Kind-hearted Bucks New University students braved the rain to spread some cheer for National Student Volunteering Week. 

The students put a smile on the faces of passers-by at its campus, Wycombe Railway Station and in the town centre by handing out free Fairtrade flapjacks, bananas and teas and coffees.

Rebecca Hamer, activities coordinator (volunteering and charity fundraising) at Bucks New University Students’ Union, said students also logged how many smiles they received – with 2,604 in High Wycombe and 667 outside the university’s campus in Uxbridge.

She said: “Students don’t mind waking up early to put a smile on people’s faces, which is great. Our students always show up full of energy ready to make someone else smile.

“It was an amazing day with great feedback from our students telling us volunteering gave them warm feelings and set their day up.

“Commuters also told us that we changed their day round, especially as the weather was extremely gloomy and wet.”

This week students are also donating library fines to go to the Students’ Union’s chosen Raise and Give (RAG) charities - Wycombe Mind and Wycombe Rape Crisis.

Other activities include a fundraising volleyball tournament for the RAG charities and volunteering with Chiltern Rangers, a social enterprise delivering practical habitat management and advice in Buckinghamshire and the Chilterns, and One Can Trust, which provides food parcels for families in desperate need.