The Bucks Student: Freshers' 2023

September 2023 - Freshers' special

DOMINOS

To make life even better for students at Bucks this year, we've expanded our sabbatical team to four! Find out what they're all about on pages 4-9.

Contributors

Brandon Tester • Sruthi Subhash

Amy Pile • Jess Bradbury

Jess Hughes • Sarah Jackson • Nellie Hughes

Daniel Lawrence • Tash Neal • Alex Ditchburn

Kelly Wiles • Tim Dixon • Samuel Shepherd

Jorja Fulford • Ratu Nailatikau • Bethany Jackson

Marissa Leyden • Jacob Johnson • Dee Whyte

Peter Ashiagbor • Rita Ekokotu-Odigie

Jess Leach • Chloe Hayes • Grace Paisley

Oli Gunson

Want to see your name in the list above?

Want to have your writing or artwork on show to thousands of people? Get involved!

Email editor@thebucksstudent.com

Advertising

For all advertising and media enquiries please contact the Students’ Union Communications and Marketing department: sucommunications@bnu.ac.uk

Articles in this newspaper do not necessarily represent the views of Bucks Students’ Union but are that of the specific author. View this edition online at bucksstudentsunion.org/communications

© 2023 Bucks Students’ Union

If required, this document can be made available in different formats. Please contact Bucks Students' Union for more information.

Hello!

We are your Students' Union team and we are here to make life better for students at Bucks.

Some of you hopefully already know what Bucks Students' Union does, and what we provide - but for those of you who are new; enrolling on a course at Buckinghamshire New University automatically makes you a member of Bucks Students’ Union. You don’t need to join and there are no fees involved, but membership gives you access to the vast range of services that we offer - all for free. These services include; sports, events and entertainment, societies, additional skills training sessions, recreational activities, support from our Advice Centre, a rewarded student rep scheme and much more. Our hope is that offering all of these activities and events free as part of the Big Deal will give you the opportunity to enrich your University life as much as possible and get involved in as much as you can!

In this Freshers' special edition of the newspaper, we will introduce our teams to you, as well as give you a look into the societies, events and clubs that are on offer. So jump in and find a way that you can get involved!

page 10

Packing list

Not sure what you'll need? Nellie has you covered with her handy packing listpacked full of puns as much as guidance.

Freshers' 2023 events preview

We couldn't even fit them all on two pages this year, so feast your eyes on four pages of event-y goodnesss.

page 17

Get involved!

See what our clubs, societies and sports team have in store for the upcoming year, and make the most of joining them for FREE!

page 26

You are now a member of the Number 1 Students’ Union in the UK

By Brandon Tester

Brandon Tester He's back again... your Students' Union President

Hi everyone, I'm Brandon and this year I'll be your Students' Union President. This time last year I was in another role as the Students’ Union Vice President Education and Welfare for High Wycombe. So lucky for you all, you’ve got me for another year!

I have been consistently involved within the Students' Union since I came here 5 years ago… wow, I know. First getting involved in the Rugby club here at Bucks and getting the winning try at Varsity (don’t worry you’ll soon here what this is about) to win us the trophy to being the chair of the club and a student trustee and finally running for a Sabbatical Officer role.

First and foremost, I am here to represent you, the student at BNU and your concerns that you may have over your learning journey. I will be working alongside my fellow colleagues and officers to ensure you have an excellent experience here. I have an open-door policy so please come and speak to me whenever you fancy!

Priorities

So, why did I run for President? Well, I really enjoyed being VPEW for High Wycombe and I felt it to be the natural progression to become President. I implemented a cost-of-living campaign which I really wanted to carry on with many other projects in between, such as implementing a free ingredient bag every month for Monthly Monday Meals. I also have enjoyed making external relationships with the local council and organisations which have really benefited my plans and I wanted to continue that on.

In short here are my priorities for 23/24;

• Supporting our members in the cost-of-living

By Jess Bradbury

Wave hello to...

Jess Bradbury your Vice President Student Involvement Achievement and Belonging!

My role oversees the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work of the Students’ Union as well as the sustainability efforts and co-curricular offer. I get to work with our training and development team, events team, and student activities team to help make sure your university experience is the best one ever!

I help to make sure you’re supported in developing new skills, gaining new qualifications, and boosting your employability. I help get you involved and in everything from sports clubs to societies as well as the charitable fundraising events and volunteering, and helping to provide some top-notch daytime, nighttime, and cultural events! In terms of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and sustainability; I sit on the university and SU’s committees to make sure everyone is doing as much as possible to increase diversity and equality academically and with our co-curricular offer, create an inclusive environment for all our students, and promote sustainability so we are doing our bit for the planet! So not too busy ;)

As well as all this, my role as a Sabbatical Officer means I also sit on the Union's Trustee Board to ensure that we're sticking to our making life better for students . If you want to get in touch, you can pop into my office or email me on vpab@bnu. or pop me a message on my insta

What are your priorities for the year?

• Working with our different departments and the community to offer more opportunities for students to enhance their experience

• Go even further than last year to create a programme of activities and events to celebrations the diversity of our students

• The one I cannot miss out, win Varsity 2024… especially seen as it will be on home turf this year!

What about when you're off-duty?

This year I’m tap choreographer for BNU Dance Club, so when I’m not in the office, I’ll most likely be tippy taping in a studio or live laugh loving on The Venue dance floor!

By Sruthi Subhash

Fiercely representing you...

Sruthi K. Subhash your Vice President Education and Welfare (High

I ran for this role to bring a positive impact to the student experience and to make sure that they are not alone in their journey. Ultimately, I wanted to focus on improving the quality of the learning experience and the overall life of students at Buckinghamshire New University to bring the best student experience for our students.

Plans for this year

International student support

The lack of international student support is an ongoing issue on campus. I will continue working on that to provide international students with various support throughout their journey from pre-departure, general and academic induction, to post-study work visa application assistance.

Equitable student experience for students in different cohorts

Students from different cohorts, including February and April, may not have the same level of experience as September cohort students. Therefore, I’ll be negotiating with the university to provide facilities during the summer term for these students.

Wycombe)

Accessibility of learning resources

Ensuring that all learning resources are fully accessible to students, in order to provide an exceptional learning experience for all. Lobbying with the university to prioritize full accessibility of learning resources and to enhance their quality and maintenance to guarantee an exceptional learning experience for all students.

Employability opportunities

Lobbying with the university to get more local businesses to partner with and trying to get more campus recruitment for students from all departments.

These are the brief plans for this year and I will be working alongside other sabbatical officers in various cultural events and campaigns. If you guys have any concerns or queries please feel free to get in touch either in person or pop an email to sruthi.subhash@bnu.ac.uk

I’m Sruthi, your current Vice President of Education and Welfare for the High Wycombe Campus. You’ll have seen me in my different roles last year as IMBA course rep and executive officer for international students.

The Times accredited super nurse...

Amy Pile

By Amy Pile

(Uxbridge & Aylesbury) your Vice President Education and Welfare

Hi, I’m Amy, your elected Vice President Education and Welfare for Uxbridge and Aylesbury. I’m delighted to have been elected into this role, I thoroughly enjoy supporting students whilst working in partnership with the university and the whole of the Students' Union team.

Being an adult nursing student coming to the end of my time as a student, I have heard and seen many positives and concerns raised by students. Within the three years I have held various roles that have supported changes from student trustee, nursing and midwifery officer for two years running, rep for my group for three consecutive years and the chair of the bucks nursing society. These roles have contributed to the person I am today and I’m forever thankful, which is why I stood in the election.

My focus this year is to support you all, correctly signposting you to services but mainly becoming a friendly face you feel you can approach, have a chat and importantly trust. Within my manifesto are collected focuses of concerns that came from many students, these focuses are:

Placements, to work with the placement team to improve support for students whilst on placement, information at all campuses on boards and liaising with the university to campaign for a student placement hub and look at appointment system.

Aylesbury campus, providing a Students' Union area where students can access advise, learn more about the union services and see a friendly face, where I aim to be there two days a week splitting my time between Uxbridge and Aylesbury.

Working with the counselling service on how to best support students as waiting lists can be longer than expected which impacts student’s wellbeing. Travel bursary for students who attend placements, lobby the university to support students financially, with the cost of travelling to and from placements getting ever more expensive and putting enormous strain on students. Whilst these are the main focuses, I’m here to listen to you and your concerns and work together to provide all students with the best university experience. I can't wait to meet new and returning students and I look forward to the year ahead, if you have any questions or simply want a chat please do get in touch amy.pile@bnu.ac.uk

By Brandon Tester, Jess Bradbury, Sruthi Subhash, Amy Pile

Get a peek into...

