-Leader. Last weekend, she helped to carry out a fun and productive in-person brainstorm with several volunteers, to get their input on the sort of campaigning tools that they would like to use in London. She also proactively seeks opportunities to collaborate with other organisations, e.g. by setting up a meeting between both the Natural History Museum and Save the Children UK. Kristen is always keen to develop her skills and she has been to several training sessions including a day-long training workshop for leaders.

Lea Bourguignon (Mphil/ PhD in Philosophy 2025)

Lea exemplifies a strong commitment to fostering inclusive and ethical discourse within our academic community. Their dedication to promoting diversity and equity in philosophical discourse has been exemplary and has significantly enriched our department’s initiatives.

Specifically, Lea played a pivotal role in the organisation of the Ethics Cup London regional held on 23 February 2024, a tournament in which teams of high school students match wits with each other discussing ethical issues of public concern, demonstrating exceptional leadership skills and a passion for ethical inquiry. Their efforts have not only ensured the success of the event but have also contributed to critical thinking among all participants.

Moreover, Lea has been instrumental in the establishment and growth of the Minorities in Philosophy group, demonstrating a deep understanding of the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in the field of philosophy. Through their tireless advocacy and support, they have created a supportive and inclusive space for minority students and colleagues, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment within our community.

Overall, Lea has consistently gone above and beyond in their volunteer efforts, embodying the values of integrity, inclusivity, and community engagement. Their contributions have had a lasting impact on our department and have helped to create a more welcoming and vibrant academic environment for all.

Liz Nirei (BSc International Social and Public Policy 2024)

Liz has been volunteering this year with fury, getting involved in everything that she could. She made a huge difference to our team in the Community Engagement Programme, and was also incredibly adept at managing her time in order to invest and be a fundamental team member whilst also balancing her commitments with the Baytree Centre. She brings to each project an extremely positive attitude and a creative adaptability, which demonstrates her dedication to the causes that she is working towards.

Madeline Bryden (BA History 2024)

One: Madeline has been volunteering weekly at the Horniman Museum and Gardens as a Communications Volunteer since May 2023 and has transformed not only the internal and external visibility of our 150 or so volunteers but has reinvigorated our promotional routes to reach new volunteers, including the student population of London and beyond. She has created  a range of promotional resources such as fliers and pop up banners, written internal and external communications such as show case case studies of volunteers, an  engaging monthly newsletter for volunteers, studies and successful bids for external awards. As a result, the numbers of applicants to our volunteering opportunities has increased significantly. In the 10 months she has been with us (so far!). Madeline has become a treasured and invaluable member of the Volunteering team. We hope she will NEVER leave us!

Two: Madeline deserves to be LSE Volunteer of the Year as she has been a dedicated communications volunteer at the Horniman Museum for a year and has been a great student ambassador promoting volunteering around LSE. She contributed massively to the organisation and running of LSE student volunteering week and used her own connections and strong relationships with various people at the Horniman Museum. Additionally, Madeline has been involved in interviewing new volunteers at the Horniman and plays an important role in promoting the decolonisation the museum sector and opening up volunteering roles to a diverse range of people.

Madison Bryan (BSc Politics and Economics)

Madison has been an incredibly proactive and inspiring student volunteer during her first year at LSE and has shown an exceptional personal drive towards volunteering, both through collaboration with the LSE Volunteer Centre and as an active volunteer in her community. Madison’s passion for volunteering brightly shines through when speaking to her and has also been demonstrated in many different forms. She has delivered successful volunteering sessions of her own, leading the Letters Against Isolation initiative with her peer networks at LSE, and in her role as a Community Champion at her part-time job outside of university. Madison is extremely passionate about the difference that volunteering can make to the way we all experience community and has dedicated her time to supporting different demographics within her local area. She is also an inspiration to young people at her former sixth form college, where she volunteers with pupils on their journeys within higher education.

Mahmoud Al Hamdan (Exchange Programme for Students from Central European University (UOEXCEU)

The Language Centre Volunteer Scheme provides students with the opportunity to practise languages informally outside the classroom. Volunteers kindly give their time to lead sessions in their own language; either Conversation Circles or Bitesize Speaking sessions. Mahmoud has been leading the German Bitesize Speaking sessions this year; he has taken the time to prepare and lead the weekly sessions, helping students with their learning of the German language. The Language Centre volunteers are an invaluable part of the LSE Language Community – they allow students to practise their languages, as well as giving them an insight into the country and culture.

Princewill Umannakwe (MSc International Health Policy 2024)

Princewill was paired with a challenging mentee who would often scream and shout out during sessions. Princewill’s calmness and consistency allowed the mentee to follow in his footsteps and develop his self-control massively. The bond they have created is extremely special. From day one the mentee would get extremely excited to see Princewill, and when the ReachOut staff had to have behaviour management conversations, the mentee would want to improve his behaviour to be fair to Princewill. It has been lovely to see this relationship develop, and Princewill’s staying power and commitment has definitely been key to the success of the relationship and mentee’s personal growth.

