Estates and Facility Times issue 33 Spring Term 2017

Cardiff Met is now ranked 1st in Wales and 4th in the UK.

The Estates & Facilities Times Not just business as usual.

Go Green Week Most successful event to date. Contributed by Rachel Roberts.

Now in its fifth year at Cardiff Met, Go Green Week is People and Planet’s annual week of action on climate change that takes place in universities, school and colleges across the UK. Back in November, the university was ranked the top University in Wales in the People and Planet League 2016 and was placed fourth of 150 universities in the UK.

For our second year we have continued to support Smalls For All - a charity that collects unwanted new and used bras and new pants for women and children in Africa who need help, collecting 10 boxes in total.

bonus of a free cycle seat cover courtesy of Bill’s Restaurant.

South Wales Police security marked numerous mobiles, tablets and bikes of both students and staff to assist with their return if they are stolen.

Llandaff Campus had a stall for donating and swapping books, which was extremely well received and will continue to be run in the Llandaff Learning Centre.

The week is designed to engage, inform and inspire the University’s staff and students about environmental and sustainable issues. The ideas for this year were arranged around two focus group suggestions of activities and events for Plas Gwyn, Llandaff and Cyncoed Campus.

The donation of unwanted sports kit and water containers went really well, and resulted in an amazing collection for Cardiff Met students to take to Zambia in their forthcoming trip.

The promotion of an Eco-Egg (sustainable clothes washing product) also proved a success with the use of their promotional video. They kindly offered 20% off using the promotional code GOGREEN to all staff and students (I have one and its saving me a fortune and the clothes are spotless - Ed).

The main theme was ‘Waste Not Want Not’ and this worked well and also reflected Student Services money week, who had a money saving ideas tree for staff and students to hang their top tips.

The gift swop was a success and those gifts left over were donated to the YMCA and The Wallich Centre with 27 individual new toiletry items and 5 gift packs.

Free Bike MOT’s were provided at each campus with 45 completed over three days with the added

Additional events included: * The ‘What can I recycle on campus’ board game. * Energy on Campus quiz with LED lightbulb prizes.

* Gavin Jones, grounds maintenance donated 75 cyclamen and primroses and 25 bird boxes.

Locally grown food and produce at Llandaff and Cyncoed Campus.

Cyncoed and formed part of the Community Day. You had this to say about it:

Both events were well received with numerous staff and students attending. The event was a partnership with Riverside Real Food and Cardiff Met.

CSAD Tweeted: “Pop-up local produce market on Campus today! What a brilliant idea!

Students, go and have a look.”

“A market on Campus! I can’t believe this hasn’t happened before!”

“I just wanted to say thank you A further market was held on for arranging the amazing Tuesday 25th April at Llandaff market at CSM today. Please do and Thursday 27th April at keep up the good work”.

Inside this issue: Farmers Markets.

Fresh and local products.

1

A smoke free Cardiff Met. Time to bin the cigarettes.

2

Residence Life Update.

Making a difference

3

Cycle2Work Scheme.

Get on your bike.

4

Cardiff Met Sport.

A new complex.

5

E&F Family Photo Album.

From FIFA to ASRA.

6

Halls & The Police.

Working together.

7

Meet your Colleagues.

8

* Cardiff Council provided food Lowri and Karen. waste bags and caddies.

Farmers Market As part of the Healthy University strategy, March 21st and 23rd saw the first Cardiff Met Farmers Market at Llandaff and Cyncoed Campus from 10am 2pm, arranged by Rachel Roberts and Andrew Phelps.

Newsletter Date: 01/05/2017 Issue #33 Est: 2004

30,000 delegates visit Cardiff Met! Contributed by Eva Huw, Conference Co-ordinator From HEA Accredited Programme Managers to the cast of Dr Who, Cardiff Met Conferences bring a host of people from many communities and businesses into the university. Last year, as a result of the events organised through Cardiff Met Conferences more than 30,000 delegates from local organisations, charities, sports & social clubs, national and international businesses and associations experienced the facilities and services at Cardiff Met. Bookings from new clients are at an all-time high, with confirmed bookings from 40 new organisations in the past 12 months. It is evident that those attending are impressed with the facilities and service as we continue to achieve very high levels of repeat business and a large number of bookings as a result of referrals from our current clients.