Your Sabb's plans

Get in touch:

Brandon:

Jess: jess.bradbury@bnu.ac.uk Bucks Vpsi @BucksSUVPAB @buckssuvpab

Sruthi: sruthi.subhash@bnu.ac.uk Bucks Vpew @BucksSUVPEW @buckssuvpew_hw

Amy: amy.pile@bnu.ac.uk Bucks Vpew Ux Ayls @BucksVPEWUxAyls @buckssuvpew_au

We wanted to start this newspaper article by saying welcome to or welcome back to BNU! We are your Sabbatical Officers of the Students' Union. We hope you have an amazing time whilst you are studying, and we are here to support you every step of your University! We will be coming into as many induction sessions as possible to meet you face to face over the next few weeks, but if we don’t see you, then please come and say hi at our Freshers' Fairs taking place at the High Wycombe campus on Wednesday 27 September Our office also has an open door policy, so feel free to come in at any point to have a chat and a catch-up!

Keep an eye out on our What’s On page on the Students' Union website and our social media to keep up to date with all of our latest events, news and campaigns. We also have a set of podcasts that have been going out over the past month to tell you a bit more about what we offer as a Students' Union to you completely free, thanks to the Big Deal, so make sure you check out Rusty’s Radio station on our website to listen back to them. Finally, make sure you check out our website, where you can find the contact details for all of the variety of Sports and Societies we have available to you as a Students' Union for free that you can get involved with. Don’t be afraid to get in touch with Jess: jess. bradbury@bnu.ac.uk if you have any questions about a society or sport or you are interested in setting one up yourself!

Best of luck this year, and we hope to see you soon!

Brandon, Jess, Sruthi and Amy

By Jess Hughes

Additional Skills Recreational Activities

&

At Bucks Students’ Union everything offered is FREE to our students, courtesy of The Big Deal.

Whether you need to boost your CV, learn a new skill or just unwind on a great day out we are to here to help! Already lined up for you this year we have:

Skills

Mental Health Awareness

Our two hour course includes activities, film and discussion to explore 4 areas of mental health: illness, stress, stigma and wellbeing.

Emergency First Aid

A key skill for anyone to have, but also looks great on a CV! This will teach you the basics of the role of a first aider and how to deal with managing an emergency and what to do in the first instance while waiting for help.

Activities

London Comic Con

Reserve your free space to see TV and film stars, independent creators, the best in UK cosplay and all the little moments you just don't get anywhere else.

Singing lessons

One to one tuition with a qualified tutor for a 5 week block of lessons! Whether you want to improve your singing voice for auditions in the future or just improve your karaoke voice these FREE classes will help!

We are always looking for new activities to arrange for you! So if you think of something not listed, please come down and see us at the Students’ Union office (High Wycombe) or email surecactivities@bnu.ac.uk so we can see if we can arrange your activity.

JobShop

Escape room

Bring some friends along or make some new ones at a great local venue in High Wycombe! The stag do that went wrong! It was only supposed to be one quiet drink, but instead, heads are hazy and you’ve lost the groom. You awake the morning after the night before to find yourself in the town police cell with an hour until the church bells will ring. Can you retrace your steps, and get him to the church on time?

And there’s more! For a full list of additional skills and recreational activities and for more details on how to reserve your free tickets, visit the What’s On page of our website.

Make your money jiggle jiggle...

At the Students’ Union we understand that the majority of our students will need to work while studying with us and with that in mind we have tried to make finding local part time work that bit easier for you with our JobShop page!

Found on our website, we update this page regularly with local part time opportunities, in a range of different sectors so hopefully there will be something there for you including: retail, caring, bar work, tutoring, hospitality, sports coaching and more.

Whilst we understand the impact of the cost of living crisis, we do not recommend that students work more than 20 hours per week while undertaking a full time course. This is to ensure that you are able to give time to your degree, but also so that you have some time to take care of yourself and enjoy your experience at Buckinghamshire New University!

If there is something more specific you are looking for, or would like support in writing your CV or applications, we are here to help! Please arrange an appointment with us by emailing jobshop@bnu.ac.uk

Leadership Academy

By Sarah Jackson

It's never too early to start planning your career

So get a jumpstart as we are now accepting applications for our 2023/24 intake!

The Leadership Academy is an entirely bespoke and individual programme to help you reach your goals for the year, and beyond. We welcome applications from students in any year of study and can support you throughout your time with us at university and once you have graduated!

The programme starts with an in-depth initial meeting to learn a little more about you, your commitments and what you would like to achieve or would like support with during your time with us. We can help by providing additional training opportunities to boost your CV or help with softer, transferable skills such as time management or building confidence. We will signpost to different services offered by the Students’ Union and the university or other local organisations and arrange a mentor in a relevant industry to you. You will have access to a FREE Strengthscope session with a qualified practitioner where you can learn more about your strengths as well as FREE leadership workshops and access to a community of students through our student leader socials. You will also be entitled to a FREE hoodie, career fact file and a guaranteed invitation to our annual Union Awards!

We will work flexibly around your commitments both in and outside of university, offering appointments both in person or online depending on your preference and keeping in contact through the year by a method of your choice, such as phone, email or meetings. The frequency of these sessions is again entirely up to you and the level of support you would like, ranging from bi-weekly to once every couple of months.

This really is a programme designed to support you in achieving your goals in a completely bespoke, flexible and manageable way. See what our previous Leadership Academy graduates have had to say about this programme:

“I am incredibly grateful for the flexibility and individual planning that the Leadership Academy does. It makes a huge difference in facilitating those on busy/diverse courses being able to partake.”

“The Leadership Academy has given me access to bespoke training courses relevant to my industry. It has also allowed me to take tests to analyse my strengths as an individual, look through and improve my CV, and overall has given me great guidance on how to cope with a busy workload and stay resilient!”

“The Leadership Academy has given me the support and confidence I needed to pursue a graduate career”

“The Leadership Academy helped me to “keep on track” with both my studies and my future endeavours, by finding opportunities which I wouldn’t/couldn’t have found on my own”

By Nellie Hughes

What do I bring?? A handy packing list

It’s time! You’ve accepted your offer, confirmed your student loan and paid the deposit on your new room in student accommodation, and now it’s time to pack. But what exactly do you need to make sure that you bring along with you?

Everyone will tell you something a little different and it’s so easy to panic and just take everything (I’m talking to you, never-once-used iron!) so make sure you break it down, cover all your basics and remember if you unpack and realise you didn’t bring a single piece of cutlery, you can always pick some up for free with our Bucks New Usage initiative or borrow from a housemate until then!

First up, the important stuff – passports, paperwork and prescriptions.

⃣ Valid passport and/or driver’s license

⃣ University acceptance letter

⃣ Accommodation contract

⃣ Prescription medication (and the paperwork if it’s a repeat prescription)

⃣ Bank card (have you considered switching to a student account?)

⃣ Passport photos

⃣ USB

⃣ 16-25 railcard for great train travel discounts

⃣ Totum card

Moving on to where all the magic happens (We’re talking about those well deserved zzzz’s!) it’s the bedroom.

⃣ A duvet (and two covers - wear one, wash one style)

⃣ Pillows

⃣ Pillowcases

⃣ Pillow protectors

⃣ Mattress protector

⃣ Bed sheets

⃣ Coat hangers

⃣ Clothes horse

⃣ Extension cable

⃣ Photos of friends and family

⃣ Chargers for all your devices – phone, camera, laptop. (Double, triple check these)

Next up is the bathroom and it’s probably the most straightforward one on your packing list.

⃣ Bath towel

⃣ Hand towel

⃣ Toiletries (these cover a wide range of things and this is personal to you, but I would recommend buying the loo roll and handwash once you arrive to save some space in your parents' already crammed car.)

⃣ Bath mat – get a bath mat!

⃣ A first aid kit – so many bumps, cuts and bruises will happen in your first year so make sure you grab a kit.

⃣ Paracetamol – For everything from a hangover to computer headaches and the ever dreaded Freshers' flu.

Clothes – Rightfully has its own section. You don’t need to bring your entire wardrobe, all your shoes, and fancy getup. For the most part you can break it down into summer/ winter. Your first term at uni will be in the colder months before you head home where you can swap out your winter coats boots for tshirts, shorts and flip flops. On that note, this is what you should bring for the start of term in September.

