STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
COLLEGE LIFE IN THE FAST LANE There’s a full programme of events, see inside for the full details.
llege life is because co make it what you
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@LCB_SU
Money saving tips to make your cash go further Enrichment & sports activities Health & wellbeing workshops
ENRICHMENT H FINDING A JOB H SPORTING EVENTS H AND MUCH MORE!
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STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
Welcome
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Hello and welcome to Leeds College of Building (LCB). My name is Denis Metcalf and I’m the College’s Student Liaison Officer. I’m responsible for co-ordinating the College’s Enrichment Programme and managing the Students’ Union. I’m based in room E30 which is at the North Street campus on the top floor just outside the Refectory. My main aim is to make your time at College as enjoyable and trouble-free as possible, encouraging you to take part in a variety of student activities and ensuring you are kept up to date with the latest student news and information.
Our College Sport Maker, Kat Towler works alongside me to increase student participation in sport at the College as well as offer other opportunities for students to engage in outside of College. Kat is based in the Students’ Union office but will also be visiting the other College campuses.
Denis Metcalf
Student Liaison Officer Tel: 0113 222 6078 dmetcalf@lcb.ac.uk
There are a number of exciting ways for you to get involved in sport at the College, so keep an eye out! You can also speak to Kat if you have anything you would like to take part in that isn’t currently on offer. We have a minibus pick up service, the times are listed opposite.
Kat Towler
Sport Maker Tel: 0113 222 6078 ktowler@lcb.ac.uk
Minibus Pickup Service The service is available every Wednesday and Thursday during term time.
Hunslet 12:15pm Please arrive promptly and allow for any delays due to traffic.
If you are interested in joining the enrichment programme or would like to find out more about the Students’ Union then please come and see us, either at the Students’ Union office or when we are at the other campuses. We hope to see you soon!
Students’ Union
The Students’ Union (SU) has two roles at LCB • It acts as a channel of communication to represent your opinions and views and aims to provide support to you if you need representation • It manages the enrichment, sport and social activity programme The SU organises various activities including sporting events, social functions, outdoor pursuits and fundraising events. It also offers advice on various aspects of College life, health and wellbeing.
Improve Your Employability: Get involved with your Students’ Union Getting involved with your Students’ Union is arguably one of the best things you can do to maximise your employability potential whilst studying. Leeds College of Building has over 7,000 students and you could be one of just a handful of people who are responsible for the entire student body, fighting for student rights, dealing with the local community and essentially ensuring that every student has as happy college experience as possible.
STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
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Activities Programme 2015/2016
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NUS Extra Card and
Democracy Card
All of the activities run subject to numbers. 5-a-side Football (Team 19) Powerleague, Kirkstall 11-a-side Football Training at Powerleague, Kirkstall - Matches at colleges in West Yorkshire Boxercise Wednesdays/Thursdays Virgin Active Gym, Kirkstall
IM Basketball Coming soon Indoor 24 Cricket Wednesday/Thursday Quarry Hill Sports Centre
Rugby Union Wednesday Lovell Park
Mini Tennis Wednesday/Thursday Quarry Hill Sports Centre Netball Coming soon Quarry Hill Sports Centre
Running Club Wednesday Virgin Active Gym, Kirkstall Rush Hockey Wednesday Quarry Hill Sports Centre
Boxing Coming soon
Outdoor Activities Wednesday/Thursday We arrange a variety of outdoor activities throughout the year ranging from climbing, caving, canoeing, mountain biking, paintballing, snowboarding and go-karting
Dodgeball Quarry Hill Sports Centre
Rounders Quarry Hill Sports Centre
DJ Club Wednesday LCB, North Street
Rugby League Wednesday Hunslet Hawks, South Leeds
Footgolf Wike Ridge Golf Centre, Wike Golf Club Thursday City Golf, Kirkstall Guitar Club Wednesday LCB, North Street
Swimming Wednesday/Thursday Virgin Active Gym, Kirkstall Table Tennis Coaching Sessions All campuses Touch Rugby Thursday Powerleague, Kirkstall Weight Training / Health & Fitness Wednesday/Thursday Virgin Active Gym, Kirkstall Trade Skills Learn the basics in different trade areas for 6 weeks. Sessions will be on a Wednesday afternoon, location and date to be confirmed.
A Democracy Card is a free card that holds no discounts. Your Democracy Card is your local Students’ Union membership card that can be used for access and/or voting purposes and receiving campaign material and other NUS information.
NUS Extra is a student discount card which will cost from £12. The NUS Extra card will get you exclusive discounts available on the High Street and online, in many cases the discount is 10%. On average, students save over £500 a year by using their Extra card. For more information about the discounts available and how to purchase your NUS Extra Card please visit the Students’ Union office at the North Street campus or visit the NUS website www.nus.org.uk.
