Recently, the King, the Patron of WaterAid hosted the Water and Climate Change reception with WaterAid. The event brought together various stakeholders across the globe including changemakers, young leaders and decision makers. The aim of the event was to provide an opportunity for His Majesty to meet with members and supporters of WaterAid and discuss the importance of clean water. Having served as WaterAid’s President from 1991 to 2013 and then as Patron in 2024, His Majesty has long been an advocate for the organization.
Phoebe Sherrell and Keira Garrod, both final-year undergraduates at the University of Reading pursuing a Bachelor of Science in International Development, were among the representatives who visited Buckingham Palace. Garrod currently serves as the society’s president, with Sherrell as vice president. Their presence at the Palace marked a significant moment in their advocacy journey.
“My key interests revolve around the vulnerabilities experienced by different groups, whether this stems from geopolitical factors, the increasing frequency of natural hazards or social structures that contribute to the marginalisation of certain groups. I first became passionate about the notion of global justice when studying Geography A-level, I want to make a meaningful difference in the world and help those who are the most disadvantaged,” Sherrell says.
“It was both an inspiring and overwhelming experience. I was honoured to be in a room with so many incredible advocates, changemakers and global leaders, joined by a shared passion for combating the water and climate crisis. This made me feel proud to be a part of something so remarkable and inspired me to continue my career in this sector.
“As one of the youngest there, it was a little intimidating, but this experience is something I will take with me for the rest of my life, serving as a reminder of what can truly be achieved. My visit to Buckingham Palace gave me a real insight into what people are doing to help foster positive change and encouraged me to start thinking about different ways I can get involved after graduation and progressing later into my career, Sherrell says.
“It was indeed a little intimidating walking into the grand foyer and being greeted by the palace staff, I quickly realised we were one of the youngest people in the room. Hearing the powerful first-hand stories from advocates and those directly impacted by the water and sanitation crisis made the issue feel incredibly real and urgent,” Garrod adds.
“As an international development student, the work of NGOs and the intersectionality between water, climate change, gender equality, technology and power were already on my radar. But it was a stark realisation that many of my peers were unaware of the existence of WaterAid, a world-renowned organization, and the importance of their work. Water is at the core of many global challenges; WaterAid recently published a shocking statistic that almost 90% of climate disasters are related to water. My passion for a cleaner, safer and more equal world and the lack of knowledge among my peers motivated me to consider how I could make a difference at university. An informed society forms the basis for change, and this is something I felt committed to,” Sherrell explains.
For Garrod, the experience reaffirmed her commitment to pushing water to the forefront of development discussions. “People need water to adapt to climate change. As development students, we understand that water access must be prioritized if we’re to build resilient systems that withstand extreme weather.”
Under their leadership, the WaterAid Society at the university has grown from three founding members to a thriving community of over 20 students. The society organizes fundraising campaigns and awareness initiatives, contributing to WaterAid’s mission to deliver clean water and sanitation to the world’s most vulnerable communities.
“Within the local community, we’re working to raise awareness of the water crisis,” Sherrell said. “Through panel discussions, social media engagement, and outreach at university events, we’re building an informed community that’s ready to act.”
We want the WaterAid society to continue after we graduate, using our links, experience and platforms from the past 2 years for it to scale. I want the university of reading to be a place where people are educated beyond class to drive at global level.
Sherrell and Garrod plan to continue working with WaterAid as ambassadors to contribute towards sustainable goal number six of clean water and sanitation which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
WaterAid is an international non-profit organization dedicated to using water to transform the world. The organisation works in 22 countries by providing clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.