The Squealer | ISSUE 8

THE SQUEALER

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MARCH ‘17

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CONTENTS 3 11 18 5 13 19 7 16 21 9 17 22 The Squealer | Contents

A quick officer update

Focus on Volunteering

News Bites

Focus on Groups

Success Awards

My Experience at UoC

A review: Honk!

Focus on Student Support

Campus Vibrancy Fund

Focus on Student Voice

Hello Squealer Readers!

It has felt like a long term, but the Easter break is just about in sight! Hopefully we’ll also soon see some brighter and warmer weather.

This term has been full of activity and we hope you’ve been involved in some of it. From a student-run ball, to tree planting and a colour run, we’d like to think there has been something for everyone. If there’s an event you’d like to see on your campus, let us know. We’d love to support you to make it happen.

In this edition we introduce you to your 2017/18 officer team, following the officer elections this term. We share the highlights

Meet your 2017/18 Officers

Ambleside Photo Competition

of Student Volunteering Week, and some of the wonderful entries from the Ambleside photography competition. Find out who has been shortlisted for a Success Award and get the latest news from UoC, UCSU and your officer team. We’ve also got some top budgeting tips, and share what your student groups have been up to.

We’re always looking for new and interesting content! If you’d like to contribute to The Squealer in any way, please contact nicola.haydon@ cumbria.ac.uk. Alternatively, if there is something you think we should be covering which we are currently not – make sure you let us know. Happy reading!

Editor: Nicola Haydon Graphic Designer: Vincent Walden

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A QUICK

OFFICER UPDATE THERESA PELLEGRINO

We’ve been quite busy since the start of the year, and with only 4 months left till the end of my post as Academic Officer & the end of the Academic year I don’t know where the time as gone. I am sure you are feeling the same way with your course! Whether in first, second or third year, the time will have gone past so quickly; at times, it’s a blur, especially when assignments are due. I remember it well!

All the same, I hope you are all enjoying your academic year, here’s hoping for some fantastic grades to get us all through summer on a happy note!

In the meantime, what have I been up to? I have made sure you could contribute towards the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Proposal, we should hear results in May this year. I initiated the Bop-It challenge, which can still be found at an SU office near you, make sure you take part! I have helped ensure there is more committed presence on the Ambleside campus (find out when we’ll be there at www.ucsu.me/ ambleside), I have continued to represent your views in various board and committee meetings and I have supported various cohorts with their course issues.

I also attended the Women in Leadership Conference in Sheffield; The Research Winter Conference at Fusehill Street (did you know our lecturers have quite a lot of research projects going on?); the Yule Ball at Lancaster and I attended a brilliant play, HONK! at Brampton Rd campus (review on page 16)!

I have also had the pleasure, alongside our Associate Dean, Alyson Dickson, of delivering a surprise award (Smart Thinker) to six exceptional Course Representatives at various campuses (page 17).

Keep a look out for me at a Cafeteria on your campus soon, any queries on any Academic issues please feel free to ask me at any time!

Find me on: Email – theresa.pellegrino@cumbria.ac.uk Facebook – Theresa Pellegrino Twitter - @AcademicOfficer

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The Squealer | Officer Update

BETHANY CUTTER Hello!

This year has gone so fast, I can’t quite believe that we’re nearing the end! We’ve been very busy since the last issue, with lots of activities and we now have new officers elected for next year.

What have I been up to lately? Well….

Continuing my work on Panel ideas means that at last our Lancaster, Fusehill St and Brampton Road campuses will each be getting another water dispenser! We’re working with the university to improve opening hours at Brampton Road, and the canteen provision across campuses. As well as this, I organised the Ambleside student photography competition (you can see the photos on page 22) and the winning photos were unveiled at the launch party at Rigg Cottage.

One of my aims for this year was to give you all opportunities to meet people from different campuses, and so during Fairtrade Fortnight I organised a colour run at Brampton Road campus (have a look out for the pictures!) which was open to all our students.