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STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
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Volunteering STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD! BECOME INVOLVED IN... Volunteering
Coaching West Yorkshire
Volunteers are the lifeblood of all sport organisations. Sport needs people like you. Behind every medal winner there are people who have given up their time to help them get there. Behind every sporting event are volunteers who help make them happen. These are the true heroes of sport.
Coaching West Yorkshire - a ‘one stop shop’ for coaches, sports leaders and the organisations that deploy them in the county. So whether you are looking for training courses, coaching opportunities, funding or general information from West Yorkshire Sport and their partners, then Coaching West Yorkshire is the right place to be.
There are many different roles that volunteers can play within sport, visit www.wysport.co.uk/support-training/ volunteering for more information.
You can also build up your ‘Coach Profile’ with a record of your qualifications, training and experience. To keep informed, simply register and choose what information you want to receive.
Sports Leaders UK Opportunities to enhance your CV Inspiring people and communities through leadership qualifications in sport. Sports Leaders UK is changing lives. Originally founded over 30 years ago, Sports Leaders UK was set up to support people across the UK who would like to give back to their local community. It now assists over 140,000 young people a year to give them the skills, advice and confidence to provide sporting opportunities to their neighbourhood. For more information visit www.sportsleaders.org
Visit www.wysport. co.uk/supporttraining/coaching
Student Services The Student Services office is situated on the ground floor at North Street, near the Library and is open from 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30am to 4:30pm on Friday.
• Admissions
If you require assistance with any matter at any time during your course, you should contact Student Services initially. The specially trained staff are your first point of contact at the College and can offer you advice, information and practical help on a wide variety of issues including:
• Confidential counselling to help with personal problems and difficulties
• Bursary Fund • Careers Information & Guidance
• Equality and Diversity • Job Search • Learner Support Fund
If you study at one of the other campuses, you can speak to the personal advisor based there.
If you interested in any of the above please contact Kat Towler in the Students’ Union office.
STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
@LCB_SU
MONEY SAVING TIPS TO MAKE YOUR CASH GO FURTHER Everyone wishes that their money would stretch a bit further and this guide will give you some advice on the financial support available within College and tips on how you can manage your money. First of all check with Student Services to see what financial help may be available to you whilst at College, you may qualify for the Bursary or Learner Support Fund that can help you pay for travel and books for College. Many of our students try and get a part-time job, either on an evening or weekend, not only does this look great on your CV, it gives you confidence, you can meet new people and most of all you can get a weekly or monthly wage.
Tips for Saving Money
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Sign up for an NUS card which gives you discount in many shops and online. If you haven’t already done so check with Student Services to see if you are eligible for a young person’s bus pass.
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Register with voucher sites to get discounts at local restaurants.
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If you have a PC at home you can buy Microsoft Office from the College at a discounted rate, check with the IT team to find out how to do this.
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If you haven’t got a home PC use the ones in College, the library is open in the evenings and is often quieter then.
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Check with the library to see if they’ve got the books you need before buying them.
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There are often lots of things to do for free in Leeds and the surrounding areas, use the internet to see what is going on near you.
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Take advantage of the free activities on the enrichment programme at College.
And remember.......if you don’t need it, won’t use it, or can’t afford it – don’t buy it!
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STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
Enrichment and Sport
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Enrichment and sports activities are available to all students, regardless of gender, age or ability, and provide students with opportunities to broaden their experiences and enhance their personal development.
Every student can enrol on one or more enrichment activity. The range and variety of activities on offer means there is something to cater for every individual. A college shouldn’t just be somewhere you come to get qualifications, but a place where you can enjoy yourself and develop interests and skills that can be continued for life. Often universities and employers are interested in seeing whether applicants can show evidence of wider interests outside of their studies, so taking part in enrichment is perfect for demonstrating this. As well as improving your overall health and wellbeing, participation in enrichment activities can help develop team/leadership skills, introduce you to new friends and boost your confidence. Our aim is to ensure you get the most out of your time at College and have some fun! Details can be found on posters around College!
STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
LCB Hawks Rugby League Academy
Leeds College of Building operates a Rugby League Academy for 16-19 year olds in partnership with Hunslet Hawks. The Rugby League Academy provides young players with the opportunity to combine College studies with a structured training and professional development programme. The Rugby League Academy offers: • Specialist professional training from the Hawks • Individual weight and fitness programme • Access to coaching courses • Compete in RFL Colleges’ League • Access to a full-time course at the College
Football
As part of the enrichment programme, students have the opportunity to play football against other colleges in Yorkshire in the ESFA League. Training sessions take place every Wednesday at Goals Soccer Centre in Kirkstall from 1:00pm until 3:00pm. Matches take place from 1:00pm until 4:00pm around West Yorkshire. The training sessions help the students as players, giving them an insight into football and improving the different aspects they need within the game including skill, stamina, strength and most importantly team work.