⃣ Warm clothes

⃣ A scarf

⃣ A good winter coat

⃣ A lighter winter jacket

⃣ Sensible shoes

⃣ A handful of dressier items for your nights out

⃣ Sports/gym gear if you need it

⃣ Fancy dress

Last up is the kitchen, crockery and cups. You want to keep this to the basics, why bring a corkscrew bottle opener if you don’t drink wine? Six set of dinner plates when you’ll probably only cook for you and a mate or two?

⃣ A good set of pots and pans (A good rule of thumb is a big lidded pot, small pot and medium pan to cover your essentials)

⃣ Cutlery

⃣ Plates

⃣ Bowls

⃣ A mug

⃣ A glass

⃣ A sharp knife

⃣ Tupperware

⃣ Scissors

⃣ Chopping board

⃣ Sieve

⃣ Can opener

⃣ Spatula

⃣ Set of wooden spoons for stirring, mixing and general cooking use

⃣ Peeler

⃣ Baking trays (2 will usually do the job)

⃣ Tea towels

⃣ Washing up sponge/brush

If you get stuck for something in halls, pop into Bucks New Usage in the ground floor of West Wing near Lily's Walk on our High Wycombe campus where you can nose around and pick up anything you need from cutlery to bedding, pots to lamps and even toastie makers. This can be really helpful for International students, as you will have a limited luggage allowance and this can help you to save money on new items.

By Daniel Lawrence

Find your people with...

Societies

Looking to enhance your university experience participating in something you love? Then why not join one of our many societies we have on offer!

We have a total of 24 societies which you can join ranging from physical activity (Men's Netball, Rollerskating and Women's Rugby), societies linked to your courses (Aviation, Business and Law, Midwifery, Psychology) and common interest (Anime & Cosplay, DJ and Music). This is only a handful available to you, so for a full list visit bucksstudentsunion.org/ activities/socs

All of our societies are preparing for your arrival and have some fantastic plans in the works to engage you and get the most out of your university life. Each society is led by a committee who have been in your shoes and know exactly how you are feeling. Feeling nervous, no need to worry, our societies will help you settle into university life by helping you meet new people and gain some friends for life and this is only some of the amazing feedback we received last year!

Is there something you are interested in which we do not offer? Why not set up a society of your very own, all you need is 3 people. You will get the full support of us here at the Students’ Union to help you get going, ranging from help with the initial paperwork to providing you with some funding to get the society up and running. Leading a society is a great way of enhancing your CV, providing organisation and communication skills which will help you in any career. For further information on how to set up a society contact susocieties@bnu.ac.uk or you can message Daniel Bucks on Facebook. Or, you can find us on Instagram @bucksstudentsactivities

Daniel Lawrence Student Activities Coordinator (Recreational Sport and Societies)

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays

free food and good company!

It doesn't get better than...

FREE FOOD

The Big Bucks Meal Deal

A project derived from the cost-ofliving campaign run by Bucks Students’ Union to make sure you are fed and well. The campaign aims to tackle food poverty within the student community at BNU by cutting the prices of food in our cafés and The Lounge hosting three free hot meals a week. This is funded and supported by BNU and delivered by Bucks Students’ Union.

Where is it?

The Lounge in Bucks Student’s Union (look for the large sabbatical officer banner and head in that way). You can walk along the road with the speed bumps from the Gateway reception to find the banner.

When is it?

Three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, 5.30–7.30pm. You’ll just need to bring your student ID and a good appetite

This is all free to help with the costof-living crisis.

What about Uxbridge and Aylesbury?

Pulse and The Basin also partake in The Big Bucks Meal Deal - keep an eye out in these cafes for more information.

If you have any issues regarding the cost-of-living crisis, or food poverty, then please contact Brandon Tester, Vice President Education and Welfare (HW) or the Advice Centre via email or on social media below.

Advice

By Tash Neal

Your voice, just louder... Representation

Student Representatives

Student reps are elected by their course mates each year as the leading voice for their class and are the first point of contact for students with positive feedback, issues, or concerns. Student reps are trained and supported throughout the year by the Students’ Union and are rewarded up to £100 for their contribution.

Student reps also have access to additional developmental opportunities, such as our annual Rep Conference, Leadership Academy, and much more. They also have the possibility of receiving an invitation to some of our biggest events, such as our annual Union Awards. Each year of every course needs a student rep, so why not put yourself forward and ensure your peers have a say in their university experience, all whilst boosting your CV?

How do I submit my Rep Nomination? Nominations for 2023/24 Student Reps open on Monday 18 September and close on Friday 13 October 2023, with voting taking place the following week. If you are interested, please email surepresentation@bnu.ac.uk with any questions or the following details to submit your nomination: Name, student ID, course name, year of study, preferred email

School Officers:

At BNU, courses fall into seven schools: Art, Design and Performance, Aviation and Security, Business and Law, Creative and Digital Industries, Health and Social Care Professions, Human and Social Sciences, and Nursing and Midwifery.

School officers are employed to assist the Representation team in a range of tasks within their relevant school and promote the benefits of representation. School officers liaise with student reps to gather feedback and help formulate feedback reports, ensuring the student voice is heard at all levels across the University. Extra support from the Students’ Union and various training programmes are provided, as well as a financial reward of up to £350, and an invitation to our Rep Conference and Union Awards.

We are still recruiting for the 2023/24 Aviation and Security School Officer and the Art and Design School Officer for the Art, Design and Performance School.

Executive Officers

Executive officers are part-time elected roles to ensure the Students’ Union represents all members and is inclusive and accessible for all. Our executive officers represent eight student groups and are democratically elected by the students they represent. Executive officers are given an extensive package of benefits, including Leadership Academy application support, free additional skills and training sessions, and personalised one-to-one support. They are rewarded up to £350 for their contribution.

Four of the roles are self-defining: Women, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME), Students with Disabilities, and LGBTQ+. Students who wish to stand or vote for these positions must self-define before doing so. The final four roles are based on entry criteria when applying for university: Mature (aged 21 or over at the start of their degree); PartTime and Commuting (part-time programmes or commuting students); International (paying international fees); and Postgraduate (postgraduate programmes).

The following executive officer positions are still available and will be open for nominations on Monday 18 September and closing on Friday 13 October: BAME; LGBTQ+ and Postgraduate Officers.

Here’s what some of our officers who held these positions over the past few years have had to say about the role:

“As an executive officer, I've discovered a transformative journey, where I gained confidence, expanded networks, and grew as an individual, ultimately preparing me for the Sabbatical Officer role”

Sruthi Subhash, International Students' Executive Officer 2022-2023.

“I feel a big achievement this year was the Facebook Group, we got lots of members and good engagement.”

Amy Pile, Mature Students' Executive Officer 2021-22 and Students with Disabilities Officer 2022-23.

Please feel free to contact us at any of the following if you are interested in the roles:

Email: surepresentation@bnu.ac.uk

Facebook: Bucks Rep, Bucks VPEW & BucksUxAyls

Twitter: @BucksRep @buckssu

Instagram: @Bucksrep @bucksstudentsunion

If during your time at university, you are looking to get more out of your experience, develop careerenhancing skills, and make life better for students at Bucks - you may be interested in taking on one of our many student leadership positions. The roles we have available for this year are...

By Tash Neal

DELEGATE ELECTION

Could you be one of our next delegates?

Firstly… what is the NUS?

The National Union of Students (NUS) is an organisation that represents university and college students across the UK to enable change nationally to improve the student experience. They believe that education should be accessible and enjoyable for all and collectively we work with them to make this possible for students at BNU.

How does an NUS Delegate fit into all of this national work?

At Bucks Students’ Union, we pay an annual membership fee to the NUS to make sure that we are supported every year when it comes to national campaigns and can access support to enable us to create change within the University. You also receive TOTUM cards thanks to NUS that give you access to hundreds of discounts across the UK.

Each year the NUS hosts a national conference which is an opportunity for delegates from each Students’ Union within the NUS (around 400) to network, consider reports made by the National and State officers, discuss policy changes to improve the student experience across the United Kingdom and elect in the officers for the next two years who will be lead the NUS – similarly to how our Sabbatical Officers lead Bucks Students’ Union.

If you are interested in standing in the election to become an NUS Delegate next year, please email surepresentation@bnu.ac.uk for more information or come and chat with us at Freshers Fair at the High Wycombe Campus on Wednesday 27 September!

“My journey at university started during COVID times, as you can imagine the university tried to keep everyone safe, which meant that over 80% of my first year was online only. This was a hard time as a student and young person, as it felt that I was wasting precious time on nothing. Since I was determined to stay at this university, I knew that the moment I can get involved with the university or Students’ Union in any way I would take it. And this is exactly what happened! The next year, all rules to do with Covid have been lifted and I started hunting for roles in the Students’ Union such as committee member for multiple new/continued societies, chair for the Societies Council, involvement with international students’ conferences and many others.

