Supporting RVC Students' Union Clubs and Societies

The RVC Alumni Fund offers matched-funding to help clubs and societies at the RVC. Together, we empower students to make a meaningful impact in their community.

three students with hockey sticks smile for a photo

Do you remember enjoying a well-earned break from studying by taking part in a club or society at the RVC? Offering our students opportunities to stay fit, make friends and develop new transferable skills, clubs and societies are a vital and vibrant part of student life.

Matched-funding supports our clubs and societies, helping them to prosper. Your own club or society may have benefitted from this funding during your time at the RVC. Whether they need to pay for travel costs to matches, new equipment or extra training sessions - the RVC Alumni Fund helps their fundraising efforts go further. This year the RVC Alumni Fund has empowered the RVC Hockey Club (RVCHC) and RVC Equestrian Team to do just that...

12 hour hockey match raises

£2,014 for Breast Cancer

and the RVC Hockey Club

(including match funding)

A group photo of the RVC's Hockey Club

RVC Hockey Club

A 12-hour hockey match raised funds for Breast Cancer Now and the RVCHC. Their efforts will fund three days of breast cancer research and a new kit for their goalkeeper. Maisy Howson, RVCHC Charity Secretary tells us more...

"We arrived at the Sports and Wellbeing centre (SAWC) at the Hawkshead Campus early to put up banners, balloons and breast cancer posters. It was Pancake Day so we handed out crepes to the players before the match started! Everyone was keen to play and we had a fantastic turnout. We roughly had a 50/50 split between those in fancy dress and those in pink for Breast Cancer Now, so no bibs were needed! We had some great fancy dress costumes, including superwoman, Willy Wonka and a blow-up chicken.

"We started the day with continuous rolling subs, where players could go on when they were ready and come off when they were tired. However, we ended up with so many people wanting to play that we had to shift teams on and off every 15 minutes! Some incredible hockey was played. During the last 30 minutes, we had an 'everyone on' rule and although it was chaos, it was a lot of fun!

"The 12 hours went quicker than expected and everyone was in such positive spirits. Thank you to everyone who came to cheer us on, including RVC Rugby Football Club, RVC Netball Club, RVC Women's Rugby Football Club and many other friends. I am so proud of everyone in the club for their fantastic effort and perseverance."

The event raised £1439, with 60% going to Breast Cancer Now and 40% to RVCHC. The RVC Alumni Fund matched the fundraising for the RVCHC, bringing the total raised to £2014. Maisy explains,

"It's the largest amount we’ve raised from one of our 12-hour hockey matches so we couldn’t be happier! We are incredibly grateful for the matched-funding which means we can purchase a new goalkeeper kit. Our current kit is held together by tape so this will be a safer upgrade! Any additional funds will help hire pitches for training and matches. We'd like to thank everyone involved in planning this event. Hopefully, we can top this next year!"

Two hockey players wearing pink t-shirts smile
A hockey student wearing a tutu skirt smiles
Two students smile, one is in a blow up chicken costume

The RVC Equestrian Team

A comedy night in the Haxby at our Camden Campus proved to be an innovative fundraiser for the RVC's Equestrian team. With three award-winning comics - Paddy Young, Dee Allum and Adam Flood, the venue was filled with laughter. Ticket sales for the event raised £264 with matched-funding bringing the total to £528.

A group of riders from the RVC Equestrian Team

"Having matched-funding helped the Equestrian Team run two extra training sessions for our riders. It also funded our entries into regional competitions, and we got fantastic results!

"Two teams won their respective championships, and one team came third. We even had a team finish fifth in the trophy league, and a team crowned National Dressage Champions!

"Having the money to enter these competitions and feel ready for the challenge was fundamental to our success. Thank you to RVC alumni who helped make this experience possible - it's one we'll never forget."
Jo Grenfell, organiser of the comedy night and captain of RVC Equestrian Team B, 2021 - 2022
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