Warwick students raise over £5,000 for local charity in annual ‘Donation Drive’

University of Warwick students have once again shown the power of community, raising more than £5,000 for Coventry-based charity Carriers of Hope as part of the annual Donation Drive project.

Since 2024, the University’s Sustainability Team has run the award-winning Donation Drive, the aim of which is to reduce the environmental impact of the moving-out period at the end of the academic year.

Instead of being thrown away, students’ items such as electricals, kitchenware, non-perishable food, books, and homeware are collected, sorted, and reused, giving them a second life, supporting local people, and helping to reduce waste.

This year’s campaign was the most successful one yet, with an incredible 9.5 tonnes of goods donated, a 9% increase on last year.

Around 3.1 tonnes of these items were reused during the University’s Kitchen Kit Market, where 1,254 students donated in return for an item at the beginning of term.

The Donation Drive gives items a second life, supports students with the cost of living, and benefits a local charity. It’s a simple, practical way to reduce waste and lower our environmental impact

Evelin Sanderson-Nichols, University Sustainability Coordinator

The proceeds went directly to Carriers of Hope, a charity which supports asylum seekers, refugees, and families facing hardship in Coventry.

Carriers of Hope have come a long way since their founding in May 2009.

What began as volunteers delivering carrier bags full of essential items to local families has now grown into an essential support network in the local community – hence the charity’s name.

The University’s Sustainability Coordinator, Evelin Sanderson-Nichols, said: “When thousands of students move out at the same time, the amount of waste produced can be overwhelming.”

She added: “The Donation Drive gives items a second life, supports students with the cost of living, and benefits a local charity. It’s a simple, practical way to reduce waste and lower our environmental impact.”

The donated items make a real difference for families and individuals in urgent need, helping to provide comfort and practical support at a difficult time

Danielle Joyce, Head of Client Services at Carriers of Hope

The Donation Drive is a key component of Warwick’s sustainability strategy, which aims to promote a circular economy, reduce waste, and support the University’s ‘zero to landfill’ commitment.

The initiative also helps to raise awareness among students about sustainable living, and how making positive choices can benefit both people and the planet.

Head of Client Services at Carriers of Hope, Danielle Joyce, noted: “We are incredibly grateful to the University of Warwick and its students for their generosity. The donated items make a real difference for families and individuals in urgent need, helping to provide comfort and practical support at a difficult time.”

The success of this year’s Donation Drive highlights the positive impact students can have beyond campus, and they strongly encourage students to get involved next year.