To read our latest newsletter, visit: ‘Keeping you in the Know’ or go to the Issuu website and search Cardiff Met.

The envy of their flatmates Pilot rooms in Plas Gwyn and Cyncoed.

Christmas witnessed a student bedroom at both Plas Gwyn and Cyncoed being completely redesigned.

These pilot rooms were to test the price, speed of renovation and importantly the durability of fittings.

The rooms were renovated with the student occupants agreement and when they returned to campus, they were both delighted with their modernised rooms, much to the envy of their flatmates.

The students are providing regular feedback throughout the term to evaluate their updated rooms.

Get in touch with the Halls Managers if you would like to view these rooms.

Tales from the Met Stories from around the campuses.

Chucking the Choc, Binning the Bread In January the Accommodation Depart- & Crushing the Crisps. ment held their Housing Fayre at Llandaff For 46 days, around thirty members of Campus. This was the busiest fayre to date, Estates & Facilities pledged to either give up with students being given expert advice by chocolate, bread, crisps or all three!

Harpal McCarthy, Nick Drew and Marian Thomas regarding private landlord proper- It’s the first year we have attempted this and ties for their second and third year at Car- it would be fair to say that it was a general diff Met. This year a letter was sent to all success, creating a fantastic E&F Communifirst year students home addresses encour- ty spirit, although some tried harder than aging parents to refrain from signing up others! Without naming any names one of us with agencies and to wait for the Universi- failed by midday on the first day as he was ty Housing Fayre. Thankfully our message spotted munching on a sandwich! seems to have gotten through as the team I won’t name him, but an anagram of our quickest failures name is Shrewd Pen Pal! were inundated throughout the day.

See if you can work it out?

Hundreds helped at Housing Fayre!

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Cardiff Met is going Smoke Free.

From September 2019, Cardiff Met will be Smoke Free! We are currently working in partnership with Ash Wales to help provide support for staff and students who would like to quit smoking and prepare everyone for creating a Smoke Free environment.

Ash Wales will be running a Staff Smoking Cessation 6 week course providing help, support and advice to individuals throughout their journey to become smoke free.

Cardiff Met will officially become the first Smoke Free University in Wales.

Res Life - an outstanding success.

The pilot year so far.

In September we launched a pilot programme called Res Life aimed at helping students settle into their Halls and delivering a proactive social and pastoral programme of events.

Res Life has been running for seven months now and has been an outstanding success. From September to March there have been over 1600 students participants fr om Plas Gwyn or Cyncoed Halls at numerous events.

Arms Park and the Cardiff Devils rink.

Some events have worked better than others with the Pancake bake off, Easter egg hunt and pumpkin carving attracting literally hundreds of students. This year has been a learning curve though and will inform next years events to ensure we provide the resident students with social and pastoral events they want to participate in.

The one constant factor is that the students keep telling us how important these social Events have varied from a trip to Bath events have been and how it has helped them Christmas shopping to learning to ice mix with other students. Paul Horrocks, skate to watching film premieres.

Res Life Co-ordinator, has been key to Students have got to visit some of the arranging these events. If you have any ideas fantastic sporting arenas in Cardiff inthat you think the students may want to take cluding the Principality Stadium, Cardiff part it, drop him an email or call ext. 5908.

New Res Life Logo Designed by a 2nd year Graphic Communications student In February a Focus Group was held with 22 students, Students Union Reps and Jodie Reohorn (2nd year Graphic Communications) to explore the student preferences for a Res Life logo.

The students were shown thirty examples of Residence Life logos from the UK and America and asked to pick out the factors that appealed to them and what they would like to see in a Cardiff Met logo. The key elements the students selected were the subjects of belonging, home, friendship, inclusiveness and happiness.

Following the Focus Group and several further meetings, Jodie’s final design will now be used as the official logo for the Residence Life programme. Well done Jodie on a great piece of work.

Estates Update.

The Sports Hall was completed in December 2016 and the New Bleacher Seating installation was completed in February 2017 allowing around 500 seated spectators.

