Impact Report 2016-17

IMPACT REPORT 2016-17 STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER

A UNION WITH A PERSONAL CONNECTION We recognise individual aspirations for success and support students to collaborate and realise their ambitions.

62%

This Year

of students feel they have a personal connection with the Students’ Union

71%

This Year

of students are satisfied with the Students’ Union Source: Big 10 2017

Source: Big 10 2017

CREATIVE MINDS Our Creative Minds project has connected students, inspiring them to collaborate and share their creative skills.

We have supported over 140 students to share their skills and gain experience through our platform and at a series of events, including ARU’s first ever TEDx.

I AM A

2 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER

INTRODUCTION FROM THE PRESIDENT This year has been a huge year of change for the Union, the University and for students.

Our goal is to support students to create success together and to recognise our members as individual people with their own ideas, ambitions and dreams. I want ARU Students’ Union to be a place that links up directly with students and a place that connects and supports them to thrive during your time here - and long afterwards too.

However, this aim can too often feel far away for many students.

From the challenges of balancing work and family; the pressures to do well on their course and to get a good job at the end of it whilst at the same time balancing the feelings of not wasting “the best years of your life”.

This is why we have been changing ourselves, the University and doing our bit in the wider world too. We have changed how we represent students – now linking directly with each Faculty and course. We have changed how the University prioritises student mental health – and we will continue to champion increased support. And we connected thousands of students to each other through volunteering, societies and course representatives helping develop their skills and change the world at the same time. This Impact Report highlights some of the great work students have done as part of ARU Students’ Union this year.

The students at ARU are amazing, and I’m so proud of what we all achieved together. I can’t wait to see what we can do next!

Jamie Smith, President 2017-18

Our goal is to support students to create success together and to recognise our members as individual people with their own ideas, ambitions and dreams.

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER 3

1 WE ARE ACTIVELY LISTENING TO STUDENTS We put their ideas into action to create a positive change in our university.

8/10

44%

Our Goal

students will say that the ARU Students’ Union has improved their everyday experience

This Year

agree that the ARU Students’ Union has improved their everyday experience Source: Big 10 2017

Students told us they want to create an outstanding and inclusive educational experience to be at the centre of their Students’ Union. This year we have reformed our democratic structures to better integrate with our University faculty communities. We will continue to develop our role in the learning and innovation ecosystem of the University over the next two years, and beyond.

JAMIE SMITH President

LAURA DOUDS Vice President

CASE STUDY

Science & Technology

ELIZA TORRES Vice President

Health, Social Care, Education & Medical Science

JOHANNA KORHONEN Vice President Arts, Law & Social Sciences

KIRRAN KHAN Vice President

Putting ideas into action This year the ARU Students’ Union supported our Zoology course representatives to put their ideas into action. They had been told there was a compulsory field trip which would cost them each £70, despite having been previously told there were no additional fees for compulsory field trips. This created a barrier for many students being included in a key part of their course.

With course reps, we worked closely with the Zoology Department to remove these hidden course costs. Overall around £4,400 was saved for students and we were able to ensure everyone was able to access an outstanding and inclusive educational environment.

4 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER

Business

Creating a positive change in our university We are proud to have worked closely with the University to ensure the implementation of our “New Deal for Parents & Carers” campaign. This year, through the creation of a new Parents & Carers hardship fund, over £20, 500 has been awarded to around 70 students in financial need – ensuring they are able to stay in education. A Childcare & Carers Information Co-ordinator has been appointed by the University, demonstrating their commitment to student parents & carers. Connections with the local community charity Action for Family Carers has been made to provide support and advice to students in Chelmsford, with the intention for a similar partnership in Cambridge next year.

This work is a direct result of ARU Students’ Union working in partnership and shows that by taking a student centred approach to solving problems we can make a big difference to people’s lives.

Over

£20,500

has been awarded to around

70

students in financial need

PUTTING IDEAS INTO ACTION ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER 5

2 IMPROVING EMPLOYABILITY Through unique opportunities to develop confidence, skills & resilience.

8/10

Our Goal

students will tell us the skills and confidence they gained with us will help them in the future

41%

This year

of students feel that skills and confidence gained with us will help them in the future Source: Big 10 2017

Improving employability: We have significantly enhanced and expanded our training offer for our student volunteers.

Following course representative feedback we have prioritised supporting them to develop communication, public speaking and research skills.