As part of my many student roles in the Students’ Union, I got to work with the representation team. It started with me going to the National Union of Students (NUS) conference as an NUS delegate representing the university and bringing back knowledge from the national level. This is a 2-day conference where you can meet students from all over the country, making this one of the biggest networking events between students, and you also get to vote on national campaign policies, leaving quite a big impact this way. I got to participate in this event as an NUS delegate twice. Both times I found it fascinating that our Students’ Union is part of this big organization that brings students from all around the country. It was a very interesting experience, I got to talk to many University’s Sabbatical Officers (Presidents and/or Vice-Presidents of the Students’ Union in their university), staff members of NUS (who bring this whole event together and later work on the voted policies), and I got to know my university delegates a little more in a little less formal atmosphere.

Being an NUS delegate is a very interesting and unique opportunity not only that, thanks to the Students’ Union's BIG DEAL it was completely free. It is something I would recommend for anyone curious about involvement in student representation both in the university and outside on a national level. If you are interested in any opportunities like this one feel free to contact Bucks Students’ Union via email or go directly to the office as they have an open-door policy for all students from BNU.”

Vytautas (V) Kravcenka (2 times NUS delegate, School Officer for Creative and Digital Industries 2022-23) told us why he ran to be an NUS Delegate the last two years:

ADVICE CENTRE

Please call to make an appointment at either campus for a face-to-face, telephone

High Wycombe Campus:

Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4.30pm

Uxbridge Campus:

LEGAL ISSUES

ADVICE CENTRE

Located: Room N0.03, ground floor, North Block Phone: 01494 603 016

make an appointment at either campus for a face-to-face, telephone or Skype appointment.

Wycombe Campus:

Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4.30pm

COURSE ISSUES

N0.03, ground floor, North Block Phone: 01494 603 016

YOUR PERSONAL LIFE

Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, Located: Room 1.03, Phone: 01494

Evening appointments are available outside of standard opening hours at High Wycombe Mon-Thurs: contact us to arrange an appointment at a time to suit you.

Uxbridge Campus:

Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4.30pm Located: Room 1.03, first floor Phone: 01494 605 180

suadvice@bucks.ac.uk

LEGAL ISSUES COURSE ISSUES

YOUR PERSONAL

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES

ADVICE

ADVICE CENTRE

Please call to make an appointment at either

bucksstudentsunion.org/advice suadvice@bucks.ac.uk

Please call to make an appointment at either campus for a face-to-face, telephone

appointments are available outside of standard opening hours at High Wycombe Mon-Thurs: 5pm to 7pm. Please contact us to arrange an appointment at a time to suit you.

High Wycombe Campus:

Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4.30pm

Located: Room N0.03, ground floor, North Block Phone: 01494 603 016

bucksstudentsunion.org/advice

Uxbridge Campus:

ACCOMMODATION

High Wycombe Campus: Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4.30pm Located: Room N0.03, ground floor, North Block Phone: 01494 603 016

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ISSUES

Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, Located: Room 1.03, Phone: 01494

Evening appointments are available outside of standard contact us to arrange an

Evening appointments are available outside of standard opening hours at High Wycombe Mon-Thurs: contact us to arrange an appointment at a time to suit you.

ACCOMMODATION

suadvice@bucks.ac.uk

bucksstudentsunion.org/advice suadvice@bucks.ac.uk

INTERNATIONAL

WEEK: MONDAY 18 – FRIDAY 22 SEPT

FRESHERS' WEEK 1: SATURDAY 23 SEPT – SUNDAY 1 OCT

FRESHERS' WEEK 2: MONDAY 2 SEPT – SUNDAY 8 OCT

ALL WEEK

Sport for Fun Bike Hire

All week - SU reception

Monday 18

Tennis - Sport for Fun 12.30pm - The Concourse

Bucks New Usage 12.30pm - The Concourse

Tuesday 19

Kwik Cricket - Sport for Fun 12.30pm - The Concourse

Wednesday 20

High Wycombe scavenger hunt 1pm - High Wycombe campus

Thursday 21

Basketball - Sport for Fun 12.30pm - Events Hall

Volleyball - Sport for Fun 12.30pm - Events Hall

CultureFest 2pm - S3.01

Friday 22

London Museums trip

All day - meet on The Concourse

Saturday 23

Sabbs Welcome Quiz 7pm - The Lounge

Sunday 24

UV Welcome Party 9pm - The Venue

There's plenty more to come, so keep an eye on our socials for up to date details and events to be revealed as Freshers' is in full swing! You're best off following us on Instagram @bucksstudentsunion or Facebook: Bucks Students' Union

ALL

Sport for Fun Bike Hire

All week - SU reception

Monday 25

Bucks New Usage 1pm - The Concourse

Badminton - Sport for Fun 5pm - Events Hall

Quids In 9pm - The Lounge

Tuesday 26

Bucks New Usage 1pm - The Concourse

Rusty Holes Games Emporium 6pm - The Venue

Wednesday 27

Freshers' Fair noon - Events Hall

Frat House: Toga Party 8pm - The Venue

Thursday 28

Flower Bomb makingVolunteering 1pm - TBC

Fell Out Boy Tribute Night 7pm - The Venue

Friday 29

Uxbridge Students' Union takeover noon - Pulse

Hockey - Comp. sport 6pm - Royal Grammar School

Men's Netball - Society 6.30pm - Events Hall

Bingo Lingo 7pm - The Venue

Saturday 30

Football - Comp. sport noon - The Rye

Local Party 9pm - The Venue

Sunday 1

The Big Quiz - General Knowledge 6pm - The Lounge

ALL WEEK

Sport for Fun Bike Hire

All week - SU reception

Monday 2

Diwali Decoration Making 1pm - TBC

Badminton - Sport for Fun 5pm - Events Hall

Dance - Comp. sport

5.30pm - Dance Studio 3

Rugby - Comp. sport

5.45pm - Marlow Rugby Club

Badminton - Comp. sport

6.30pm - Events Hall

Basketball - Comp. sport 8pm - Events Hall

wXved 10pm - The Venue

Tuesday 3

Bucks New Usage 1pm - The Concourse

Radio drop in 1pm - Rusty's Radio

Oktoberfest 6pm - The Venue

Netball - Comp. sport 7pm - Kingsmead Rec. Centre

Volleyball - Comp. sport 8pm - Events Hall

Cheer - Comp. sport

8.30pm - Dance Studio 2

Swimming - Comp. sport 9pm - Wycombe Leisure Centre

Wednesday 4

One Can Trust - Volunteering 1pm - TBC

Frat House: Special Guest 9pm - The Venue

Thursday 5

Radio drop in 10am - Rusty's Radio

Cheer (Jazz and Pom)Comp. sport 6pm - Dance Studio 2

HMV: Live and Local 6pm - The Venue

Cheer - Comp. sport 8pm - Events Hall

Pandoras Pop Box 9pm - The Venue

Friday 6

Horse Trust - Volunteering All day - meet on The Concourse

Drag Cabaret 7pm - The Lounge

Saturday 7

Freshers' Ball 9pm - The Venue

Sunday 8

Cheer - Comp. sport

1.30pm - Events Hall

Cheer (Jazz and Pom)Comp. sport 3pm - Dance Studio 2

The Big Quiz - Freshers' survivors 6pm - The Lounge

RAISE GIVE and

By Dee Whyte, Jorja Fulford, Ratu Nailatikau

Raise and Give, which is better known as RAG, is a part of the union that raises money for charity.

This year, the students get to nominate and vote for one local charity, so you guys have the control. The way we are hosting RAG is Changing in previous years we chose 2 local charities, but we are making the change to 1 local charity and this will allow you all to host any fundraising for any charity close to your heart. We will be here to support you along the way

Welcome to a new year of raising money for your chosen RAG charities with your two new RAG Ambassadors: Hiya, I’m Dee and I’m so looking forward to being a RAG ambassador for the 23/24 year. I am in my third year of Early Childhood and Primary Education Studies. I am a very active member within the union being employed in the venue and part of the Musical Theatre Society committee. I am so happy to be a RAG ambassador this year as I love to create as many opportunities as possible to raise money for our RAG charity that will be chosen by the students. It also can be a way to discover what the union offers and what you can get involved in. I am hoping to encourage clubs and societies to organise events that their members would like to take part in and donate to charity at the same time. I also look forward to getting more students involved whether they commute, are international or simply live in student halls. We have so many activities and events planned for new and returning students to enjoy.

