Queen Mary’s College is proud to announce the continued success of its Social Action Project, marking its third year of empowering students to make a tangible difference in their community. The initiative is designed to cultivate a deep sense of social responsibility and enhance personal growth, whilst helping students develop a suite of essential employability skills that will serve them well beyond their college years.
By participating in Social Action Week, students are not only contributing to a vital cause but also building a strong foundation for their future success. This year, the college’s first-year cohort rose to the challenge with exceptional dedication, raising over £25,000 and counting.
A Cornerstone of the Student Experience: The Social Action Project
First launched in 2024, QMC’s Social Action Project has become a cornerstone of the QMC student programme.
This initiative, which previously earned the college the Team/College Fundraiser of the Year and the Overall Winner title at the Good For Me Good For FE Awards, tasks all first-year students with stepping outside their traditional academic schedule to tackle a collective challenge.
Working within their tutor groups, students formed their own teams, assigned individual roles, and collaborated to fundraise or provide essential services for their chosen organisations.
Each group worked toward a fundraising target of £200, with students encouraged to come up with innovative ideas to meet this goal.
Throughout the process, groups documented their real-time project journey through their own Instagram accounts.
Projects In Action
The project is a perfect embodiment of QMC’s approach to holistic teaching and learning. By moving outside of the traditional classroom setting, students are able to develop themselves by engaging with the real world. This year’s cohort displayed the same passion seen in previous years, supporting a diverse range of causes including:
Endurance and Physical Feats
- Marathon around Basingstoke and a 30km run over three days.
- Sailing the distance between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight on the Basingstoke Canal.
- Bike ride to Reading and a cycling challenge to Southampton Hospital.
- Charity football match organised to engage the local community and raise funds.
- A 300-length swim in a 20-metre pool.
- Sponsored walks ranging from 30km to 168km.
Environmental Stewardship
- Beach clean-up at Brighton Beach, cleaning around the piers and seafront stores.
- Litter picking in the local area to protect Hampshire’s wildlife.
Creative Innovation
- Interactive performances and musical numbers.
- Gaming and Baking livestreams, including a unique ‘push-up’ challenge that integrated Overwatch gameplay with donation milestones.
Direct Services and Sales
- Car washes and raffle draws with prizes from local companies.
- Community pub quizzes.
- Multiple bake and food sales held at community hubs such as Hope Church, Festival Place, and the QMC campus.
A Few Project Highlights
Core Memories
Team Core Memories demonstrated exceptional initiative through a multi-generational approach to dementia awareness to raise money for Dementia UK. They hosted a themed morning for residents at Dashwood Manor Care Home, featuring iced coffee and a Basingstoke wordsearch, and delivered an educational presentation to pupils at Castle Hill Primary School. Apart from traditional fundraising like quizzes and raffles, the team created a ‘We Support Dementia’ frame to engage local businesses and community members. They also spoke with Stephanie Wallis from the Health and Wellbeing Team at Basingstoke Sports Centre regarding local dementia-friendly initiatives.
QMC Charity Match
Organised by first-years Taylor L., Aimee G., Ashley B., Lia T., Samyog R. and Connor O’C., this team brought together over 100 people for a charity football match, raising money for the To Live In H.OP.E charity. As emphasised by the students, the game was about more than just sport, it was about community and collaboration. The group showed impressive leadership by altering match logistics during the intense heatwave, splitting the game into eights to ensure everyone’s wellbeing.
Some interesting facts from the day of the game:
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Afonso P., who suffered a nasty ACL injury over two years ago and hadn’t played football since, made a successful return to the pitch.
- William W. celebrated his 17th birthday on the day of the match. He was exceptional defensively and showed great teamwork by inviting his social action group to host a bake sale at the game.
- Lochlan W. (manager of the first team in blue kits) arrived in a shirt and tie, subbed himself on, and successfully scored his penalty in the shootout.
- Isaam B., nicknamed ‘bucket hat’ for the day, had a standout game with three assists, narrowly missing a penalty.
Re:New
Team Re:New hosted a runway event at Central Studio, the first initiative of its kind in the history of the Social Action Project to support St. Michael’s Hospice. The group showcased a collection of thrifted and upcycled looks to promote sustainable fashion and also highlighted student musical talents, featuring performances by The Wobblies and Evermore, successfully bridging the worlds of fashion, music, and culture.
Miles For George
Team Miles For George displayed extraordinary resilience by running 65 miles over three days during a severe heatwave. The group ran from Queen Mary’s College to St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton and back, to celebrate the athletic legacy of a lost loved one while raising funds for Parkinson’s UK, a cause deeply personal to a member of the team.
Support Our Youth
Team Support Our Youth constructed a custom photo-booth to draw live portraits for participants and hosted ‘Henna in the Park’, using their artistic skills to create amazing designs for the public. The money they raised went to St. Michael’s Hospice.
Performance Connect
A group of full-time Performing Arts students ran interactive performances and musical numbers, demonstrating a clear connection between their academic course and social action. The team stayed true to their creative roots by choosing the National Youth Arts Trust as their charity, ensuring their fundraising efforts directly supported the future of the performing arts sector.
Raising For Rehab
Team Raising For Rehab fundraised for Flint House Police Rehabilitation, displaying incredible grit by covering a massive distance walking on the Isle of Wight, despite their full island circuit being halted by the extreme heatwave.