92%

of representatives felt their induction gave them a good understanding of the role and what they needed to do (Sector average: 70%)

88%

of representatives felt they were given the training necessary for them to carry out their role effectively (Sector average: 68%)

CASE STUDY

In addition to broad skills, we also provided 150 externally accredited training courses in Licensing Law, First Aid and Minibus Driving. This not only supports students in their volunteering and work roles as students, but gives them valuable qualifications for their future.

Creating unique opportunities to develop confidence We work to make sure that every student can achieve their ambitions.

One student identified that she wanted to volunteer and gain skills in the sexual health sector. She had a severe stammer that prevented her from feeling confident in applying for these opportunities.

The Volunteering team worked with the student, offering support and encouragement whilst she undertook speech therapy. They also worked to source a unique opportunity.

She is now working as a highly valued volunteer at the Terrence Higgins Trust.

6 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER

It has opened my eyes to the wide variety of volunteering roles inside and outside of the university as well as allowing me to develop as a person.

Alice Siegwart – 3rd year Education student

DEVELOPING CONFIDENCE, SKILLS & RESILIENCE ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER 7

I have gained valuable skills that will be used throughout my life and career. I am a much more confident person as a result and feel as though I can now achieve way more than I thought I could.

Hannah Skinner, 3rd year Criminology student & volunteer

The Students’ Union are absolutely amazing.

They are there for any query and have been very helpful, by coming to meetings with me, as due to my anxiety I sometimes get overwhelmed by the prospect. They’ve made me feel that despite my anxiety I am still capable of being a great course rep.

Student course rep 2017

8 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER

I love getting to meet new people within the activities that being a rep allows me to take part in. I also love getting to put my views across regarding student perspectives within academic meetings.

Emma Scriven, 1st year Business & Resources Course Rep

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER 9

3 SUPPORTING STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS By creating an inclusive, fair and ever improving learning environment.

8/10

Our Goal

students will feel supported by the ARU Students’ Union during their academic journey

45%

This Year

of students feel we supported them during their academic journey Source: Big 10 2017

62%

This Year

of students agree we effectively represent their academic interests Source: NSS 2017

Supporting students: We have worked to improve the standard and types of our advice & support to students. We have increased the number of students who use informal resolution, enabling them to return to their studies sooner. We have worked closely with Academic and Professional Services staff to promote the Advice Service as an integral part of the student journey.

Students are now routinely signposted to the Advice Service by ARU staff as our contribution to solving problems and supporting students has been recognised and praised by the University.

1,222

CASE STUDY

122

students supported this academic year

84

assessment offences supported

appeals supported

221

late mitigation claims supported

Keeping students on their course In February we gave support and advice to a Healthcare student. In addition to working alongside her part time course, the student had caring responsibilities for her elderly mother. With her mother’s health deteriorating and pressure to juggle so many responsibilities the student ended up failing two modules. After this she was resigned to leaving the course.

Luckily, the student came in for help from the Advice Service. We listened to her talk about how she was struggling to cope; helped her gather evidence to make a mitigating circumstances claim and supported her to get help whilst she was unwell.

As a result, the student has successfully been able complete her course – as have many more students who have been supported by the advice team this year.

10 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER

PRINCIPLES FOR PARTNERSHIP

1

RECIPROCAL TRUST, SUPPORT AND CHALLENGE Students and staff will work together in a trusting and supportive relationship, sharing perceptions, knowledge, skills, experience and expertise, and acting as critical friends with the confidence to both challenge and learn from each other.

2

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION Effective communication will be a shared responsibility throughout all partnership activity to ensure that institutional messages, and project aims, processes and outcomes are characterised by a shared voice, are successful and have high impact.

3

CO -DESIGN AND CO-DELIVERY OF CHANGE Responsibility for design and delivery of initiatives, including project management and operational actions, will be agreed and shared between students and staff, drawing in their peers and colleagues so as to support widespread improvement and change.

5

7

EFFECTIVE INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES Institutional structures, organisation, funding opportunities, committees and documentation will explicitly support and guide the development and implementation of partnership.

REWARD AND RECOGNITION To demonstrate that partnership is highly valued by the University, reward and recognition processes will be put in place to commend students and staff who engage together in innovation and change.

4

6

RECORDING AND COMMUNICATING IMPACT Demonstration of the impact of partnership processes and outcomes on learners and learning is central to gaining continued and increasing support for partnership and for building a collaborative community.