It also enables the students to meet other students from within the College who they wouldn’t meet during their normal day to day activities.
All of these activities give our students confidence, a positive mental attitude, improve selfesteem as well as meeting new friends and keeping fit.
The team is selected based on the coaching sessions, not just picking the best players but the ones with the most commitment, passion and willingness to learn.
What the students say
Last year, we enjoyed our most successful football season in the ESFA League and this is a credit to all the players as they had such a fantastic attitude, determination and above all, team spirit. If you would like to play for the LCB football team, see Denis in the Students’ Union office. Everyone is welcome and we always make sure we have fun!
Boxercise, Gym Sessions, Circuits and Swimming Every week, students have the opportunity to go to Virgin Active and take part in various aspects of health and fitness. A wide range of activities are available at this 5 star fitness centre including cardio machines, use of the fitness studio, weights, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.
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“The fitness sessions at Virgin Active break up the week for me so it’s not all work, work, work plus I get to keep fit and meet different people from different courses, which makes it more comfortable when I am at College.”
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Tips
on Staying Healthy 1. Eat healthily and drink lots of water
“I think the gym is great because you can spend time with your friends and it doesn’t take up too much time, it also motivates me to keep fit.” “The gym has motivated me to keep fit, lose weight and also given me more energy, drive and confidence for my studies.” “The gym has motivated me to lose weight. The coaching at the gym is excellent and I can do more now physically because of my gym experience.”
2. Exercise – aim for at least 30 mins every day 3. Stop smoking 4. Limit your alcohol intake
If you would like to take part in any of the above, see Denis in the Students’ Union office.
The gym has motivated me to keep fit and lose weight
5. Participate in team sports or events 6. Take time every day to do something you enjoy 7. Learn to manage stress 8. Get plenty of sleep
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STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
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The C-Card Scheme Did you know that you can register for the C-card at the Students’ Union office? The C-Card is a plastic card that gets you free condoms from various places in Leeds. To get one simply visit the Students’ Union office or speak to Denis when he his visiting the other College campuses. All you need to do is give your date of birth and postcode.
Chlamydia Tests Chlamydia is the most common Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) – 1 in 10 young people who have been tested are infected with chlamydia. It is a common bacterial STI affecting both men and women and can be transmitted through unprotected oral, vaginal and anal sex. If you are concerned that you may have chlamydia, testing kits are available from the Students’ Union office.
Pregnancy Tests Do you think you might be pregnant? Testing kits are available from the Students’ Union office. Visit www.leedssexualhealth.com which is packed full of advice and also lists where you can get free condoms!
Health & Wellbeing Workshops Every month we offer different health & wellbeing information at all College campuses covering issues such as healthy eating, sexual health and alcohol awareness. We offer handouts, support and guidance at the workshops. Information displays will also be available at every campus. Campaign
Month
Campaign
Month
Healthy Living
September
Heart Health
February
Sexual Health
October
Quit Smoking
March
Alcohol Awareness November
Mental Health
April
Drugs Awareness
December
Sun Awareness
May
STI Awareness
January
Asthma Awareness June
STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
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Calendar of Events
All of the activities run subject to numbers. College Events
Activity: Herd Farm
Activity: Go Ape
• Award Ceremony – Thursday 15th October 2015
Date: w/c 12th October 2015
Date: April 2016
Cost: Free
Cost: £10 per student
• Equality & Diversity Week – w/c 16th November 2015
Location: Dalby Forest
• Healthy College Week – w/c 8th February 2016
Activity: Alton Towers
Date: Tuesday 7th June
• International Women’s Day – Tuesday 8th March 2016
Cost: £15 per student
• Careers Month – May 2016 SU Charity Events
• Children in Need – Friday 13th November 2015 • Sport Relief – Friday 18th to Sunday 20th March 2016 • LCB Charity Fun Day – Wednesday 18th May 2016 • Kick Out Racism Tournament – Wednesday 8th June 2016
These are some of the other activities available: Activity: Paintballing
Date: Wednesday 23rd December Cost: £10 per student Location: Delta Force Paintball Centre, Wakefield
Flamingo Land, Tenpin Bowling, Pole Position Indoor Karting, Yeadon Tarn and Lightwater Valley!