Five Hearts One Cause
Team Five Hearts One Cause set out to support Macmillan Cancer Support, collecting litter in public spaces including War Memorial Park, Eastrop Park, and Victoria Park. Despite the scorching heats and physical challenges, the team remained united. As one member reflected:
“We’ve had a blast fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support, and we are incredibly proud of our team. By blending our individual qualities and friendships, we created a united and supportive group. Despite the obstacles of heat, hay fever, and physical challenges, our determination never wavered. It has been a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated group of people!”
Disco Bingo
Team Disco Bingo spent two days fundraising at different locations for St. Michael’s Hospice and wrapped up their project with an engaging event hosted at Microchip Technology.
Lorraine Foggoa, Senior Specialist of Compensation and Benefits at Microchip, commended the four students for their “professionalism and exemplary conduct”, noting that they represented the College exceptionally well while creating an “enjoyable and inclusive atmosphere” for employees.
Snowdon
Team Snowdon travelled to Wales, starting their ascent of Mount Snowdon at 4:30 AM to reach the peak for sunrise. Raising funds for the Gurkha Welfare Trust, the team were praised by their teachers, Olivia and Naomi, who expressed their pride in the group’s accomplishment. They noted that the students “didn’t back down from the challenge and worked brilliantly”, while managing thorough risk assessments.
Sponsor Spotlight: A Local Partnership
The success of Team Re:New was sponsored by local business A1 Authentics. Owner Ali Buckman, who is both a local business owner and parent, voiced how inspiring it was to see the students’ innovativeness and determination in action.
“The creativity, confidence and initiative shown by the students has been incredibly inspiring. Events like this give young people the opportunity to express themselves, develop new skills and bring their ideas to life. As the next generation comes through, it’s important that local businesses and the wider community do everything they can to encourage and support young people.
The fact that so many students are also embracing sustainable fashion and thinking differently about the impact of clothing makes this even more encouraging. The future is in very good hands, and A1 Authentics is proud to have played a small part in supporting these talented students.”– Ali Buckman, A1 Authentics.
Social Action Presentation and Prizes
A final presentation and award ceremony at the end of the week commemorated the project’s success. Each group took to the stage to speak about their project, sharing their reasons for choosing their specific organisation, the hurdles they overcame, and their favourite moments from the experience.
The judges expressed how difficult it was to choose winners, as every project displayed exceptional enthusiasm and real-world impact. Awards were presented by Principal Mark Henderson and Victoria Renault, Director of Learning (Admission, Progress, and Engagement), celebrating the goals and aspirations achieved by the first-year cohort.
Winners of Social Action Prizes for 2026:
Tutors presented their teams with Amazon gift vouchers across five prestigious categories.
Most Creative and Innovative Project
- Winner: Brighter Tomorrow – For hosting an interactive Alice in Wonderland themed movie night in support of the YoungMinds Trust.
- Runner up: Re:New – For their pioneering sustainable fashion show.
Project Most Linked to the Cause
- Winner: 57 Core Memories – For executing a diverse range of activities to raise awareness and funds for Dementia.
- Runner up: 57KmIn3Days – For walking 57km in three days to raise money for Alzheimer’s/Dementia.
- Runner Up: Miles For George – For running 65 miles over three days from Queen Mary’s College to St Mary’s Stadium and back.
Best Teamwork
- Winner: Snowdon – For their well-organised and early-morning summit of Mount Snowdon.
- Runner up: Team Sparkle – For hosting a high-quality car wash that received excellent customer reviews in support of Cancer Research UK.
Best Social Media Campaign
- Winner: Re:New – For establishing a strong brand identity and generating excellent reach on social media.
- Runner up: Litterpick QMC – For presenting a serious environmental issue in a light-hearted, fun way to fundraise for the RSPB.
- Runner up: Insulin to Win – For capturing compelling video content of those with diabetes to raise money for Diabetes UK.
- Runner up: 57 Core Memories – For displaying an excellent holistic and communal campaign integrating members of the local community
Fundraiser Prize (Over £1000+)
- Winner: Miles For George – Raised £1580
- Runner up: Insulin to Win – Raised £1237
Developing Skills for the Future
The Social Action Project reflects the college’s view that students thrive when they are active and engaged. Rather than just focusing on the final result, the project emphasises the day-to-day collaboration required to succeed. By challenging students out of their comfort zones, the project hones professional competencies, including teamwork, interpersonal communication, and project management, that are highly sought after by universities and employers.
Experiences including the Social Action Project ensure QMC students make outstanding progress and leave the college not just with excellent grades, but as well-rounded individuals ready for their future. As they work with peers outside their usual circles, students also form new friendships and foster the vibrant, inclusive, and friendly community that defines the College.
Looking Ahead
On a larger scale, the project creates a lasting social impact, bringing real changes to the local community and wider world. It reinforces QMC’s approach to student-led progress, proving that when students are given the right support, opportunity and guidance, they can achieve incredible things.
As these first-years move into their second year at QMC, the skills they have developed through the project will serve as an indispensable foundation for their future aspirations.
To see the full impact of these projects, including more photos and videos from the events mentioned above, check out the hashtag #QMCSocialAction2026 on Instagram.
