Stepping up for older people

The University’s Rugby Union and Rugby League Men’s Team joined volunteers from the award-winning Bevy Community Pub in Brighton to make the pub’s garden more accessible for the Friday Friends’ Seniors’ Club members.

The Seniors Club uses the garden to grow vegetables and fruit for their Friday lunches, for the Bevy’s kitchen, and for jams and pickles which are sold to raise funds for what is Brighton’s only community run pub on a council estate.

Funding for the project was provided by Santander Universities with support from the University’s Active Student Volunteering Service which finds safe, supported and rewarding volunteering roles in the community for students and staff. The University’s Sport Brighton group also supported this activity.

The ‘Make a Difference Together Fund’ from Santander Universities UK and the University of Brighton supports joint university and community projects with funding for materials.

Nicky Teakle and Dave Gibbons, Friday Friends volunteers, with members of the University of Brighton Rugby Union and Rugby League Mens' Teams at the Bevy

Rugby Union and Rugby League Mens' Team members building accessible steps for the Bevy's edible garden

Susan Bentley, Volunteer Project Officer, said: “This project was all about breaking down barriers between young and older people as well as greater collaboration between university students and the local community.

“The rugby teams really wanted to give something back to the local community and the Make a Difference Together Fund award will really benefit the community. Making the edible garden accessible to the Friday Friends means that the group and the Bevy can create healthy meals for everyone from as local a source as you can get.”

For more information on the Active Student Volunteering Service contact Susan Bentley at s.bentley2@brighton.ac.uk or Beth Thomas-Hancock at bt11@brighton.ac.uk.