You’re all now on the home straight towards the end of the year, and many of you will be heading off on placements and finishing off those dreaded dissertations! At such a busy time make sure you are taking time to relax, and enjoying the last half of the year. As always, if you have any ideas you want to try, activities you want to get involved in or just want to chat, get in touch either online or find me when I’m around your campus!

Find me on: Email - bethany.cutter@cumbria.ac.uk Facebook - Bethany Cutter Twitter - @BethanyUcsu

ROWAN COOPER-GRITTEN Find me on: Email - rowan.cooper-gritten@cumbria.ac.uk Facebook - Rowan Cooper-Gritten Hi there, I hope 2017 has started well for you all! Here’s a quick round up of what I’ve been up to as there have already been a few exciting events taking place this term.

There has been the Volunteering Project Day in Ennerdale, which was a huge success. A dozen volunteers from Ambleside, Carlisle and Lancaster came together to help plant trees, which in turn greatly benefited the environment, by preventing soil erosion and excess sediment in the River Ehen.

There are still plenty of Headspace codes (for a free year’s subscription, which would otherwise be £78!) for students wishing to learn and develop their Mindfulness skills. It’s a wonderful, straightforward and easy way to improve your mental and emotional health and happiness. Contact me for more information!

On the 20th of February, I helped LiSS International with the ‘A Day Without Us’ which was to show compassion and solidarity for people who have Immigrated (for any reason) and to reduce negative stigma.

There are great opportunities within the UoC to work on getting fitter and healthier. One of the best ways to start and commit to a solid running plan is to join a running club! Every Wednesday evening at 5pm in Carlisle the UoC ‘Roadrunners’ set off on another exciting adventure. It’s completely free, too!

Hope to see you there, soon.

If you want to see a Multicultural Society start up, then you have the support of myself, Katie Banks (LiSS International) and Nanna Jensen. We want to raise the interest of prospective Student members to form a functional society, so let us know. It would be a great platform for greater cultural integration with Exchange students, and to further celebrate the wondrous multicultural society that we’re lucky to have. Let us know if you want to help create the group! If you would ever like to get in touch you can contact me online or talk to me in person when you next see me on your campus!

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The Squealer | News Bites

News Bites The University of Cumbria has recently acquired some new electric vans for the Estates team. This will help to reduce carbon impact at the University. Have a look out for the vans on your campus!

The UCSU Annual Survey will be opening very soon! Your feedback is valuable to us - it helps us to review and improve the services, activities and opportunities we provide to you all.

As well as helping to shape UCSU, there will also be an option to be entered into a prize draw. www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/UCSUSurvey17

The NSS is still open. If you are a final year student who is yet to complete the survey, there is still time. Have your say on your university experience at www.thestudentsurvey.com

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Three student nurses from the University of Cumbria have been shortlisted in the prestigious Student Nursing Times Awards.

Kirsty Rudd’s work has been recognised in the Learning Disabilities category while Steven Shaw is listed in the Mental Health category.

Steven is also a UCSU Panel member. Meanwhile Zoe Butler has been nominated for Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the Year. Zoe is already vying for the Andrew Parker Student Nurse Award from the Royal College of Nursing and was Student of the Year at the 2016 Success Awards.

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The Squealer | My experience at UOC

Hi! I’m Karena and am studying the 4 year Forensic Science Degree. My reason for writing this piece is that I wanted to tell you my experiences of being a mature student, a parent and a disabled student. I am in my 30s, with two kids and have mobility and mental health issues.

Every day I attend University, I travel 70 minutes each way. I decided to study at UoC because it is local to me, and it ticked all the boxes re: student support, smaller class sizes and the choice of courses.

I have found university life difficult for many reasons, my biggest issue is my mental health being constantly challenged, yet it’s something I wouldn’t change for the world. Everybody has a perception that university is for teenagers and those in their twenties… But I want to say to those people… It’s not like that at all! University is for everyone and makes no issues about people’s age.

The same applies to those who are considered disabled.

The university sees beyond that and makes everyone feel included. It’s a shame the same couldn’t be said for everyone else!

