Plymouth uni students raise over £11k for Devon Mind and Plymouth Refuge!

Students from the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marjon University have raised an incredible £11,362 to be split between Devon Mind and Plymouth Refuge as part of Varsity 2022!

The annual sporting event series between University of Plymouth Students’ Union (UPSU) and Marjon Student Union (MSU) took place in March, with 19 fixtures over 10 different disciplines hosting over 500 student athletes. Alongside the competition, students from each university raised money for their chosen charity – Devon Mind for UPSU and Plymouth Domestic Abuse Services’s (PDAS) Plymouth Refuge service for MSU. The main fundraising came from rugby at Plymouth Albion and football at Plymouth Argyle, which together attracted more than 1,700 ticket sales.

The total raised will be split equally between the two charities, with both Devon Mind and PDAS receiving an amazing £5,681.

Responding to the news of UPSU’s fundraising success, Devon Mind Marketing & Fundraising Manager André Pusey commented:

“We are so grateful to everyone at Plymouth Uni who supported Devon Mind at this year’s Varsity competition. The incredible amount you raised will go a long way to enabling us to support more people in Plymouth and wider Devon who need help with their mental health.

As an independent charity, all the support services we offer are funded by generous individuals and organisations from the community, so the funds raised will have a direct impact on our ability to help people.”

Representatives from both organisations were present at the trophy presentation and premiere of the official Varsity Aftermovie at UPSU earlier this month. UPSU’s #TeamPlymouth won this year’s competition 25–13, reclaiming the crown from Marjon who won in 2021.