The Exterior Running Track & 3G Pitch is progressing well and will be completed in June 2017 with weather permitting With regards to Planned Summer 2017 Works, it can be advised that ‘Portfolio Development Works’ will be taking place on both Llandaff and Cyncoed Campuses in: Cardiff School of Art & Design (B & N Blocks) Cardiff School of Health Science (T Block) Llandaff Cardiff School of Management (O Block) Llandaff Cardiff School of Sport (B Block) Cyncoed Page 3

Personalised timetables for all Contributed by Elaine Griffiths, Space Timetable Manager As you know, last year saw a pilot project to create personal student timetables for Cardiff School of Sport, and several programmes in Cardiff School of Management.

Feedback from these students has been very positive, and so this year we see the continuation of the programme, this time to deliver personal timetables to all students across the University. This means that the business processes prior to publication of

the timetables have all been brought forward to earlier in the year. To date, the Curriculum Audit has already been completed by Schools and is ready to be downloaded from the Student Record System. As part of the data collection process, spreadsheets have been populated with existing timetable data which Schools will check and amend as necessary. The Timetable unit will then process the data

and create the timetables, although it’s not quite as simple as it sounds.

As a result of this, the aim is to produce personalised timetables for returning students by mid-August. This is much earlier than usual so hopefully students will see this as a positive improvement. All students will be able to view their timetables in calendars on their mobile devices.

It’s going to be a busy year!

Business In Action - Real World Student Projects Contributed by Rachel Roberts, Environmental Performance Manager I have recently been working with the CSM and a group of students looking at Sustainable Travel at Cardiff Met. The students were considering the promotion and support of sustainable and active student travel to and from campus, with the aim of delivering greater awareness and participation. They attended an initial introduction by Neil Woollacott (Travel Plan Manager) and Rachel Roberts, followed by a question and answer sessions within their teams. The students were also able to email any queries to Neil and I. Final team presentations were recorded in front of peers. All recommendations are due to be presented to the next Environmental Performance Group for implementation.

More Tales from the Met Stories from around the campuses.

Cycle2Work Scheme

7,000 Potential Cardiff Met students on campus.

For further details contact Neil Woollacott on extension 6712 or Elena Williams on extension 5971 or visit

“Just wanted to say a huge thanks for looking after us so well during our time with you in Cardiff for our UCAS Convention. Everything went extremely smoothly as always.”

The 1st May 2017 saw the launch of another Another fantastic UCAS Convention was hosted at Cyncoed Campus on Wednesday 5th opportunity for staff to get a bicycle via the April, bringing over 7,000 6th form students onto campus to consider their university choices and associated career paths.

Cardiff Met Cycle To Work scheme.

The Conference Team worked closely with Sports Facilities, CMSR and many other deWe first joined the scheme in April 2008 partments within the university making the event more streamlined each year. and ever since have provided staff with the Cardiff Met have hosted the event for 17 years and it’s a huge compliment that the oropportunity to save between 25% and 35% ganisers have never sought to host the event elsewhere. Angie Hill from UCAS had this to on the cost of a new bicycle and pay for it say: monthly via their pay at source.

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Cardiff Met Sport Contributed by Adam Bailey - Marketing Manager, Cardiff Met Sport January 2017 saw the opening of the new £5million sports hall on the Cyncoed Campus which completes phase one of the new sports complex development.

The sports hall has been named the Archers’ Arena which has been chosen to reflect the brand that unites the key partners who utilise the facility.

The Archers’ Arena has already proven a success with students and the local community with the launch of new sporting programmes and additional training slots in a state of the art sports facility.

The Cardiff Met Archers Women’s Basketball team played their first WBBL game in the Archers’ Arena on Saturday 25th May in front of a 300+ strong crowd, taking the win against Team Northumbria with a final second 3 pointer! Final Score 58-55.

Rio 2016 Mural - We recently also witnessed the unveiling of an Olympic and Paralympic mural which is located in the foyer of the new Archer’s Arena. Staff, students and alumni celebrated Cardiff Met’s success at the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games. GB Paralympic gold medallist Aled Sion Davies (shotput and discuss), Charlotte Wingfield, who competed in the 100m and 200m for Malta, GB swimmer Ieuan Lloyd and GB Paralympic sailor Stephen Thomas all attended the event.