What I have found to be positive about university life is the class sizes; they are relatively small, and you really feel as though the lecturer can give you some one-toone support if needed. The academic staff are really approachable, and are willing to listen to your worries and problems, and they offer genuine solutions to those problems… you don’t feel like you’re wasting their time.

Written by Karena Duffy Karena also volunteers with St Bees RNLI Would you like to share something about your UoC experience? Contact students.union@cumbria.ac.uk and you could be featured in the next edition of The Squealer.

e c n e i r e p x My E at

UOC

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The Squealer | A spotlight on...

A spotlight on

CAMPUS

VIBRANCY

FUND UCSU and the University of Cumbria have been working together to make it easier for you to hold events on campus. We’d like to invite all students, staff and Student Groups to submit applications and proposals for activity, events and happenings on site during the day and particularly after teaching hours. With a wide range of facilities available to be used for extracurricular activity, the Campus Vibrancy Project brings together everything you need to plan and deliver a fun event into one form – and you may even get some funding to help out!

Whether you are interested in running a book club, discussion group, open-mic night or even a performance event we’d like to hear about it and help! It just has to be on one of our campuses, open to all and comply with some common-sense guidelines. Support could be through booking spaces, assistance with planning, promotion via the UCSU & University communications teams and potentially small grants of around £100.

ents and s and staff, stud se pu m ca l al om fr l guidance from open to activity receive additiona Applications are ill w s up ro G d follow the link (UCSU-affiliate ion form please Student Groups at ic pl ap an d oa nion). To downl ge: the Students’ U bottom of the pa e th at d something ke lin -a-group/bookun /r and find the form ps ou gr n/ tio u.me/top-naviga http://www.ucs 9

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Volunteering Being a Welcome Helper

Written by Jazmin Hackett

I volunteered to be a welcome helper during the Freshers’ week of my second year and it was an amazing experience.

I first met my team at the training event at university before the first event and we got to know each other through playing games and doing ice breakers. We stayed together as a team throughout the week, became really good friends, and have stayed in contact ever since.

I think the opportunity to be a welcome helper is one that should not be passed up. I feel that it has allowed me to improve important skills such as working in a team and leadership skills.

My confidence has grown enormously and I’m now much more comfortable in social situations. Being a welcome helper is a very social experience and I have made so many new friends and have built relationships with people I wouldn’t have met or wouldn’t have spoken to before.

One of the challenges I experienced as a welcome helper is that as a student nurse, I was on placement during Freshers’ week and therefore couldn’t stay out with my group and on some days I was only able to attend for a couple of hours. However, both my team and the Students’ Union were really supportive and enabled me to join in as much as I possibly could.

In my opinion, being a welcome helper was an invaluable experience and I am definitely going to apply to become a Team Leader this September.

Welcome Helper applications are open now! Visit www.ucsu.me/volunteering for more information.

Volunteering with Girl Guiding UK I have been part of Girl Guiding since the age of 7 (a Brownie).

When I was 18 I completed my Adult Leadership qualification which allowed me to run my own Rainbow (5-7), Brownie (7-10) or Guide (10-14) groups. Currently, I run a Rainbow group in Lancaster alongside some other students!

Each week is different, from craft activities to abseiling to camps!

I love volunteering with Girl Guiding because you can see how much the girls are gaining out of the activities that you have organised and are partaking in with them. It allows for life-long skills to be gained in a safe, girl only environment. I also feel that I have gained a lot out of volunteering. I have made many friends, gained leadership skills, first aid qualifications etc.

Recently, I have been accepted to go to Switzerland for summer 2017 volunteering at ‘Our Chalet’ in the heart of the Swiss Alps.

The chalet is one of four of Girl Guiding’s World Centres, the others are in Mexico, India and London. They were set up to allow Guides 11

to meet other Guides from all around the world. All Guides and Brownies can visit the centres to complete a range of activities (hiking, town trips, canoeing etc) alongside different groups from different countries. My position will allow me to lead groups of up to 50 children on these activities and to ensure their stay is fantastic!

However, I was concerned as to how I would fund this experience.