Hi, I’m Jorja and I am so excited to be a RAG ambassador this year. I am in my final year of my Film and TV production and a member of the Bucks Netball club. I wanted to be a RAG Ambassador because it’s amazing that we get to raise money for our chosen charity, but it also creates a community that is valuable for students to have throughout their time at university. As an ambassador, I will make sure to organise fun and inclusive events whilst also supporting all our members who want to take part in RAG. We already have lots of new and exciting fundraising events planned and we can’t wait for the students to get involved with them.

All fundraising activities are for all students which mixes raising money and having fun into one. Getting involved in RAG can be very beneficial for students as well as looking great on your CV for employers to notice resilience and even volunteering in some cases. If you are fundraising outside of the Union, feel free to let us know by contacting bucksragambassador1@gmail.com

We are planning to have an amazing year and fundraise as much as we can for our chosen charity and others along the way. If you have any queries don’t hesitate to contact us.

What is Bucks New Usage?

Who does Bucks New Usage aim to help?

Where is Bucks New Usage?

Hi, My name is Ratu Nailatikau and I am your Bucks New usage Ambassador for 2023/24 academic year, I am currently studying Accounting and Finance. I got involved in Bucks New Usage in the last academic year, opening Bucks New Usage once a week, looking after all the stock and greeting students. I decided I would like to be the Ambassador this year as Bucks New Usage is one of the most unique things the University and Bucks Students’ Union have to offer compared to other Universities.

Bucks New Usage is a recycling scheme set up by the university to encourage more students to recycle and reuse products. At Bucks new usage the products available range from blenders to rice cookers. Students are free to use all of the products located at Bucks new usage and anything that students may not need or are getting rid of can be returned to bucks new usage, cleaned, and reused.

Bucks New Usage aims to help all students, we provide them with all things; from appliances, to clothes and electrical supplies. All of the items provided by Bucks New Usage is completely free of charge, helping students gain things they might not be able to obtain themselves.

Bucks New Usage can be found in the West Wing, next to the Red Shed.

When is Bucks New Usage open?

Bucks New Usage is open every Tuesday, from 1pm - 3pm. During these hours, a member of Bucks New Usage staff will be inside and at hand for any questions or help finding an item.

LET'S GO with...

Competitive

By Alex Ditchburn

SPORT

Here at Bucks we offer something not many Universities do, Competitive and Recreational Sports for FREE! Thanks to The Big Deal you can train and compete each week and not pay a penny.

We have fourteen different clubs that you can be apart of ranging from Basketball to Rugby. The majority of our teams play on a Wednesday afternoon anywhere within the South East Region. We also offer the opportunity to individuals who compete in individual sports the chance to represent us in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS). Over the last few years we have sent Snowboarders, track and field athletes, swimmers and fencers to their chosen competition. If you are an individual competitor pop down to the SU office and we’ll do everything we can to get you competing in your chosen sport!

If the conventional sports isn’t for you we also have Cheer and Dance clubs, they train weekly throughout the year to compete all over the country against a range of universities.

Last season our Men's Football and Netball first teams gained promotion after winning their respective leagues. Our Men's Basketball team narrowly missed out on promotion and our Men's Rugby team made it to the Semi-final of their cup. At the end of each competitive year we celebrate our teams successes at an Athletic Union Awards. Theses awards include, Team of the Year, Captain of the Year, Sportsman of the year, Sportswoman of the Year and Club of the Year plus many more! This year, for their amazing work on and off the pitch Women's Hockey were awarded the Club of the year 2022-23 crown.

Sport at Bucks is something that changes your University experience for the better and an area that you should absolutely get involved in, we asked students what sports meant to them and from our Men’s Rugby President Tim Cunningham: “Taking part in the sporting aspect of the students union has allowed me to create connections with a diverse group of students, allowing me to gain experiences that without using the students union I would never have been able to access”

If you have any questions relating to competitive sport prior to starting at University and know which sport they are for, please visit the Students’ Union website and visit the individual sports page in order to find the relevant contact details. If the questions are more general or pertain to a sport we do not appear to offer, please contact sport@ bnu.ac.uk Or, pop into the Students Union office in September.

Alex Ditchburn Student Activities Coordinator (Competitive Sport)

Keep active, try something new, and meet new people!

We are ready to welcome you to Bucks whether you are returning student or coming for the very first time. Do you want to be active but not compete in sport? You can with our recreational sporting programme. With Sport for Fun you can try a variety of sports regardless of your ability. There is no commitment and the majority of our activities are free of charge and take place on different days, so there is always something for you to try. Sport for Fun gives you the opportunity to take part in sports you may not have previously tried, all in an enjoyable, non-competitive environment.

What can I get involved in?

We have an action-packed programme for you this year with a mixture of weekly activity such as Badminton, Basketball, Netball, Volleyball and Cricket. Throughout the year we will also be running lots of fun trips which you can get involved in, Go Karting, Rush Trampoline Park and Ice Skating to name just a few, so be sure to keep track of our social media channels for all the latest information. If there is something we currently do not offer and is something you would like us to do, do not hesitate to get in touch.

Bucks Bike Scheme

With the increase in interest in Cycling, we are launching Bucks Bike Scheme. As part of this we offer bike hire throughout the year, where for a deposit you can access the bikes for any purpose that suits your needs, whether this be commuting to uni/work or for general exercise.

We will make you aware of local clubs, should you wish to partake in group cycles, but this is something we would be looking to run regularly here at Bucks. When you hire a bike, you will also be made aware of local cycle routes so you can further explore the beautiful Chiltern Hills and get to know the local area better.

Student Activities Coordinator (Recreational

SFF Ambassadors

We are looking for student leads for several sports so, if you have a passion for any sport and would like to enhance your CV whilst at university by gaining valuable leadership, organisation and communication get in touch. This is a volunteer role but we will reward you for your work by paying for a coaching course if this is something you wish to do.

How do I get involved?

If you are interested in participating or would like further information on any of the upcoming events, contact sport@bnu.ac.uk. Oh, and don’t forget to follow us on our social media!

Keep up to date with our social media; Instagram - @bucksstudentsactivities

Daniel Lawrence

Sport and Societies)

Find a way to give back with...

Volunteering

Last year our students volunteered over 17,900 hours in the community, running clubs and societies and through our internal Students' Union projects! Our students also managed to raise an amazing £15,473 last year for RAG.

Volunteering at University can be so beneficial for you and can easily coincide with your studies. Volunteering can be anything from being on committee for a club or society, to giving back to the community either by helping with a river clean or helping with Horses Trust. It can be anything in which you give up your own time to give back to something or someone else.

Here at Bucks Students’ Union we are always encouraging students to volunteer as there are so many great benefits that you gain. Volunteering looks great on your CV and also provides you with many experiences and skills which will be great for your time beyond university.

Volunteering can be extremely rewarding and enjoyable and it is also a chance to meet like-minded people and make new friends.

Volunteering opportunities are varied and there is definitely something for everyone, from six month internships to one-off volunteering opportunities selling poppies for the British Legion. There is always an opportunity to get involved which we can make fit around everyone’s busy university schedule and individual passions.

Already planned for the first term we have a Brighton beach clean and a visit to Horse's Trust, as well as regular visits to One Can Trust! There are so many volunteering opportunities in place for the year, if you want to see what we are offering visit the Bucks Students’ Union website and visit the volunteering portal where all the opportunities are kept.

Students who volunteer their time get rewarded by being awarded with certificates based on the hours they have put in. The hours are:

• Bronze award, 50 hours

• Silver award, 100 hours

• Gold award, 200 hours

• Platinum award, 400 hours

If you reach your platinum volunteering award, you will be invited to our annual Union Awards dinner evening to be presented with your certificate.

This academic year we are continuing our volunteering bundles! If you reach 30 community hours, you will be able to collect your very own volunteering kit which includes a T-shirt, hoodie, backpack, portable charger and more! We want you to be kitted out in volunteering stash ready for any opportunity you may want to get involved with. There are only 50 bundles available, so be quick and get logging those hours.

MONEY ADVICE

2023-24 Guidance

Whilst we hope your time at University is all plain sailing and smiles, the Advice Centre is always here should that not be the case. We are the Advice Centre, here to listen to, advise and support students by providing a professional, independent and confidential service, which is accessible and welcoming. We will use our experience and knowledge on student issues to influence University thinking to make life better for students at BNU.

