Brighton Welcome Handbook 2018

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d e n ts u n io n @ b r ig h to n st u @SUBrighton @subrighton su.com www.brighton

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Whether you’re 18 or 118; a full-time, part-time, postgraduate, commuting, mature or international student - we are here to make sure your experience at university is the best it can be.

We ensure that your voice is being heard, provide services and opportunities, activities to get involved with, advice, support and a whole lot of fun along the way.

We’re led by you, for you.

, e r a e w who ! o d e w t a wh community:

a member of You are automatically ion - welcome to Brighton Students’ Un 00 students. a community of 22,0

independent:

e m the university and ar We are independent fro st be e th ge so that you have here to fight for chan experience.

Not-for-profit

charity:

ck d at the union goes ba Every penny you spen make your into activities to help time here even better.

ney: Value for mo s to be

rvice We aim for all of our se ide you with great ov pr d budget-friendly an her you’re purchasing value for money, whet d more. event tickets, food an

Jobs:

150+ student staff in We currently employ ng you with great our SU teams - providi employability skills.

campaigning:

response to feedback We run campaigns in you in an effort to that we receive from ic experience. improve your academ

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Societies:

societies at BSU that There are 100+ active e to meet new people you can join at anytim isting interests. and enjoy new and ex

n:

Representatio

urse Representatives We have over 850 Co ic em ad back about your ac providing us with feed anges at course level. experience to make ch

Student Voice:

votes cast in our There were over 18,000 ership Elections to Students’ Union Lead dents’ who will lead your stu democratically decide u. union and represent yo

Events:

attend our Over 3,000 students lebrating their events each year - ce time in Brighton.

ADVICE:

have helped over 1,000 Our BSU Support team em on the ic issues and advised th em ad ac th wi s nt de stu their degree. best route to securing

Outlets:

re sold in our SU 50,000 meal deals we g you money with outlets last year- savin great offers!

this handbook provides you with information on how we can support you and make your time at uni even better. read on to find out more...

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full-time m a e t r e c i f f o Tomi IbukunT

UNION PRESIDEN providing a ion and ensures we’re

tat Tomi leads SU represen rks between mbers (you!). Tomi wo me r ou for quality service stings campuses.

Moulsecoomb and Ha

son Parker Robin ence

ri VP Academic Expe ensures demic representation and

t aca Parker looks after studen resents r uni experience. Parker rep you that you’re pleased with Grand Parade students.

Sam Shew

PARTICIPATION VP ACTIVITIES & ts sports teams, he also suppor

and Sam works with our societies te, Sam ies. As an Eastbourne gradua ivit events and other student act pus. covers the Eastbourne cam

Amy Jaiteh

PAIGNS VP WELFARE & CAM ntal and physical health,

h their me Amy supports students wit needed. Amy vided with support where ensuring that they’re pro mer. represents students in Fal

by the student body! yOur officer team are elected e to ensure your they work for the union full-tim on the issues that voices are heard and campaign ES. matter to you ACROSS ALL CAMPUS

s at:§ Find out more about the officer bri ght on su.c om /of fic ers

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campuses e co o m b Moulb s is the heart of the

Moulsecoom it our University of Brighton. Vis al, or our café-bar, Basement Centr here. You campus shops while you’re s at our SU can also ask any question floor. reception on the ground

RINGMER HOUSE

COCKCROFT

Fal me r

WATTS

MITHRAS HOUSE

pus, Falmer is a community cam ful South surrounded by the beauti in Ringmer Downs. Come and visit us é-bar, The House to pop into our caf nds or the Hive, for a coffee with frie r essentials. campus shop to grab you our SU staff You can also say hello to here. in the office while you’re

e g r and ppasasesrallathid ngs creative, being

GRAND PARADE

Grand Parade encom Brighton, it’s the perfect so close to the centre of on. You can purchase all of place for finding inspirati your next masterpiece the equipment needed for r SU Ar t Shop or find us at a discounted rate in ou mezzanine floor of the in the SU Reception on the Grand Parade building.

at: Check out what’s on your campus ses bri ght on su.c om /ca mpu

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LIVING IN BRIGHTON

Brighton is a wonderful and unique city with a vast array of events and activities all year round. If there’s one thing that we can guarantee it’s that your memories in Brighton and Hove will stay with you for life, and many students decide to never leave!