Although my board is provided by Girl Guiding I still have to fund extra activities and travel. I applied through the SU for support from the Eleanor Peel Trust and I was lucky enough to receive £300 towards my trip which will be really helpful! If you are thinking of volunteering abroad, I would really recommend looking into this.

Also, if you are interested in volunteering with Girl Guiding yourself in any area then their website has a lot of information and details of who to contact—https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved/.

Written by Elizabeth Nutbrown

The Squealer | Focus on Volunteering

pport Trust to su er? anor Peel m le E m ad an e su lo th n is nd to dow abroad th ilable from rmation a nteering nding ava fo lu fu in vo e re u m o yo so m Are still has teer. For s to volun nts’ Union g oversea ering The Stude in ll ve a o tr /v e lunte ho are w.ucsu.m w w t si students w vi ase n form ple applicatio

Written by Megan, Beth, Amy and Olivia

Volunteering in Bali

The Students’ Union offer lots of different volunteering opportunities to help students gain and develop skills that are beneficial to them. The Eleanor Peel funding allows students to volunteer overseas to gain new experiences. We have been very lucky to receive some of this funding to help us towards our trip that will be happening this summer.

This summer we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to a school in Bali to experience a different culture, develop skills and gain new experiences. This is going to be very helpful towards our future career primary teaching, giving us a perspective on how children are taught outside of the United Kingdom.

Whilst volunteering we have the chance to make learning a fun and enjoyable experience for the Balinese children. This is a hugely rewarding and enjoyable experience that we cannot wait to do. Some of the skills we are hoping to gain and develop are: leadership, creativity, confidence, planning and organising.

As well as the Eleanor Peel funding we are hoping to raise money for the trip through other fundraisers such as: cake sales, car wash, car boot sale and a pub quiz night. We would love for your help and support with the trip and you can get involved in RAG (Raising and Giving) activities at www.ucsu.me

National Student Volunteering Week 2017 This year National Student Volunteering Week took place from Monday 20th – Sunday 26th February, providing the opportunity to celebrate student volunteers from across the country.

UCSU ran a range of different events including a garden tidy-up on the Fusehill Street Campus, tree planting with the Environment Agency and a twitter chat to share some of the benefits of volunteering.

Thank you to everyone who took part! You can read more about the week on our volunteering blog: ucsuvolunteering.wordpress.com It’s not too late to get involved…

Missed out on Student Volunteering Week? Don’t worry, you can get involved in volunteering with us all year round. Visit www.ucsu. me/volunteering to register and look at the opportunities that we currently have available.

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Groups Yule Ball The Yule Ball, organised by the English and RAG societies, took place on Friday 27th January at Lancaster Brewery. It was a night of glitz and glamour that was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who attended. The Ball also helped to raise approximately £300 for this year’s RAG charities. Karishma Asher, English society chair, said that the event went really well and she’d like to say a massive thank you to Sophie, Rob, Stephy and Danny for all their help and support in organising the event.

Photo credit: Marcel Hughes

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The Squealer | Focus on Student Groups

Update from Carlisle Christian Union New Committee On behalf of the new committee, we would like to say a special thank you to the last committee who have done such an amazing job over the year. They juggled all their university work whilst organising events, socials and the main meetings. They have helped guide the new committee in their new roles and we are all very excited about this opportunity to be part of this committee.

Forum Northwest From the 10th - 12th February, UCCF hosted an inspirational weekend in Leyland for all the Christian Unions in the Northwest.

There were guest speakers, music, food, prayer groups and informative seminars which all added to an amazing atmosphere.

This enabled us to learn more about how to build and strengthen our Christian Union and we were able to share ideas with other Christian Unions.

Club Angels On Valentine’s Day, we had our monthly Club Angels event where we provided students with bottles of water and flip flops. The aim of this event was just to let students know that we’re there in case they needed help with anything or just wanted to talk to us. We would like to say thank you for all the prayers that contributed to a successful night full of conversations.

Events week - #lifegoals From the 28th February - 4th March, we held our events week based around the theme of ‘life goals’. These events gave students a chance to explore what Christianity is and how it plays a part in everyday life. All events were free and open all students.