Budgeting

To give you an idea of how much money you will need, here are some figures of what an average student might expect to spend in a week:

The total average spend in this example, is £238 per week. Obviously this does not mean that this will be your weekly spend, so it is important to work out what your budget will be for the year and plan accordingly. The money you may receive in loans from Student Finance and any other grants or bursaries, will probably not be enough to meet all your expenses, so money from a part-time job or from parents will be needed. It is also important to prioritise your expenditure, for instance making sure that you have enough money to pay your rent, bills and for food before you spend your money on other less important things.

Welfare benefits

The majority of full-time students in higher education are not eligible for any welfare benefits, but some are.

Visit gov.uk for information on benefits.

If you are on any welfare benefits before you start your course you must inform the relevant agency that you are now on a full-time higher education course. If you are eligible for student funding some of it is counted as income for benefit purposes.

Council Tax

If everyone living in a house is a full-time student then it is exempt from Council Tax. However, the Council will need proof and this can be obtained from The Student Centre. If not everyone is a full-time student then come to us for advice as it is complicated.

Health care costs

Anyone on a low income can apply for help with health costs. To apply for help you will need to fill in an HC1 form and we have these in the Students’ Union Advice Centre.

Hopefully by now you have sorted out your finances for this academic year, and know what you’ll be getting in terms of student support or if you’re not eligible for student support, have enough money available to see you through.

If you haven’t, you need to get this sorted as a matter of urgency. Arriving at university without enough money will make your life very tough and can impact on your ability to pass your course.

TOTUM

TOTUM (used to be called NUS extra card) gives you great discounts and savings. Visit totum.com to get your card now.

Useful websites

Money Saving Expert moneysavingexpert.com

We can’t recommend this website enough. It is full of helpful information about all things money. Particularly check out the budget planner, information on the best student bank accounts, the special deals and information on student sponsorships and grants.

Turn2us

turn2us.org.uk

Turn2us is a national charity helping people when times get tough. A good website if you are a single parent on benefits, a section on studying and has a grant search.

Bucks Students’ Union Advice Centre

High Wycombe Campus tel: 01494 603 016 suadvice@bnu.ac.uk

Useful contacts

Student Finance England gov.uk/student-finance

telephone: 0300 100 0607

Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm

Saturday and Sunday, 9am-4pm

Text relay (Relay UK)

Uxbridge Campus tel: 01494 605 180 bucksstudentsunion.org/advice

Buckinghamshire New University Hardship Fund

The Buckinghamshire New University Financial Aid - Hardship Fund (FA-HF) can offer support if you are in financial hardship. Each application is assessed by The Student Centre following the BNUHF guidelines. If you receive a payment it will be based on the assessment. Each student’s reasons for applying and financial situation will differ from each other.

(if you cannot hear or speak on the phone) 18001 then 0300 100 0607

Student Finance Northern Ireland studentfinanceni.co.uk

Student Finance Scotland saas.gov.uk

Student Finance Wales studentfinancewales.co.uk

Student Finance EU team

telephone: 0141 243 3570

from outside the UK: +44 1412 433 570

Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm

NHS Student Bursaries

nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students

Ridgway House, Northgate Close, Middlebrook, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 6PQ tel: 0300 330 1345

Twitter: @NHSBSA_Students

Facebook: /NHSstudentbursaries

Social Work Bursary

nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students

Social Work Bursaries, PO Box 141, Hesketh House, 200220 Broadway, Fleetwood, FY7 9AS

tel: 0300 330 1342

Twitter: @SWB_NHSBSA

Facebook: /socialworkbursaries

UKCISA (The UK Council for International Student Affairs)

ukcisa.org.uk

tel: 020 7788 9214

Monday to Friday, 1-4pm

Contact for advice and information on all overseas student issues, including funding and immigration.

Financial help for disabled students in higher education

gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa

You are eligible to apply if you are a ‘home’ full time or part time student. You must be in receipt of all funding that you are eligible for prior to applying to the fund. EU students who continue to be funded by Student Finance can apply to the Financial Aid - Hardship Fund, you will need to provide evidence of your Tuition Fee Loan. If you are a part-time student you must be studying the equivalent of 50% of a full-time course. Certain categories of students fall into priority groups for financial help from the Financial Aid - Hardship Fund. Payments are given as grants which do not have to be repaid.

Applications can take some time to process, so you are strongly advised to apply before you run out of money if you are in financial hardship. The fund does not have to be repaid.

If you want to apply for BNUHF or for more information, please make an appointment to see an advisor in either Advice Centre.

The NHS Learning Support Fund

For eligible healthcare students only if you started your undergraduate healthcare course on or after 1 August 2017 or you are a postgraduate student that started a course on or after 1 August 2018, you may be eligible to apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF).

The LSF provides eligible student’s access to the Training Grant, Parental Support (PA), Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE), and the Exceptional Support Find (ESF). The Training Grant is a non-means tested grant of £5000 paid each academic year in three installments. An additional £1000 is paid to students on specific courses including mental health nursing. You will need evidence of eligibility in the form of your Student Finance letter to apply. The PA provides full-time students who have responsibility for dependent children under the age of 15 (17 if the child has special educational needs) on the first day of the academic year. Eligible students will receive a non-repayable grant of £2,000. The funding is paid in three instalments (£500 in term 1, £500 in term 2, £1,000 in term 3). If you are a part-time student you may be eligible for pro-rata funding, please contact the NHS directly for more details.

The TDAE allows you to apply for your travel and dual accommodation claims. Eligible students are entitled to have some of the additional costs of attending placement reimbursed. The ESF is an additional non-repayable hardship fund and it is available to eligible healthcare students only.

For more information on the Learning Support Fund and to check your eligibility, please visit: nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund

GET INVOLVED WITH...

SOCIETIES CLUBS

SPORTS

coming at you over the next few pages

By Bethany Jackson

PsychologySociety

We want to start with welcoming back a Psychology Society to BNU this year. After varying successes in previous years, we are relaunching the society and are very excited to meet members in September! After lots of interest in previous years we are back with a brand-new committee:

Chair – Oliwia (3rd year Psychology)

Secretary – Bethany (3rd year Sports Psychology)

Treasurer – Nikola (3rd year Counselling Psychology)

Welfare Liaison – Caitlin (3rd year Counselling Psychology)

We will meet biweekly on Thursdays 7pm – 8pm (room TBC).

We will have opportunities to meet and discuss anything students may wish to. We can also use this time for students to get support of other psychology students. This society is open to all, so you do not have to be studying a psychology degree if you want to attend.

We have been busy planning for the year ahead and are still open to suggestions for what members would like to see. Check out our socials @bnu_psychologysociety (Instagram) to see what we have been getting up to! You can use out socials to ask us questions and send us suggestions.

Find us at Freshers' Fair to meet us in person, find out more, share your ideas and say “Hello”, we would love to meet you! We are excited for a fun filled year and cannot wait to welcome members!

By Samuel Shepherd

BUCKS VSROEY

A battle of guts, for glory...

There are not many events that can match Varsity’s intensity and excitement when it comes to exhibiting the competitive spirit. The Roehampton University matchup every year has been the team's season high point for the Bucks men's hockey team. Fans are excitedly anticipating a thrilling match as the team prepares to play to the best of their ability with pride and glory on the horizon. The Spirit of Varsity and embracing challenges

Bucks Men's Hockey thoroughly embraces the Varsity spirit, seeing it as a chance to express their pride and enthusiasm in addition to being a sporting event. The energised environment inspires the athletes as the campus comes alive with ecstatic fans wearing their team colours. Every player on the team is aware of the importance of this historic occasion, and they are all eager to leave their mark on Varsity history.

The team proved their persistent dedication to continuous improvement in spite of hurdles endured in the previous season. Every game, win or lose, aided in their development and enhanced their performance. The team has a positive outlook on the future and is motivated by their commitment to ongoing improvement, which promises more frequent accomplishments and a higher sense of success.

The team's character was put to the test throughout the previous season. They experienced challenging matches, ferocious rivalry, and injuries. They never wavered in their quest of perfection, though, and they never lost sight of their objectives. Each obstacle they overcame served as a teaching opportunity that encouraged the players to approach the ensuing matches with greater rigour and strategic awareness. The group's fortitude in the face of difficulty best portrays the true spirit of sportsmanship and tenacity.