Highlights of living here include:

Brighton Seafront

Relax on Brighton Beach, take a trip to the Palace Pier and beware of seagulls!

Royal Pavilion

Meet friends in the historical Pavilion gardens and test your ice skating skills in the winter months.

Local Restaurants and Shops

Dine at independent restaurants and pick up vintage treasures in the Laines.

surrounding towns

East Sussex is one of the most beautiful counties in the UK. Take a trip to Eastbourne, Hastings or smaller towns to see more of the countryside and enjoy a day out.

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vibrant nightlife

Brighton is famous for its quirky nightlife, there is something for everybody. Have fun in the wide range of pubs, bars and clubs. Take advantage of all you can with our Hello Brighton and Freshtival wristbands at the start of term.

Parks and Nature Stroll around the South Downs, Devil’s Dyke or one of the many parks in the city. The choice is yours!

comedy and live music

Witness amazing live music or hilarious comedy all over the city, particularly during May at the Brighton Festival or Fringe.

Sports and Outdoor Activities

Get outdoors and try something new at Hove Lagoon, the Yellowave volleyball courts or the mini golf courses along the seafront. You can also go to the amazing AMEX Stadium and watch live football games. Go Seagulls!

visitbrighton.com Find out more about brighton at:

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societies We have many societies at Brighton Students’ Union, all are student-led and cover a range of interests, from academic and cultural to leisure and faith.

Societies (Soc) are a great way to find a group of friends that share common interests with you and become your community. From ArabSoc to Young Greens Soc - whatever your interests, there is a society for you!

“Joining a society was the best thing i did at uni” Leanne Bayley, second year student and member of the LGBTQ+ Society

“I’ve made some amazing life-long friends through Music Society, and I’m thankful to have had the space to meet new faces every week” Francesca Thornton, third year student and member of Music Society

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societies How to join: Come along to one of our BSU Freshers’ Fairs to meet our societies or head to our website to find out more about them. It’s easy to join a society online all year round.

eties to Simply head to brightonsu.com/soci n join a society or create your ow Can’t find a society you like?

If you can’t find a society that matches your interest, you can create your own! BSU will support you in setting up and give you training and access to funding.

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sports Sport Brighton is the University of Brighton’s sport and recreation department, providing you with the opportunity to develop and maintain your fitness, compete in sport and have fun with friends.

There are 3 main sports programmes delivered by Sport Brighton: 1. Gym and sports facilities, including fitness classes 2. Student-run sports clubs 3. Parklife (social and recreational sport programme) Your local gym and fitness facilities are located in Moulsecoomb, Falmer and Varley Park. A fitness programme is offered throughout the week and the latest timetables can be found at the Sport Brighton website or any sports centre reception.

Parklife is a great way to get involved with sports at a low cost! There are a wide range of sports to get involved with including Pilates, Climbing, Judo and more. Just when you think it can’t get better, most sessions are just £1. Look out for special Parklife events, the first big one being the annual Parklife Ice Skating event on Monday 19th November.

Read about all things Parklife at parklifeplay.co.uk

found at: More info can be c.uk sport.brighton.a 12

a i d e M t n e d u St Student Media is a fantastic way of expressing your creativity outside of your studies and is open for all students at the university. We support three main media outlets: The Verse newspaper, Buzz Radio and Brighton TV. These outlets are run by students, for students across all of the university campuses.

Anyone can get involved in student media regardless of their degree subject. It’s a great way of getting valuable work experience and employability skills whilst having fun with friends.

olved with If you’re interested in getting inv re at: student media, you can find out mo The Verse Student Newspaper Verse Brighton theverse.co.uk

Brighton TV BrightonSUTV youtube.com/BrightonTVSociety

Buzz Radio BuzzRadioBSU blogs.brighton.ac.uk/buzzradio

or contact us at ns@brighton.ac.uk bsucommunicatio 13

g n i r e e t n u l o V

There are a number of ways that you can volunteer with Brighton Students’ Union to gain valuable work experience, employability skills and meet new people.