Written by Katrina Shuttleworth

h c r a m y a d r i e h t e k #ma

THE INCLUSION SOCIETY

The Inclusion Society is planning a campaign challenging our fellow students (across campuses) to make someone’s day each day during March, because doing good does everybody good. It can be as simple as complimenting someone, helping them, treating them - the list is endless. With one in four adults and one in ten children experiencing mental illness, small acts of kindness show others you are there for them.

Are you up to the challenge? Help make someone’s day and encourage your friends to do the same!

Written by Shelby Mercer

#MAKE THEIR DAY MARCH UOC

Challenge

Make Their Day March Yourself

COMPLIMENT ONE PERSON ONCE A DAY ONE MONTH

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The Squealer | A review: Honk!

: w e i v A re

Honk!

Recently a few of us went to a production featuring some of our wonderful Brampton Road Campus students and what a show it was!

The production was called HONK! Directed by Max Reynolds.

We were lead to a small, intimate theatre and seated in a circle formation around a beautifully formed set with just the right number of props and we eagerly awaited the start of the play. We had no idea what to expect…

The play started with Alex Grace as “Drake” entering the small stage to introduce us to the story and right from the first word we were enthralled. The singing, the script, the acting, kept us wanting more of this fabulous story of a new-born duckling not quite fitting in with his family, despite his mother’s undying love for him. A musical story of hope and despair, laughter and tears, what a journey!

Megan Hearn acting as “Ida”, the mother duck was truly marvellous, her voice a delight to listen to. She kept the audience captivated throughout. Brandon McCaffrey as “Cat” kept us on our toes with his evil, amusing nature; the character he played must have been challenging but Brandon pulled it off outstandingly! “Ugly”, the ugly duckling, was played brilliantly by Alex Stevenson; the vision of him shouting HONK! in desperation as he searches for his family will stay with me for a long while!

The whole cast were simply fabulous to watch and the work put into making this such an outstanding show was wonderful to see!

The talent of our Brampton road performing arts students is something not to miss, make sure you book yourself into an audience when you can, it will most certainly be worth it!

Thank you again to the cast and crew of Honk!, excellent performances all round. Bravo!

Written by Theresa Pellegrino, Academic Officer 16

Student Voice Written by Theresa Pellegrino, Academic Officer

Rewarding Reps

Every year 400 + of you volunteer your time to speak out about your course, in order to negotiate improvements to courses and make things better for your class and for thousands of students still to come! Since December, recommendations have come in to us to recognise some of you for this exemplary behaviour.

Reps have been nominated for two separate awards: the Representative of the Year Award and the Smart Thinker Award. The Representative of the Year Award is aimed at recognising reps who have brought forward substantial positive changes to their class, course and/ or campus. The Award winner will be announced at The Success Awards on 30th March at the Shap Wells Hotel. You can view the finalists for this category and all the other Success awards on page 19.

This year we introduced a mid-year surprise award for outstanding, goes above & beyond, truly committed Course Representatives and we called it the “Smart Thinker” Award!

Lecturers nominated those Course Representatives who have showed hard work, determination, resilience and commitment to helping their fellow students, we then selected six candidates to win the award.

Alyson Dickson, Associate Dean and I travelled between various campuses to surprise the six students with their awards. The lecturers were overjoyed to be able to see their students receive thanks and appreciation for their hard work; however even more wonderful to see were the students when they were called upon to receive their award.

Their surprise and joy made it all worth the efforts to keep the surprise - one student later posted her appreciation on receiving the award “Got a surprise award at Uni today. Last time I won anything was 28yrs ago for a makeup competition! So Happy!”

Well done to everyone, keep up the good work!

Fiona Keegan – Fine Art, yr3 Will Livesey – Woodland Ecology & Conservation, Yr3 Sam Poultney – Marine & Freshwater Conservation, Yr2 Suzanne Collinson – Zoology, yr1 Megan Hughes – LLB Law, yr3 Charlotte Swale – Criminology & Law, yr3 17

The Squealer | Focus on Student Voice

s r e ic ff O 8 1 / 7 1 0 2 r u o y Meet This term we challenged you to fix what you hate and support what you love either by nominating yourself to run for a position in the Officer elections, or to vote for the candidates that you wanted to see lead UCSU next academic year.