Learning from Defeats and unyielding determination

The team won't let challenges interfere with its progress. Instead, they approached issues from a growth perspective and evaluated their work to see what needed to be improved. In addition to creating their game plans and meticulously analysing the tactical changes made by their competitors, the players also profited from the coaches' counsel. The commitment of the coaching staff to maximising each player's potential was essential to the growth of the team. Targeted training sessions and tailored coaching helped each player develop their skills, which ultimately boosted the team's performance. The coaching staff's commitment to maximising each player's potential is essential to the growth of the squad. Through dedicated training sessions, each player enhances their skills, ultimately enhancing the performance of the team. The men's hockey squad at the Bucks is renowned for its unyielding perseverance. No matter the obstacle or foe they face, they never give up, maintaining the spirit of resistance that makes them who they are. Their tenacity in the face of difficulties is admired by both their supporters and their rivals. In conclusion, Bucks Men's Hockey’s unwavering commitment to improvement, perseverance in the face of difficulties, and sense of teamwork stand out strongly. They are prepared to leave their imprint on Varsity as they get ready, carrying with them important lessons from the past. The group's optimism and dedication indicate a promising future, inspiring admiration and eagerness for their potential successes.

The men's hockey squad at Bucks is known for its unyielding perseverance, they never give up.

By Marissa Leyden | Jacob Johnson

Bucks Musical Theatre society, would like to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning students.

Our society is welcome to all with a passion for musical theatre! We pride ourselves on providing a range of sessions and performance opportunities for our members and we cannot wait to get back into the full swing of things for this year.

In the 22/23 season, the members of Bucks MT have had the pleasure of taking part in fun sessions, Alumni and Professional masterclasses, various performances, as well as competing in the societies first ever competition!

The committee can all agree that this year was a whirlwind and we are so proud of our achievements, especially when securing becoming an accredited society with outstanding status yet again!

The brand new committee for the 23/24 season hopes to step up to provide a year just as successful as the 22/23 season has been for the society, and we hope that you join us on

If anybody has questions or would like to contact the committee for any information, you can contact us either via our instagram page @bucksmtsociety or our society email account bucksmtsociety@hotmail.com!

The aviation society is run by aviation students, for aviation students, so as a committee we will aim to provide all society members with incredible opportunities to socialise with other students across all years and courses, engage and connect with industry professionals and have exclusive opportunities to visit various airports and see behind the scenes. Ultimately, what we aim to provide is an extension of your current studies, meaning that everything that we offer will help you with your assignments or research but also, we want to use this society as an opportunity to have fun and get stuck in with the industry that you aim to work within post university. You don’t have to be an aviation student to join, we’re open to everyone that has an interest in what we offer, however if you are an aviation student then what are you waiting for? This is your opportunity to immerse yourself in the aviation industry and have experiences like no other!

As a committee, we are here for all our members and encourage discussion and engagement with us. If you have any questions about the society or your study, need help or want to suggest anything then we’re here for you. It’s as simple as heading to one of our social media pages and sending us a message. We look forward to welcoming you all and most importantly giving you all some of the most meaningful opportunities you will have at university.

Upcoming events include talks from Stuart Little of NATS, Mo from @mo_t_ivate and the Bucks Alumni panel

The aviation society at Bucks is back again for the 23/24 academic year and now is your opportunity to sign up so you don’t miss the wide range of events and trips that we will be offering this year.

WE WANTED DOUBLE TO ASK IF LIKE TO JOIN AND NEWS

WE'D LOVE

TO USE THIS PAGE SPREAD YOU WOULD OUR MEDIA TEAM? TO HAVE YOU!

By Peter Ashiagbor

Unleash Your Inner Grandmaster: Join the BNU Chess Society!

Greetings, esteemed freshers, and welcome to the exhilarating world of possibilities at Buckinghamshire New University. Your decision to embark on this transformative journey with us is truly commendable, and we're eagerly anticipating your arrival during the welcome week and beyond. Brace yourselves for an unforgettable experience as we open the doors to a realm filled with games, camaraderie, and intellectual enrichment. Mark your calendars for the spectacular Freshers' Fair on Wednesday 27 September – you won't want to miss it!

Gaming Delight: The Chess Society Beckons

Among the gems awaiting your discovery is the burgeoning Chess Society – a haven for strategic minds, eager spirits, and all those who seek the thrill of a well-played move. Picture this: a space where camaraderie flourishes, where board battles unfold, and where every game holds the promise of challenge and growth. Whether you're a budding novice or a seasoned tactician, our society is tailored to welcome players of all levels. With a warm heart and open arms, we invite you to dive into the captivating world of chess – both online and in person.

Checkmate Your Boredom: Engage in Weekly Duels

Imagine this scenario: a cozy corner of the library adorned with chessboards, where the rhythmic clatter of pieces accompanies spirited conversations. This is where the magic happens – a weekly rendezvous of intellects, where you can engage in friendly matches that cater to your preferred style. Blitz, rapid, classical – the choice is yours. Whether you're a newcomer seeking to learn the ropes or a seasoned strategist seeking worthy opponents, our society promises an exhilarating experience for all.

Save the Date: Freshers' Fair Extravaganza

You're cordially invited to the grand unveiling of the Chess Society at the much-anticipated Freshers' Fair on September 27. This is your golden opportunity to connect with fellow enthusiasts, learn about our exciting plans, and discover a passion that promises to elevate your university experience. As the sun sets on that day, you'll walk away not just with newfound friends, but with the promise of intellectual growth and endless hours of strategic enjoyment.

Your Move, Future Grandmaster: Join Us Today

If the allure of a thrilling game and the camaraderie of fellow chess aficionados beckon to you, seize this moment to embark on an unforgettable journey. The path to becoming a master strategist starts with a single step – and that step involves joining the BNU Chess Society. Claim your rightful place among us and take the plunge into a world where strategy knows no bounds and friendships are forged over every move. To join us and to know more, stay tuned for updates on our social media channels.

In the grand tapestry of university life, the Chess Society is your invitation to blend entertainment with intellect, forging friendships that last a lifetime. Are you ready to make your move? Join us and let the games begin!

By Peter Ashiagbor

BUSINESS L A W

AND

Unlock Your Potential: Join the Business and Law Society at Buckinghamshire New University!

Welcome, vibrant freshers, to an exhilarating journey at Buckinghamshire New University, where boundless opportunities await your eager spirits. We're thrilled that you've chosen us to be a part of your educational voyage, and we're eagerly counting down the days until your arrival. As you prepare to embark on this thrilling chapter, allow us to introduce you to a society that promises to be your compass to success – the dynamic Business and Law Society.

Charting Your Course to Success

University life isn't solely about textbooks and lectures; it's a captivating blend of academia and personal growth. At the heart of this exhilarating blend stands the Business and Law Society, a vibrant community of like-minded students determined to fuel their potential through unparalleled personal and professional development. Why settle for ordinary when you can seize an edge that will set you apart from your peers in the competitive post-graduation landscape?

Launching Your Career Trajectory

Dreaming of a fulfilling career that resonates with your passions? We're here to help you sculpt a path that leads to success and satisfaction. The Business and Law Society is committed to nurturing your talents, equipping you with the skills, knowledge, and experiences that will shape your journey to professional excellence.

Unleash the Power of Fun and Learning

Imagine a world where growth isn't just about relentless study sessions but is infused with enjoyable, intentional activities. Thanks to our partnerships and the illustrious Big Deal, your adventure with the Business and Law Society comes loaded with exciting events, workshops, and experiences – all on us! Because, let's be honest, achieving greatness is more exhilarating when it's also a blast.

A Network of Infinite Possibilities

Our society thrives on collaboration – both within our university and beyond. We've forged powerful alliances with esteemed organizations such as The Chartered Management Institute, The Bright Network, The Commercial Law Academy, BNU Sustainability Team, BNU Career Services, and, of course, the Student's Union. Through these partnerships, we deliver a treasure trove of resources to fuel your growth. Think interactive Instagram quizzes, captivating social gatherings, enlightening guest speaker talks, handpicked resource recommendations, and much more, all meticulously designed to cultivate your professional and personal evolution.

Your Path Awaits: Join the Business and Law Society Today

Does the allure of a thriving future captivate your imagination?

If the answer is a resounding yes, your journey begins with the click of a button. Rush over to the Student Union website and claim your free membership to the Business and Law Society. Ready to dive even deeper? Capture the essence of our electrifying community by scanning the QR code – it holds the key to our enriching socials, invaluable resources, and a treasure trove of information that will kick-start your unforgettable university adventure.

So, dear freshers, the stage is set, the spotlight is yours. Welcome to a world where potential knows no bounds, where camaraderie ignites growth, and where the Business and Law Society awaits to be the wind beneath your wings. Embrace the future; join us today!