• • • • •

Join our Health and Wellbeing teams and support with Pet Therapy and other campaigns Be a helper at one of our events and gain insight into the event industry whilst having fun Run in our Students’ Union Leadership Elections to be a volunteer officer Become the Course Representative for your peers Lead a society or student group as a member of the committee

es other great opportuniti There are a number of ing eer /volunt listed at: brightonsu.com The university also run Active Student which has additional volunteering opportunities. Find out more at: brighton.ac.uk/careers

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y t i l i b a y o l p m e

Working for your students’ union is a great way to earn extra money whilst studying.

We can provide work around your timetable and you’ll gain valuable skills that can be used in your future careers including teamwork, customer service, food hygiene, cash handling, negotiation skills and more.

Joining our group of over 150 student staff is a great way to gain work experience, make new friends and have fun whilst earning money!

We have jobs within our café-bars and shops but you can also get involved in work with our student voice team, communications and general admin support and more.

This is a great addition to your CV and a fun part-time job during uni.

nsu.com/jobs find out more at brighto

ebsite FAQ’s on our w re.

Check out our to find out mo bs o /j m o .c su n to brigh

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Events We host a number of events that are open to all of our student members. We have large-scale gala events and a wide range of smaller events throughout the year to help you settle in, meet like-minded students and have fun!

We have: Freshers’ fortnight to start the year off right, Freshtival is a two week programme of nighttime events that are designed to get you settled into university life.

There is something for everybody - check out our Hello Brighton programme too!

Our Union Awards are designed to celebrate students, staff and volunteers at the university. We have an upbeat award ceremony, with winners that are nominated by staff and students at the university.

The Garden Party is an end of year celebration in Eastbourne. This festival-style day has a range of entertainment and is designed to get you all out in the sun, reminiscing on your year and getting excited for the start of the summer!

We host events in our SU CafĂŠ-Bars on campus during term-time which include society socials and meet-ups, quiz nights and film nights. You can also use these spaces to host your own events.

ming events at: Check out upco /e ve n ts br ig h to n su .c o m 16

PRESENTS

s y k a i d p e es n d e w

n’s o t h g i r B

t! h g ni t n de u t ts s e g big

Every Wednesday during term time

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CAFe-Bars We have two café-bars in Brighton, one on the Moulsecoomb campus and in Falmer.

The money you spend in our students’ union outlets is invested back into your union. We provide you with affordable, on-campus food and drinks, helping you save money whilst benefitting your own student experience!

Basement Central

Basement Central is located on Moulsecoomb campus in the Cockcroft building, it’s a great place to meet friends, grab a Starbucks or eat a delicious meal after a long day of lectures, labs or seminars.

The Hive

The Hive is on Falmer campus in Ringmer House and has a range of lunch options. Come along to relax with friends, have a coffee and play a board game. You’ll feel right at home.

VEGAN AND GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN ALL OF OUR CAFE-BARS.

US ON LI NE AT: SE E OU R FU LL M EN /C AF EB AR S BR IG HTON SU .COM

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Shops We also have a shop on every campus, in these shops you’ll find snacks, stationery supplies and of course, your trusty meal deal.

If you’re in need of specialist supplies, head to Grand Parade and Mithras House. Grand Parade is jam packed with art supplies and Mithras has a wide array of architecture essentials, you can also ask our friendly shop assistants to order in certain equipment that you require. e You can also shop onlin

We have a wide range of university hoodies, t-shirts, baseball jackets and more in store and online.

Head to brighton.universityhoodies.org to buy yours today!

yoyo You can now pay in all of these outlets with the Yoyo app. This app allows you to pay with your phone and earn loyalty points to gain rewards.

Download Yoyo today on the app store.