The election results were announced on Friday 10th March at our UCSU Together event on the Fusehill Street campus. In case you missed the news, this is your opportunity to find out more about your UCSU Officers and student trustees for 2017/18.

Anna Fletcher

Campus: Lancaster Course: Primary Education I am… friendly, enthusiastic, supportive and reliable

Academic Officer

My manifesto included: • More widespread advertising of volunteering opportunities • Negotiate printing costs and lower £5 minimum for card top-ups • Negotiate longer library opening hours

Hannah Price

770 of you voted to fix what you hate and support what you love in our recent officer elections. The results were officially announced on Friday 10th March, but in case you missed it please say hello your new officer and student trustee team for 2017/18.

Student Trustees Each of the officers and the student trustees will begin their role on 1st July 2017 and will hold the position for a full academic year.

Kate Moran

Campus: Lancaster Course: Primary Education I am… organised, bubbly, approachable and understanding

Community and Partnership Officer

My manifesto included: • More activities between campuses • More ideas put forward to The Panel

Rowan Cooper-Gritten

Matthew Wisener

Welfare and Support Officer 2016/17 I am… altruistic, compassionate, disciplined and authentic

Welfare and Support Officer

My manifesto included: • Increase number of food options available • Raise activity of ecological initiatives • Increase student awareness and participation in health and wellbeing events

Sophie Ward 18

c c u S w A

The Squealer | Success Awards

THE SUCCESS AWARDS Shortlist 2017

Since winning Student of the Year at the 2016 Success Awards, Zoe Butler has been shortlisted for the Andrew Parker Student Nurse Award from the Royal College of Nursing and Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the Year in the prestigious Student Nursing Times Awards. Congratulations Zoe!

Student Support Staff Award Shortlisted submissions: Calva Bar Staff Finn Drude Jason Hettrick Judith Rees Michael Coombs

Research Project of the Year Award Shortlisted submissions: Monika L. Sheldon-London Neil Thomas Pat Walton Volunteer of the Year Award Shortlisted submissions: Charlotte Spooner Elizabeth Nutbrown Laura Pears Rebekah Russell Ross Taylor Shelby Mercer

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The University of Cumbria would not be the same place without the staff and students who make the student experience what it is. The Success Awards are designed to showcase best practice and outstanding contributions to an excellent student experience at the University of Cumbria.

Here’s the shortlist for 2017. The winners of each of the Awards will be announced at the Success Awards ceremony on Thursday 30th March.

Student Representative of the Year Award Shortlisted submissions: Calvin Rodgerson Charlotte Swale Harriet Davies Megan Hughes Samuel Poultney William Livesey Out of Sight Award Shortlisted submissions: Bernard Simpson Eleanor Missen Kim Green Martin Pyrah

Community Award Shortlisted submissions: Brampton Road Estates Team Carlisle Reception Team Eco Warriors School Project (Leaders: Ann, Gavin, Beth, Hannah) Grace Hurford

Lecturer of the Year Award Shortlisted submissions: Ann Thanaraj Dr. Grace Hurford Jacqui Percival Julie Taylor Ruth Bridges

Most Creative Teaching Award Shortlisted submissions: Craig Betton Frank Peck Nicola Kitchen Penelope Bradshaw Rachel Newcombe

Student of the Year Award Shortlisted submissions: Alison Field Ben Wangenye Christina Welsh Harriet Davies Rebecca Falcon Shannon Urmston Tracy Appiah

Student Group Member of the Year Award Shortlisted submissions: Callum Baines Charlotte Martin Karishma Asher Kate Moran Naomi Worrall Sophie Ward

s es c d r a w UoC & UCSU Strategy

UCSU has begun a review of its core strategy, considering how it should be developing and delivering services and opportunities over the next three to four years. Considerations such as the needs of campus based students being accommodated alongside the potential increase in learners based in workplaces off-site present new challenges for the Students’ Union. UCSU are seeking to involve a range of students to help inform and shape our direction and will be conducting focus groups arranged at site or program of study level over March and April. If you would like to volunteer to be part of one of these focus groups and help direct the development of the Students’ Union please email stephaniejayne.anderson@cumbria.ac.uk with your name, student number, course, campus base and age.