Cara Aitchison addressed guests, saying “There is no other University in Wales that made such a contribution to Rio 2016. Wales is a sporting nation and Sport Cardiff’s Wheel Women - In January 2017 the Sport Cardiff Met is committed to playing a world leading Cardiff Girls Together campaign launched a new initiative to encourage more role in supporting sport from the pinnacle of perfor- females to cycle . A social cycling network was created under the banner of mance sport through to grass roots participation.”

Wheel Women with the aim of providing regular group ride opportunities to Junior Sports Academies - Our junior sports pro- females. Fifteen volunteers have become engaged with the programme and gramme has seen the addition of two new academies, Cardiff Met student Luci Lawler is leading the project. Seven rides have taking our total of academies up to ten. We have es- already taken place attracting an average of 15 ladies per ride. For more tablished a badminton academy that is accredited to information please visit www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/girls-together or search for Badminton Wales Satellite Centre for talented players. Wheel Women Cycling on Facebook or twitter.

Sales vastly exceed target - the Cardiff Met Reusable Mug Contributed by Andrew Phelps, Catering & Hospitality Service Manager The Cardiff Met reusable mug is proving to be really popular with both staff and students since its introduction in early September 2016. To date we have sold over 500 mugs across campus and are averaging 76 reuses of the mug every day!

By using this reusable mug we have saved in the region of 3,000 disposable cups from being sent to landfill which is resulting in Cardiff Met saving on waste, the environment and money.

If you would like a mug simply call in at any of our outlets. They cost £3.50 but give you 10% discount thereafter whenever you purchase a hot drink.

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Estates & Facilities Photo Album Images of staff and students around the campuses and further afield.

This editions round up includes: The first winners of the Res Life FIFA 2017 X-Box tournament and their prize shirts. Professor Cara Aitchison helping us celebrate Green Week in February. The Conference Team raising £115 for Tenovus Cancer Care at Christmas.

The Cardiff Met stand at the UCAS event in NIAC. The three ‘Cyncoed Ducks’ returning for their fifth year to nest and raise their ducklings at Cyncoed Halls. Chinese New Year celebrations at Plas Gwyn with fortune cookies. Lisa Ah Mun and Rachel Bryant at the ASRA Conference 2017 and finally a group of staff and students learning about urban bee keeping at the Outdoor Learning Centre.

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Coffee corner.

Did you know that . . .

Europe is technically not a continent. Its separation from Asia was originally a classical Greek idea.

Thanks to the Loch Ness Monster, Scotland receives around 7 million euros a year in tourism.

The name Europe comes from the Phoenician princess Europa who according to myth was seduced by Zeus when he turned himself into a bull!

Germany is the country that is surrounded by the most countries (nine total). The countries are Switzerland, Poland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, During Liechtenstein’s last military enFrance, Denmark, Czech Republic, gagement with Italy in 1866 they sent out 80 soldiers and came back with 81! Appar- Belgium, and Austria. ently they made a friend in Italy!

Croissants were actually in Austria.

730 million people live in Europe. 11% of the Worlds population.

Per capita, Sweden has the most McDonalds in Europe.

40% of the Greek population live in its capital, Athens.

Italians do not drink cappuccino after 11am and it is almost impossible to find anywhere that will serve it after 11am.

The ten most generous countries in the World in terms of giving to charity are all in Europe.

Russia has over 13,000 uninhabited villages and makes up 40% of Europe’s land mass.

There are more Doner Kebab restaurants in Istanbul is the only city in the World bridg- The highest toilet in Europe is on ing two continents.

Berlin than in Istanbul.

Mont Blanc at over 4,200 meters.

Mount Etna in Sicily is Europe’s largest The Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona In France it is still illegal to name a is taking longer to build than the pyramids. active volcano at an elevation of 3350m. pet pig Napoleon.

It was started in 1882 and its still not There are more than 250 distinct languages finished. spoken in Europe.

Fantastic Welsh coffee now available on all campuses.

In early January, coffee supplied by a local Welsh supplier called the ‘Welsh Coffee Company’ was introduced at The Gallery on the Llandaff Campus.