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Student Voice We are here to represent you throughout your time at university and support student-led campaigns to improve your academic experience.

ctions Students’ Union Leadership Ele The Students’ Union Leadership Elections are held every year in the spring term. By standing for a position, you can make a real difference to the university experience for all students at Brighton. Every student has the opportunity to vote - it’s important that you do as these people will lead the student body and shape your university experience.

full-time Officer team You’ll see your full-time officer team around campus during your time here. They represent your views and work everyday to improve your university experience. Make sure you get to know them by popping in for a chat, catch them at events throughout the year or contact them on social media.

Become a Volunteer Officer

You can also become a volunteer officer. These officers represent specific communities within the student body such as BME, Ethics & Environment, Mature, LGBTQ+ and more. You’ll get the chance to run awareness events and campaigns that improve the lives of students.

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question of the month We are committed to finding out more about your academic priorities and ensuring that you’re happy with your experience whilst studying at the university. That’s why we’re out on campus each month asking students how they feel and campaigning to improve anything you may be unhappy with. Chat to us on your campus and give feedback!

WE ’re here for you If you see things on campus that you’d like to change during your time at the university, you can contact us and campaign. We will support you and do whatever we can to improve your university experience.

entvoice Visit brightonsu.com/stud for more details

20 18-19 your volunteer officers

Women’s Officer Kirsty Hearn

Disabled Students’ Officer Mark Harvey

LGBTQ+ Officer (Open) Christopher Thomas

Ethics and Environmental Officer LGBTQ+ Officer - Non-Binary/Trans Identifying Jamell Brown Kip Webb-Heller

Mature Students’ Officer Daniel Jackson

International Students’ Officer Farhoud Salmanmohajer

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Course Reps What is a Course Rep? A Brighton Students’ Union Course Representative is a student that volunteers to represent your viewpoint at a course level and ensure that you’re getting the most of your university experience. The elected Rep will attend meetings and raise any issues that their peers are having in order to enable student feedback and ensure changes are being made.

why do we have course reps?

Course Reps are an essential part of your student voice at uni. As our student members, they feedback current issues and give us an insight into your student experience which we can then help make change. We want to give you the chance to speak about university life in an informal, friendly setting.

How to become a Course Rep?

Becoming a Course Rep is a great way to support students on your course and gain valuable skills. If you’re interested in becoming a Course Rep, let your course leader know at the beginning of the year. An informal election is held to decide who will be the representative for each course during your time at university.

/coursereps To find out more, visit brightonsu.com or email coursereps@brighton.ac.uk

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Health & Wellbeing Here at Brighton Students’ Union we do many things to support you with your health & wellbeing. We understand that whilst university is an amazing experience – it can sometimes be stressful, so we provide services to help you.

we do a number of things: port Providing information and sup

We run activities throughout the year that have information and somebody to talk to at Brighton Students’ Union, whether that’s our Health and Wellbeing Projects Coordinator or our friendly volunteers. Rest assured that you’ll always be able to find somebody to talk to, get more information and point you in the right direction.

Pet Therapy One of our most popular wellbeing activities is Pet Therapy which happens twice a year.

This is a chance for you to take some time out of your day to pet some dogs and meet our BSU Support team who will be able to answer your questions around academic issues.

VP Welfare and Campaigns

Our VP Welfare and Campaigns, Amy is here to support you and campaign for the welfare of students at the university.

If you’d like to speak to Amy further contact her at a.jaiteh@brighton.ac.uk.

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Health & Wellbeing Groups Representing Liberation We represent liberation groups in many ways: through our Volunteer Officers, in our societies and within campaigns that happen throughout the year. We strive to be inclusive to all students at the University of Brighton.

Local services

We work with local services and charities in Brighton and East Sussex including the Terrence Higgins Trust and the Oasis Project to raise awareness of their support on campus.

campus services We provide free sexual health & wellbeing goods at all of our campus receptions including condoms, pregnancy tests, STI testing kits, and self-care activity kits.

t health and wellbeing, To find out more abou odadvic e visit: br ig hton su .co m/go

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advice Our Advice team, as part of BSU Support, are here to help you with any difficulties you may face as a student. You can visit us if you need to find out more about academic misconduct, mitigating circumstances, appeals, complaints, thinking of leaving university, disciplinary issues, Fitness to Practice, and Bullying and Harassment.