The Vice Chancellor Julie Mennell has been holding staff forums as part of a process to develop a new strategy for the University of Cumbria. This developing corporate plan reflects changes to national trends including funding processes, student recruitment and regional employer needs.

The proposed outline strategy highlights a range of commitments including maintaining the current campuses, expansion into workplace learning and reviewing the range of courses currently offered by the University.

UCSU has been involved in the process through formal consultations with the Vice Chancellor and senior University leadership team which will continue over the coming months.

Students’ Union officers have raised the importance of ensuring appropriate support for students through any course changes that may arise and the need for plans to be developed to deliver an inclusive student experience for everyone registered on a course run by or through the University, no matter where or how they study.

The Vice Chancellor and UCSU will be arranging some ‘Coffee, Cake and a Chat’ sessions at each of the campuses to give students a chance to talk with Julie about their experiences at the University over the coming weeks. Details of these opportunities for students to share their thoughts and observations with the Vice Chancellor will be announced via the Student Global and the UCSU Facebook and Twitter accounts.

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Student Support

Sexual Health Provision at your campus

Carlisle On Campus NHS Specialist Sexual Health workers visit you to provide information and support, free condoms and postal chlamydia screening kits.

Fusehill Street: First Tuesday of each month, 2nd floor of Learning Gateway Brampton Road: First Friday of each month, main foyer.

These visits provide information and support, free condoms and postal chlamydia test screening kits. The postal chlamydia screening kits are available for you to take away and carry out the test at home and returning it in the FREEPOST envelope provided.

Drop-in Service The Solway Clinic Centre for Sexual Health at Hilltop Heights on London Road, Carlisle, CA1 2NS provides free drop-in sessions for sexual health testing, including HIV and STI test provision. The dropins run on Mon, Tues, 8.30am - 4pm, Wed 8am -7pm, Thurs & Fri 8.30am - 2pm

Lancaster Chlamydia screening kits are available online in the Lancaster region at www.best2know.co.uk or from drop-in sessions at the sexual health clinic at Ashton Community Care Centre (contact details below).

Drop-in Service You can visit free drop-in sessions at the Sexual Health Clinic, Ashton Community Care Centre on Pointer Court, Ashton Road, LA1 4JT. They offer free help and support and sexual health testing including HIV and STI testing provision.

Free Condoms For further information on the free condom scheme in the Lancaster region, please visit: www.best2know.co.uk, or email free.condom@ bfwhospitals.nhs.uk

Ambleside Drop-in Services The sexual health team for South Cumbria have been running alternate week drop-in clinics at Ambleside health centre (advertised on campus). The drop-in service is open access with a mixture of walk in and appointment only clinics.

Drop-in Services are also provided at: The Lakes School, Troutbeck Bridge, Windermere. Mon term-time only 12.15pm-2.30pm.

Windermere Health Centre, Goodley Dale, Windermere. Alternate Mondays from 3.00pm to -4.30pm There are also plenty of pharmacies in Ambleside, Grasmere, Windermere and Hawkshead which provide the following sexual health services: • Free emergency contraception (call in advance to check availability • Free chlamydia test packs for under 25s • Sexual Health line: 0845 371 4037

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Use comparison websites

y

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networks

hen hungr

Look for cheaper rates on phone

o hat y

you need

ith w

Plan – buy only what

Don’t shop w

ays Don’t buy branded food and takeaw

nly w

Buy in bulk and freeze leftovers

National Student Money Week (NSMW) took place this year from 6-10 February and The University of Cumbria Money Advice Team held events across the main campuses throughout the week.

As part of the week they asked you to share your best budgeting tips – and here are some of our favourites!

