Raise and give (RAG) is the section of the Students' Union that helps students raise as much money as possible for local, national and international charities.

The emphasis of RAG is to raise money whilst having fun, so we support our students to participate in a number of comical and challenging activities throughout the year to help the charities they choose.

RAG is led by a committee of enthusiastic students who want to help change lives.

Each year, we ask the students to vote for one charity that they want to support in the coming year. The chosen charity is the main focus in our general fundraising events. We also raise money for national and international appeals such as Children in Need, Comic Relief and take part in the Macmillan World's Biggest Coffee Morning.

People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. Regardless of the motivation, what unites them all is that they find it both challenging and rewarding.

Below is a wide range of reasons people choose to volunteer. For some it provides an opportunity to:

Give something back to an organisation that has impacted on a person's life, either directly or indirectly
Make a difference to the lives of others
Help the environment
Help others less fortunate or without a voice
Feel valued and part of a team
Spend quality time away from work or a busy lifestyle
Gain confidence and self-esteem

For some, volunteering can be a route to employment, or a chance to try something new which may lead to a career change. From this perspective, volunteering can be a way of:

Gaining new skills, knowledge and experience
Developing existing skills and knowledge
Enhancing a CV
Improving one's employment prospects
Gaining an accreditation
Using one's professional skills and knowledge to benefit others (usually described as pro bono)

For others, volunteering appeals because of its social benefits. These include:

Meeting new people and making new friends
A chance to socialise
Getting to know the local community

If you have a cause that you want to support or a fundraising idea, we would love to hear from you - post on this page, email: surag@chi.ac.uk, d.beade@chi.ac.uk, call 01243816339 or drop into the Students' Union Offices above the Zee Bar and have a chat with the Volunteering & Activities Coordinator.