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STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
Rep Meetings The role of a Class Rep is to represent yourself and other students within your class, and raise opinions and concerns at regular class rep meetings with the Student Liaison Officer (Denis Metcalf), your Faculty Director and College staff. You then have to report the results back to the students. It gives you the chance to have your say, not only in your individual course area but in the College as a whole. You will develop skills that will look good on your CV and that are attractive to an employer and gain confidence dealing with different people. Here are some of the types of issues which may be raised in your Class Rep meetings. Course Issues Timetables Rooms Equipment
Other Issues Learning base Refectory/ SU area Parking
Course Issues Resources Teaching Size of the group Assignments
Other Issues Toilets Security Student Services Enrichment
Class Rep Training You will also receive training on the role of a Class Rep, the sessions will take place on the following dates: Tuesday 13th October 2015 11:00am - 12:00pm (Lecture Theatre, North St.) Wednesday 14th October 2015 10:00am - 11:00am (Hunslet) Thursday 15th October 2015 11:00am - 12:00pm (Lecture Theatre, North St.) Friday 16th October 2015 1:00pm - 2:00pm (Lecture Theatre, North Street) Wednesday 21st October 2015 1:00pm - 2:00pm (Hunslet) If you are interested in becoming a Class Rep, please see your Course Tutor or Denis in the Students’ Union office.
Student Liaison Committee Meetings The Student Liaison Committee meetings are held with the Principal and Governors where you will discuss any issues and concerns raised at the Class Rep meetings. You must have attended a Class Rep meeting before you attend the following meetings: Tuesday 1st December 2015 12.15pm (meeting room 1, North Street) Tuesday 1st March 2016 12.15pm (meeting room 1, North Street) Tuesday 14th June 2016 12.15pm (meeting room 1, North Street)
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Would you like to be a Class Rep?
STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
Tips on Job Hunting • Try and get as much work experience as possible as any experience is good. • Always run a spell check or get someone else to check your CV or application form before you submit it as employers don’t like spelling mistakes. • Research the company and job before you apply. Employers like people who understand what the job is about and who are enthusiastic.
• Be careful what you share on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter as employers may check you out online. • Keep any documents in a safe place i.e. letters you have sent to employers or received. This will help to keep track of the jobs you have applied for. • Adapt your CV or covering letter to make it right for the job you’re applying for, don’t expect one CV to cover everything.
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• It may take a while to find something you’re interested in or to get an interview. Don’t let it get you down - talk to someone, a friend, a family member or your personal advisor if you’re starting to get fed up. • You will probably need to travel further to work than you did at school or college.
Discover what you are good at and what employers want • Responsible and reliable • Punctual and good time management • Clean and tidy appearance • Patience • Helpful • Adaptable • Hard working • Willingness to learn • Motivated and enthusiastic
Why Skills and Qualities? Applying for a job is not just about grades, many employers look out for your skills and qualities on application forms, your CV and at interviews. We pick up different skills through day to day life and in different settings such as at school or college, at home through our interests or out socialising with friends. Employers want people with the following types of key skills: • Good literacy and numeracy skills • Communication skills • Teamwork and reliability • Organisation and planning • Ability to meet deadlines • Initiative • Problem solving • IT literate
Whether you’re a final year student or a first year looking to make a good impression, there are easy ways to boost your employability without leaving the sofa.
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STUDENTS’ UNION MAGAZINE ISSUE 1: AUTUMN 2015
Social Media Keep up to date by following us on our brand new Students’ Union Twitter page @LCB_SU #tryit
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Get on LinkedIn If you’re not already signed up to the professional networking site LinkedIn, then get an account set up now. It’s free and easy to set up, and it’s a great way to showcase your CV online. Plus, it’s a good way to connect to professionals in your chosen industry, which might open up future job opportunities. Result!
Clean up your social media presence It’s getting easier and easier for potential future employers to get the low down on you simply by typing your name into Google. But what’s the first result that comes up? If it’s your public Facebook page displaying all the photos from ‘that’ night out, it might not work in your favour. Want to carry on sharing photos of your nights out on Facebook? No worries, just make sure you have your privacy settings on max and try to avoid setting your profile photo to anything you wouldn’t want your Nan to see. The same rules apply to any other social networking site… Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr: whatever you’re on, double check your privacy settings now to avoid any future embarrassments.
Check for networking events in your chosen industry A lot of industries now offer student networking opportunities, and it’s a great idea to start checking for upcoming events in your area. Networking events are a great way to get chatting to professionals in your area, and they can also be good for boosting confidence if the thought of an interview leaves you with sweaty palms.
We’re on Facebook and Twitter You can access all the information from this magazine on the LCB Facebook page, you can also follow us on Twitter.
leedscollegebuilding
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