LEGACY AND SUSTAINABILITY Effective changes due to partnership will be embedded and maintained so as to support future student cohorts and to create an ethos of continuing commitment to partnership processes.

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER 11

4 PROACTIVELY SUPPORTING STUDENTS To thrive in an inclusive and welcoming environment.

8/10

Our Goal

students will say we have supported their well being

47%

This Year

70%

This Year

of students said the ARU Students’ Union has supported their wellbeing

of students know how the ARU Students’ Union can support them

Source: Big 10 2017

Source: Big 10 2017

Proactively supporting students: This academic year students collaborated to set up a mix of recreational and course based societies with the support of the Students’ Union. The team assisted students to work together to set up sustainable and passionate student-led groups that brought people together for a wide variety of activities.

81%

CASE STUDY

63

increase in the number of student-led societies this year, taking the total to 114

films have been shown throughout the year

79,132

1,736

people have attended one of our night time events in venues or weekly regular events hosted by the Students’ Union

students contributed to our Let’s Be Honest research

An inclusive and welcoming environment: This year ARU Students’ Union Trans Visibility Campaign went viral – for all the right reasons. Our Trans reps developed simple, yet highly effective posters guiding students and staff about how to act if they felt someone was in the “wrong” bathroom.

It clearly hit a chord with the student body, who shared online their support for the campaign. As a result, the campaign went viral – receiving 9,000 shares, 18,000 likes and media reports from people across the globe – showing that even small acts of kindness can have a radical effect on those around us.

12 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER

Volunteer opportunities help international students to enhance their university experience whilst living in a different country. They have also helped me to make friends with local people of all ages and engage within British culture.

Taoran Feng, Postgraduate International Business Student

THRIVING IN AN INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER 13

5 MAKING STUDENTS PROUD Through creating opportunities and delivering activities.

9/10

Our Goal

students will be proud to be a part of the ARU community

82%

This Year

of students said that they are proud to be a part of the ARU community Source: Big 10 2017

91%

This Year

of student volunteers would wholeheartedly recommend the union as a good place to volunteer

CASE STUDY

Source: SU Volunteers Survey 2017

Creating opportunities This year we supported the gaming societies in Cambridge to run a 24hr gaming marathon. This collaborative event was a huge success, connecting over 50 students to the different societies and raising over £200 for Macmillan at the same time.

We support hundreds of students to design and lead their own events, and create their own opportunities every year.

£5,000

Student societies have raised over £5,000 for charities and the wider community this year.

16,854

1 in 3

hours were volunteered by ARU students this year. This is the equivalent of 10 people working in the community full time.

Delivering activities that make us proud: Black History Month This year we held ARU’s first ever Black History Month celebrations. We worked collaboratively with both the University and with student societies to deliver events that celebrated the contributions of black people both in ARU and around the world.

We are a union that is proud of our diversity.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS 2016 FREE

FREE

FREE

angliastudent.com/blackhistorymonth

Coffee mornings The BME Staff Network have organised a series of coffee mornings throughout the month of October, encouraging Brookes staff and students to meet informally, chat about Black History Month (BHM) and to also promote the events happening throughout the month.

The coffee mornings will be held from 10:30am - 11:30am 4 October

Chaplaincy, Buckley Building, Headington Campus

11 October Wheatley Refectory, Wheatley Campus 18 October Westminster Square, Harcourt Hill Campus 25 October Marston Road Refectory, Marston Road 25 October G.05 Joel Joffe Building, Swindon Campus

Diverse menus

Making students proud: SU Awards

students are a member of a student society

In collaboration with Brookes BME Staff Network, Harcourt Catering will be offering diverse menus from Africa, the Caribbean and South East Asia Throughout October Harcourt Hill Campus

#bhmbrookes16

OXFORD BROOKES BLACK HISTORY MONTH LECTURE

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Perspective SPEAKER: Simon Woolley What do 2016’s political events, including the EU referendum, mean for minority communities across the UK? Simon will take a temperature check on the importance of this year and what the future holds for black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. He will also highlight the challenges with engagement and participation of young people in politics and wider society.

If you are concerned or unsure about where politics in Britain is heading, this is a must-hear lecture.

The evening will be hosted by Professor Anne-Marie Kilday, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Staff Experience).

