This year’s Raise and Give (RAG) Week proved to be the most successful to date, with a record-breaking €34,000 raised for Trinity’s charities and the Student Hardship Fund.
This year’s figure beats the previous record, set in 2016, by almost €8,000.
RAG Week takes place every year in the second term and encourages students and alumni to support College charities. From January 29th to the February 2nd, events such as the Rose of Trinity, the RAG Week Rumble and Trinity’s Best Dance Crew were organised to raise money for worthy causes.
An estimated 2,000 students contributed over the course of the week, with Trinity alumni also contributing €12,000 to the funding appeal. In a press statement, Senior Tutor Aidan Seery said: “We are delighted to have the support of students and alumni towards the hardship fund and this will go some way to addressing this growing need.”
The Voluntary Tuition Programme (VTP), Vincent de Paul (VDP), S2S, the Student Hardship Fund, Medical Overseas Voluntary Elective (MOVE), the Free Legal Advice Centre and Trinity Amnesty will all share the proceeds raised by the week-long event.
The Trinity Hardship Fund provides a range of grants and bursaries to students experiencing financial difficulties.
The total raised during RAG Week has grown steadily over the last several years, with €22,000 having been raised in 2014 and €23,000 in 2015. In a press statement, Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) President Kevin Keane said: “The spirit of charity, community and support of others is alive and well within the Trinity community.”
The increased student involvement in RAG Week every year “demonstrates a real desire to support the noble work of each of the College charities involved”, he said.