By Rita Ekokotu-Odigie | Marissa Leyden, Chloe Hayes, Grace Paisley

Bucks Nursing Society

Welcome to new and returning students! We hope you settle in well and we can’t wait to meet you. We are Bucks Nursing Society and we have many plans for you all this year. The new committee also nursing students, so we completely understand that having a break is much needed, we have in the past with the committee team before us hosted events like afternoon tea parties, collaborated events with other societies especially the popular drag for rag, and much more. We also know how important it is to learn and support each other so we have study sessions including anatomy and physiology and drug calculation sessions. We also support volunteering and fundraising events and have raised money for charity every year. We are a new committee and we can’t wait to get started. The importance of the society is to make friends and gain support as nursing is hard. We welcome all suggestions of any events or sessions you would like to see from the society. So, if you are interested in nursing, social and community work and seeking opportunities to have fun outside the daily grind then please do get in touch and become a member we would love to have you join us. If you would like any further information, please do contact us on bucksnursingsociety@gmail.com or you can find us on Facebook, twitter and Instagram using @bucksnursociety

Look forward to meeting you all Bucks Nursing Society

Women's Hockey

Life at Bucks with Women's Hockey!

The Women’s Hockey Committee would like to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning members!

A bit about us:

The Women’s Hockey team has run for over 7 years, where we have trained together, played in matches, gained volunteering hours and had fun at various socials.

This past year our team has excelled, and we ended our season with a 60%-win rate that we aim to continue with (or do even better), where we finished in 2nd overall in our league, the South-eastern tier 4A within the British University and College Sport (BUCS) league; gaining a point for our university at Varsity after a tough match winning 1-0, as well as winning Club of the Year at this year’s AU Dinner!

We are a team that love what we do, and we strive on supporting each other, whether this is through practicing skills/drills in training, being happy to talk to or hang out with when life gets stressful and forming lifelong friendships!

Some messages from the committee:

“This is my third year in Bucks Women’s Hockey, and I can safely say that this team has played such a big role in my life at Bucks and I can honestly say that it has been one of the best things to happen to me and I have built such amazing friendships” – Chloe, Women's Hockey Chair

“Joining Bucks Women’s Hockey has been so wonderful for me; I love attending training and joking about with the team! I especially love socials as it’s a fun place to socialise with everyone and get to know each other outside of the playing field! As you are likely to get to know as the year progresses, I love a night out!” – Marissa, Women's Hockey Treasurer

“Women’s Hockey is such an amazing club; everyone is so welcoming and supportive. We all look out for each other to help out as much as we can. The hard work everyone puts into the club really pays off!” – Grace, Women's Hockey Social Secretary

Our training is open to any players, whether you are an absolute beginner or an elite player!

We train on Friday Nights, at the Royal Grammar School, 7pm-8pm. We cannot wait to meet you all during Freshers and hope that you come along for a bit of fun!

BTaG

By Jess Leach | Tash Neal

Welcome to Bucks Tabletop and Gaming!

A relaxed, fun environment for students to meet and enjoy a variety of different hosted sessions. This past year, we held three weekly sessions: Tabletop, Console and Dungeons and Dragons alongside additional activities such as socials, events organised by the society and access to a Society Minecraft server.

At Tabletop, students are provided with a casual atmosphere to play board and card games while engaging in conversation. We have a wide selection of games to choose from so you’re bound to find something you’ll enjoy! Console sessions involve local multiplayer party games such as Mario Kart and Smash as well as encouraging others to bring their own consoles or laptops to take advantage of the Minecraft server and friendly environment. Lastly, our Dungeons and Dragons nights offer the opportunity for anyone to give it a go and take part in either a one-off game or a short campaign running over a number of sessions. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned adventurer, we’d love to have you! We also welcome players who want to try their hand at running a game, we’re always on the lookout for more DMs.

Last year Bucks Tabletop and Gaming hosted two big events: a 24-hour Gamea-thon and a Jeopardy-style gameshow. The Game-a-thon was an event held in the Student Unions Venue to fundraise for charity and the society. We featured a variety of games and prizes and somehow managed to stay up all night! Our Jeopardy game brought together over eight other societies and clubs with a nominees from each going head-to-head in a variety of themed quiz rounds as their club members watched and cheered them on.

For the year of 22/23, Bucks Tabletop and Gaming were awarded Society of the Year and our previous Secretary earned Committee Member of the Year. As a society, we were also one of four to achieve accreditation from the Students Union.

With over 100 active members in the society for the last two years, Bucks Tabletop and Gaming is a place to meet new people and try all manner of interesting games. We encourage everyone with even a passing interest to give it a go, after all, we know it can be terrifying starting in a new place and you never know, you might meet some new friends along the way!

You’ll be able to find the Bucks Tabletop and Gaming booth at the Freshers Fair on Wed 27 September where our committee will be present to answer any questions or just to say hello!

Union Council...

did someone say FREE Domino's pizza?

Union Council is the highest form of representation at the Students’ Union and is our senior representative body. The Council meets monthly during term time and was formed to represent the voice of the students. Union Council is a platform that informs students about the changes to policies within the Union, and the opportunity to vote on university-wide issues and directs our lobbying approach. Every month there will be an update from the Sabbatical Officers on what they have been doing to improve the student experience as well as a round-up of key changes that have been made at the Union's most top-level meetings which are scrutinised by our Student Trustees. There is also an update from our Executive Officer Committee chair (one of

your eight elected Executive Officers) on behalf of the other officers updating you on what they have been working on to represent their relevant student groups.

Free refreshments are provided at every meeting including FREE Domino's pizza. So not only can you have a major input on the student experience at BNU but you can also grab yourself some free pizza in the process - what's not to love?!

For more information about Union Council and how you can get involved, please speak to any member of the sabbatical team or email surepresentation@bnu.ac.uk

Keep an eye on our What’s On page on the Students’ Union website to see the dates for this year’s Union Council or pick up a wall planner from the Uxbridge or High Wycombe offices which will have the dates scheduled for you. If you are based in Aylesbury wall planners will be available in the communal areas for you to collect!

always looking for more members!

Did you know

that we keep a record of everything that you get involved with at the Students’ Union? And that everything you get involved with can create incredible transferrable skills to the workplace? That is why we created the Bucks Award!

BUCKS AWARD

Acknowledging commitment & celebrating success

John Smith

Graphic Design

Volunteering

Poppy selling – 8 hours

Chiltern Rangers – 3 hours

Smile Campaign – 3 hours

Gardening at Wycombe Museum – 2 hours

Brighton Beach Clean Up – 5 hours

Good Deed Day – 1.5 hours

Skills

Autism Awareness

Anti Bullying Awareness

OCD Awareness

Understanding Deafness

End of Life Care

Online Reputation Management

Sign Language

Public Speaking

Cooking Lesson

Beginners Scuba Diving

Careers in the Arts

Time Management

Safeguarding and Protecting Children

Make Up Masterclass Business Path

End the Awkward

Public Speaking

Public Speaking Level 2

Employment

Freshers’ Helper

Bar Staff

Students’ Union Receptionist

Leadership roles

Course Rep

RAG Ambassador

Badminton Treasurer

Memberships

Badminton

Rugby Cosplay & Craft Society Snowsoc

Awards

Big Deal Award for Engagement 2017

Membership Services Employee of the Year 2018

RAG Charity Fundraiser of the Year Nominee

Student Rep of the Year Nominee

Membership Services Student Staff Member of the Year Nominee

Designed to give you a record of all your achievements and activities undertaken with the Students’ Union, we can provide printed copies of these to you at your request any time during the year. The Bucks Award is broken down into headings:

Volunteering – the number of hours of volunteering you have delivered including a breakdown of whether this was community, committee, ambassador or other.

Leadership roles – including membership of the Leadership Academy, committee roles, representation roles and others. Employment – including Freshers helpers, bar and events staff and others.

Skills – including all co-curricular training sessions and workshops undertaken with us.

Member activities – including memberships of clubs and societies, recreational activities and sport for fun sessions.

Awards – including awards both nominated and won for AU dinner and Union Awards.

The Bucks Award can be used as an ongoing reflective tool to identify any areas you feel we can help you develop, maybe you will accrue many volunteering hours in your first year, but would then like to secure a leadership role, or maybe you will attend a number of skills sessions and would like to use those skills working for us!

As employability has been ranked as a top priority for our students, we can also offer Bucks Award sessions to students at any time through the year. These are self-reflective sessions, where we help you understand what skills you have gained through your time with us and how you can effectively articulate these both in applications and interviews when applying for your dream job.

These sessions typically last 1 hour and can be booked around your schedule, either online or in person.

To request your Bucks Award, a Bucks Award session, or for more information on either of these please email us at sutraining@bnu.ac.uk. We hope to see you soon!