Hip-hop and Shakespeare: Decolonising our curriculums SPEAKER: Akala Following his 10 Years of Akala Tour, award-winning Hip-hop artist, writer, poet, historian and Artistic Director of The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company (THSC), ‘Akala’ will join us for an interactive talk focusing on the topic of 21st century education, the Eurocentric nature of curriculums and demystifying Shakespeare. “smart, addictive and right on the mark” - The Independent Registration: ksesay@brookes.ac.uk 9 November 2016, 4:00pm - 5:00pm Union Hall, JHBB, Headington Campus

Lunchtime session: Lessons from Harlem

Booking: www.brookes.ac.uk/AboutBrookes/Events/Politics-in-Britain--Self-fulfilling-prophecy

Lessons from Harlem: “How a Year in New York in 1930-31 impacted on the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer”.

Open to all

rgbates@brookes.ac.uk

12 October 2016, 6.00pm - 7:00pm Chakrabarti Room (JHBB 208), Headington Campus

Westminster Chapel, Harcourt Hill Campus

24 October 2016, 12:30pm - 1:15pm

Full programme guide and booking links are on the Equality Diversity and Inclusion webpages www.brookes.ac.uk/staff/human-resources/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/ black-history-month

WEDNESDAY 19TH OCTOBER

JOIN IN AND CELEBRATE THE ‘PRIDE OF BLACK HISTORY’ WITH ARU STUDENTS’ UNION. MAB 211 | 12.00 – 2.00pm | External guest speaker, Helen Chuah

Helen has had a long career in nursing in the NHS and in 2011, she was appointed as the first Malaysian born, Chinese mayor of Colchester, organized by FHSCE.

BAR OPEN FROM 2PM IN THE LOUNGE

BAR OPEN FROM 2PM I

THE LOUNGE | 2.30 – 3.30pm | Afro-Caribbean Food

THE LOUNGE | 2.30 – 3.

THE LOUNGE | 3.40 – 3.50pm | Spoken Word on Black History from Believers Loveworld Society

THE LOUNGE | 3.40 – 3.

THE LOUNGE | 3.50 – 4.00pm | Dance Performance by Ruskin House Dance Club

THE LOUNGE | 3.50 – 4.

THE LOUNGE | 4.00 – 4.10pm | Music Performance from Glory Campus Fellowship Society

THE LOUNGE | 4.00 – 4

THE LOUNGE | 4.30 – 5.30pm | Culture Speed Dating led by the International Society

THE LOUNGE | 4.30 – 5.

THE LOUNGE | 5.30 – 6.30pm | Black History Quiz from the Afro-Caribbean Society

THE LOUNGE | 5.30 – 6.

Continue the celebrations at Town Takeover...

Continue the celebr

We had a record number of nominations for the SU Awards, our annual special recognition event where we celebrate the work of our fantastic volunteers. This year, students submitted an amazing 479 nominations (up from 259 last year) to recognise the achievements of our committee members, representatives and community volunteers. We also run monthly awards for our course representatives, volunteers and society committee members, making sure they know how proud we are of them.

This year, 69% of representatives said they feel their achievements are celebrated and recognised by ARU Students’ Union (up from 60% in 2016)

14 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER

WEDNE

JOIN IN AND HISTORY’ WIT

MAB 211 | 12.00 – 2.00p

Helen has had a long career in mayor of Colchester, organize

Made a Difference Awards: The Made A Difference Awards have gone from strength to strength this year. It is our chance, as students, to say thank you for all the hard work our teachers, lecturers and support staff do for us. It is a true highlight of our year!

Nina is always incredibly passionate about her subjects... I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the Innovative Teaching Award.

Student submission for award winner Nina Whittle

Loren is an extremely caring, dedicated and passionate member of staff and I am sure that my degree experience and work would not be as positive without her.

Student submission for award winner Loren McCarthy

Pepsi has made my experience at ARU a worthwhile and positive one, without her support and advice I would not be continuing on my training, I am so grateful.

Student submission for award winner Pepsi Takawira

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER 15

Cambridge Campus Helmore Building East Road Cambridge CB1 1PT 01223 460008

Chelmsford Campus Bishop Hall Lane Chelmsford CB1 1SQ 01245 258178

Peterborough Campus

London Campus

Guild House Swain Court Oundle Road Peterborough PE2 9PW

19 Charterhouse Street London EC1N 6RA 0207 4006789

0845 1965560 info@angliastudent.com I www.angliastudent.com 16 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT: STUDENTS CREATING SUCCESS TOGETHER