We are here to inform you of the options available and to help you make choices to resolve any issues that affect your university life. We are independent from the university and any information you share with us is confidential.

BSU Support help over 1,000 of our members every year. Don’t hesitate to visit them if you need any advice.

Contact

Please book an appointment before popping in, so we can make sure we’re around.

If it’s an urgent matter, you can check our website for drop-in details. To book an appointment, email bsusupport@brighton.ac.uk

t advice at bsu, visit To find out more abou t br ig hton su .co m/ su pp or 27

Travel & Transport BUS

There are a number of bus routes that you can take between Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb and Falmer campuses. However, the number 25 goes between all of them, stopping in major parts of Brighton along the way. Download the Brighton and Hove Buses app for discounted prices and all information about bus services.

The university also have a free inter-campus bus to take you between sites. You can now download the Mobile Onboard app so you can get live updates on where the bus is.

TRAIN

If you’re planning to get the train, you can buy a Unizone ticket which is an affordable way for students to travel. This ticket allows you to travel freely between all train stations in Brighton, Eastbourne and East Worthing.

CYCLING

There are safe methods of cycling throughout Brighton so this is an affordable and environmentally friendly way of travelling – it’s also a great way of staying fit.

You can also take advantage of the City Bikes around Brighton.

Rent one today!

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Bucket List Fish and chips on the beach Visit Brighton Palace Pier Take a trip up the i360 Have a picnic in Stanmer Park Hike around Devil’s Dyke Conquer the Brighton Zipline Dance the night away at Spiegeltent Travel to Eastbourne to see Beachy Head Cycle to Rottingdean on a sunny day

Visit the Open Market on London Road Upload a pic of the West Pier to Instagram Have fun at Brighton Marina Indulge at Choccywoccydoodah Battle your friends at Laserzone Check out Paddle Round the Pier Enjoy a milkshake at JB’s American Diner Go to Boundary festival Grab an ice cream on the beach

Get involved in the Great Escape festival Try out watersports at Hove Lagoon Meet Fatboy Slim and Superhans Watch the Christmas lights switch on Visit the Brighton Dome Run or watch the Brighton Marathon Go ice skating at the Pavilion Have a spooky Halloween at our Pier Party Get lost in the Laines Visit the Duke of York cinema... ...and see a show at Komedia Participate in Brighton Pride Go on a walking tour Play volleyball on the beach Take a trip on an open top bus Go to a food festival See the seafront in style on the Volks railway Take a trip to the Sealife Centre

bucket list, If you complete any items on the ng #bsubucketlist share your memories with us usi

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Top tips for freshers Have the best university experience possible by following our top tips!

Get involved Whatever your age, campus or background there is something for you. Joining a society or club is such a special and unique opportunity that you may never get to do again! We also have multiple volunteering opportunities and events, where you can meet other like-minded students.

Budget Financial stress can be a problem for some students during university, but there are ways to ease this worry. Deciding on a budget and sticking to it is so important as it’ll help you stay on track all year. There are also many great ways of saving money through discounts, one of which is buying a Totum (powered by NUS extra) card for exclusive offers.

Seek support if you need to…

Don’t hesitate to visit our BSU Support team if you’re struggling, they’re here to help you navigate any difficulties you may have.

Manage your workload Try to stay on top of your workload to minimise stress, this can be achieved easily by making a schedule. Use your BSU wallplanner to plan your week, you’ll get one from us when you start!

Give feedback If you’re not having the best time at university, remember that there is something you can do about it. Speak to us about campaigning for change or give your feedback in surveys.

Take advantage of every opportunity Make the most of every situation and get the best experience you can by trying new things.

Document it!

This will be such an important time in your life, filled with happy memories. Don’t forget to document them and share them with us on social media using brighton

#hello

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