Sabrina Daniel (LLB in Laws 2024)

Sabrina has proven herself to be an exemplary volunteer, as demonstrated by her participation in ‘The Big Conversation’. Sabrina gave up her afternoon to actively contribute to discussions surrounding various issues and opportunities for students in London. By engaging with representatives from diverse sectors including education, academia, local authorities, businesses and charitable organisations, she played a vital role in helping the City of London Corporation gather opinions for shaping future education strategies. Sabrina’s willingness to share her perspectives and engage in meaningful dialogue underscores her commitment to making a positive impact on education in the community. Her involvement in this event not only provided valuable insights but also exemplified her dedication to fostering positive change and contributing to ongoing discussions about the future of education in London.

Sofie Hesthaven Pultz (MSc Anthropology and Development)

Sofie is a very impressive and diligent young woman. She has been committed to coming into the office once a week for an entire day. She is always punctual. She stays in the office the entire day, treating her volunteering commitment like a part- time job.

During her internship she has assisted in researching various ways WONDER can facilitate the integration of Chinese migrant women for our partner in Spain. This research will be used to improve the integration guidelines and toolkits that WONDER’s partner Fundacion SENARA uses while integrating Chinese migrant women in their new community. Sofie also recruited a volunteer to help translate resources for an existing project into Mandarin and Cantonese.

Teloni Nkhalamba (MSc Anthropology and Development 2024)

Teloni did an incredible piece of research, through the Research Volunteering Scheme, for the Volunteer Centre. She explored how charities and volunteering is understood in different cultural contexts, focusing on Brazil, South Africa and the UK. This research has deepened our understanding of how our student population relate to volunteering and how we can work with them to help curate their own volunteering journeys. Teloni worked hard, listened carefully and made a superb presentation to our team. We cannot thank her enough.

Valli Vasanth (BSc Economics 2025)

Student Volunteer Ambassador:

• Represented the LSE Volunteer Centre at a wide range of events involves describing the various nature of volunteer opportunities and discussing how the LSE Volunteer Centre can assist students, showcasing its resources.
• Particularly noteworthy is her introduction of the volunteer work of LSE students to Larry Kramer during his first interaction with the LSE Volunteer Centre, just before he became President and Vice Chancellor.

Volunteering Officer for LSESU RAG:

• Organising Giving Tuesday, encouraging societies to run CBG Plaza stalls, ensuring smooth event execution.
• Organising the LSESU 93% Club and RAG Charity CEO Event led CEOs from Uprising, Stonewall, SOS-UK, and Global Action Plan to join a panel, offering insights to inspire state-educated students interested in charity management. This achievement was made possible by her amazing efforts in reaching out to speakers and coordinating on the day.
• Selling laces to fundraise for Stonewall

Vishruth Dhamodharan (BSc Financial Mathematics and Statistics)

Vishruth has been an excellent mentor for me this past year in the Department of Mathematics. He has gone out of his way to make time to check in on how I’m doing in regards to my studies and settling into LSE, providing me with a safe space to express any concerns or issues I may have. He has given me timeless advice with the modules that I’m studying and with revision for the upcoming exam season. He’s been endlessly supportive of me and my studies, and this has positively impacted my mental health and suitability for studying my course. He also continues to give me advice about potential career paths, utilising his own experiences and knowledge to mentor me into a better student, and hopefully an excellent employee. I definitely owe him a lot for my first year experience and would highly commend him for his efforts.

William Weston (BSc International Relations)

• In his role as Head of Volunteering for RAG, he managed the volunteering team, comprising of Volunteering Officers, to achieve the following:

• Organise Giving Tuesday, a collaboration with the Volunteer Centre that involved LSESU societies running stalls in the CBG Plaza.
• Organise a one-off volunteering opportunity at Euston Foodbank with LSESU 93% Club, a cause that is very close to the hearts of many 93% Club members, for Global Volunteering Day.
• Coordinate Student Volunteering Week collaborations with the LSESU Houghtones A Cappella society, LSE ResLife, and LSESU 93% Club.
• Coordinate the Charity CEO Panel with LSESU 93% Club, which brought 4 charity executives from leading non-profits to the LSE campus to help inspire students to consider careers in the non-profit sector and provide advice about how to navigate this career path.
• Volunteer at multiple other RAG events and fundraisers: Selling rainbow laces for Stonewall and assisting with the RAG Fashion Show.

Xinyuan Wang (Alumni)

Xinyuan supported 2 pupils and worked closely with them, devising lesson plans and activities, working to build both their subject knowledge as well as their confidence and study skills. Xinyuan ’s help has been very much appreciated by the school and has provided a wonderful opportunity for pupils to benefit from some intensive one to one support in preparation for their exams.

Xinyuan was a committed, reliable and enthusiastic volunteer, relating very well to those they came into contact with through the programme, including pupils, teachers and fellow tutors, and was a valuable volunteer both for the school and for our organisation.

Zoe Cordner (BSc Environment and Development 2025)

Zoe is an outstanding volunteer whose contribution has utterly transformed Students Talk About Loss. Not only does she facilitate sessions with the utmost sensitivity and empathy, creating a truly welcoming space for students going through difficult times to share about their experiences, but she also makes the initiative work on a more strategic level. This year, she has formalised the initiative’s operations by assigning roles and intensifying our communications to reach more bereaved students than ever before. Zoe is also just a wonderfully kind person and I am so, so proud to have the opportunity to work with her.

Check out Part 1 for the first half of our Volunteer of the Year student nominees, as well as our blogs for Voluntary Group of the Year and Voluntary Organisation of the Year!