In order to brighten up the new social space in Rigg Cottage on the Ambleside Campus, Bethany, your Community and Partnership Officer, held a photography competition open to all Ambleside students. The winning photograph and two runners-up were unveiled at the Rigg Cottage launch party on Thursday 2nd March.

1st Place: Sam Abram – Autumn Canoe expedition Runners up: Hollie Campbell – coin stumps near the Stock Ghyll Force waterfalls Chloe Price – Priest’s Hole, Dove Crag.

Here are some of the other beautiful photographs which were entered:

Photo credit: Sam Abram – Autumn Canoe expedition

Photo credit: Sam Abram – Dusk on red screes

Photo credit: Sam Poultney – In the valley of Fairfeild horseshoe

Photo credit: Hollie Campbell – coin stumps near the Stock Ghyll Force waterfalls

Photo credit: Tom Pickwell – Above Stockghyll force when the river is in spate is alawyas an exciting place to be

Photo credit: Chloe Price – Priest’s Hole, Dove Crag

Photo credit: Ben Field– taken from the side of Red screes in November

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Ingredients 1 onion, chopped 2 medium carrots, grated 400g turkey mince mixed herbs (to taste) 4 sweet potatoes (peeled and chopped) cumin (to taste) tomato puree (to taste)

Method • Preheat the oven to 180 degrees (fan).

• Place the sweet potato in a pan of boiling water and leave until softened and ready to mash.

• Fry the onion until softened, add the mince and continue to fry until browned.

• Add the carrot and some mixed herbs and mix thoroughly. Place the mince mix into an ovenproof dish.

• Mash the sweet potato, adding some tomato puree and cumin to taste. The cumin shouldn’t be overpowering but should enhance the flavour.

• Put the sweet potato mash on top of the mince mix and place in the oven for 20 minutes.

I enjoyed my portion with broccoli, but imagine it would also work well with green beans. This was a complete experiment, but I really like the results. I may add some dried apricot next time, but would have to balance this with some extra spice so that it doesn’t become too sweet. Enjoy!

Contributed by Nicola Haydon, UCSU Communications and Marketing Co-ordinator

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The Squealer | Back Pages

Insta-UCSU Our favourite photos from round campus this term!

Want to see your photo featured on this page? Tag @cumbria_su on Instagram

@aimee_young88 - Committee. So

@danjmead - Nice little morning ride

@dkirstymcc98 - What a way to start

@bethanycutter - Charlie’s Angels got nothing on us

shots of artists

@megaloo96 - Going to miss this show

@inclusion_society -

@stephyjayneanderson - “The world needs bucket loads of love” #ShareTheLove #HappyValentinesDay #UoCLife

proud to be vice captain to an amazing team. Even though we didn’t win, we had our best game of the season! We’ve worked so hard to be where we are today.

your day

like no tomorrow

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with this crazy crew!

#maketheirdaymarch

@nozza751 - Got up early and took some pictures in the park

@illusration_at_cumbria - Arty

The Squealer | Back Pages

Monday 20th March – Vintage Fair 11-5 Gateway Building, Lancaster Monday 23rd – Wednesday 25th March Treasure Island, Various times, Brampton Road

Monday 23rd – Wednesday 25th March Brothers Karamazov, Various times, Brampton Road Wednesday 29th March – Charity movie night, 3:30-5:30pm Calva Lecture Theatre (C-CG18), Fusehill Street Thursday 30th March – Saturday 1st April The Secret Garden, Various times, Brampton Road Thursday 30th March – Saturday 1st April The Baker’s Wife, Various times, Brampton Road Thursday 30th March – Saturday 1st April The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Various times, Brampton Road

For more information and to stay up to date with all our latest events visit www.ucsu.me/events

Monday 23rd – Wednesday 25th March The Changeling, Various times, Brampton Road

Monday 3rd April – RAG Society Easter Quiz and Raffle 7-10pm Calva Bar, Fusehill Street Tuesday 25th April – Pop-up Designer and Vintage Boutique 9-4, Reception, Brampton Road

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   FACEBOOK.COM/CUMBRIASU

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@CUMBRIASU WWW.UCSU.ME