The Welsh Coffee Company roast their own beans in the Gower Peninsular using different varieties of Arabica beans. This includes Bourboa, Cattaui, Cattura and Typica - each with their own distinct

character and taste. The 100% Arabica beans are grown at altitude under a canopy of rain forest. Shade gr own coffee beans develop more slowly and with a more intense flavor. The difference can definitely be tasted in this Welsh Coffee.

Call in to The Gallery at Llandaff Campus to try our new great Welsh Coffee brand and help support a local provider.

Community partnership with South Wales Police.

Passive dog training day on campus In March a pro-active illegal substances search was carried out at Plas Gwyn Campus with the assistance of PC Mike Neate, Police Student Liaison Officer and the South Wales Police canine unit.

This is an annual event where the police use a passive dog rather than a search dog, which is the same as the ones used at airports. It’s a great training opportunity for the dogs and handler and also reaffirms our zero tolerance policy to the resident students.

I am happy to report that the dog failed to indicate in any of the eight flats or on any of the 50+ students he sniffed. The dog pictured is entering retirement next month after many years service and will continue to live with his handler. We wish him all the best.

PC Mike Neate had this to say: “It is a fantastic opportunity for our

dog handlers to be able to practice passive searches in a secure environment. Well done Cardiff Met students on a great result.”

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Dates For Your Diary: 03/06/17 Champions League Final.

30/06/17 Justin Beiber at The Principality Stadium.

11/07/17 Coldplay at The Principality Stadium.

Editor: Neil Woollacott Deputy Accommodation Services Manager & Travel Plan Manager.

Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff CF23 6XD Tel: 02920 41 6712 nwoollacott@cardiffmet.ac.uk Facebook: Cardiff Met Halls & Housing

21/07/17 to 30/07/17 The original sets from FRIENDS in Bute Park.

28/07/17 to 03/09/17 Cardiff Bay Beach @ Roald Dahl Plass 12/08/17 Burning Lanterns Festival at St Fagans Folk Museum.

25/08/17 to 27/08/17 Cardiff Pride at The Civic Centre.

Congratulations: Marian Thomas on her recent retirement after many happy years at Cardiff Met working in several departments. We will miss you Marian.

Seth Davies who having been a Student, Warden, Senior Warden and Halls Assistant, left us to follow his lifelong ambition to join the Police Force.

In Memorial: Sadly on the 1st December 2016 Karen Reid suddenly passed away, which came as a shock to all who knew her. Karen worked at Cardiff Met for 19 years and could always be found with a smile and a joke in the various catering outlets.

The Gallery at Llandaff Campus was affectionately known as ‘her baby’ and it’s a credit to Karen how popular and busy this outlet has become.

She is sorely missed by all the staff, students and her friends at both Cyncoed and Llandaff Campuses.

Our deepest sympathies go to all of Karen’s family and friends. She will be missed by all who knew her. Rest In Peace. xxx

Meet your Colleagues Introducing Lowri and Karen Former Employment:

World famous Cardiff Arms Park!

Lowri: I was pr eviously a Data Pr epar ation Assistant at Beaufort Research and I attended the University of Manchester to study History.

Karen: One of my ambitions in life was to go on Concord and I finally got my wish whilst visiting the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York. Sadly I never got to fly on it though!

Karen: Car diff and Vale College Examination Department.

Interests: Lowri: I have taught myself to play the guitar. I regularly play and watch football.

I also enjoy travelling, having recently visited Thailand.

Names: Lowri Harris, Campus Receptionist, Cyncoed.

Karen Elworthy, Campus Receptionist Cyncoed.

Karen: My inter ests ar e mainly cycling and travelling. I have recently come back for a five day trip to New York which was amazing.

Did you know: Lowri: I once competed in a r ugby tournament, playing on the pitch at the

The Estates & Facilities Times has been initiated to keep us all aware of what is going on in each others sections. If there is no article about your area, it is because no one has spoken to me, please contact me yourself. Anyone who wishes to contribute articles, will be greeted with a smiling face and open arms.

A copy of the Estates & Facilities Times is also available in Welsh if required. Any staff who are leaving Cardiff Met for pastures new, let me have a forwarding address and I will send you a copy.

The Estates & Facilities Times next issue will be circulated from November 2017.