Students' Union Impact Report 08-09

I M PA C T RE PORT 2008 /09

S T A F F O R D S H I R E U N I V E R S I T Y S T U D E N T S’ U N I O N STRIVING FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS

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STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY

IMPACT REPORT 2008 /09

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CONTENTS

OUR MISSION& MEMBERS Some statistics from the 2008/ 09 academic year

Our mission & members A word from The President The 2008/ 09 Officer team Representing students’ views, concerns & aspirations Campaigning, educating & advising Delivering quality social space & services Encouraging interaction

Our vision, our mission, our values The Students’ Union strives to improve the experience of all of its members by:

07-08

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09-10

• • • •

Representing students’ views, concerns and aspirations Campaigning, educating and advising on student issues Delivering quality social space and services on campus Encouraging students to interact through cultural, recreational & social groups and activities.

11% 31%24% 53% 20 14% 40% 16,939

of our students are

Total number of students

of our students are from overseas (excluding European Union)

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years old or under

of our students are female

05-06

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11-12

of our students are 40 or over

of our students are part-time

of our students are distance learners

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A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT Hi and welcome to Staffordshire University Students’ Union Impact Report 2008-09.

Firstly, it’s been a fantastic year for the Students’ Union, with lots of great events, experiences and important achievements for our students – it’s certainly been a very proud time for me and the officer team.

Part of the Students’ Union’s mission statement is to ‘strive for the best experience for students’ and this Impact Report will show

some of the ways in which we’ve done just that-and to great success. The passion and commitment for driving forward issues that matter to and impact upon our members is really at the heart of everything we do.

From achieving 24 hour library opening to providing fantastic new multi-functional student space at Stafford campus, and from a Staffordshire University Varsity victory to setting up the acclaimed Money Doctors scheme-we hope our term in office really has had a positive impact on our students.

So for now, happy reading, and a huge thanks to all (whether students, staff or community partners) who have made the past year one we can all be proud of.

Fee Wood Students’ Union President

IMPACT REPORT 2008 /09

THE 2008 /09 OFFICER TEAM Kieran Jones AMD Representative Nabeel Manan Academic Affairs Officer Vic Casambros Accommodation Officer Adeel Tahir Activities Officer Sports & r NUS Delegate 3 Sam Margrave Activities Officer Societies & NUS Delegate 4 Sandesh Singhal Business Representative Arsalan Isla Campaigns Officer Harriet Klymchuk Chair of Union Council Rebecca Parsons Equal Opportunities Officer Tahir Islam Environmental Officer Vanessa Brumby Female Gender Representative Michael Grant FCET Representative Dinesh Krishnan International Students’ Officer Kyrsty Bonham Law Representative Charley Hasted LGBT Officer Gary McNally Local Students’ Officer Stafford Lee Fallows Local Students’ Officer Stoke Peter Nicholls Male Gender Representative Ashlea Morris Mature Students’ Officer Anant Tyagi Media Officer Chris Milne Non-Portfolio Exec Member Gerard Boyers Non-Portfolio Exec Member Rizwan Ahmad Non Port Folio Exec Member Assed Baig NUS Delegate 1 / Non Portfolio Exec Darrell Williams NUS Delegate 2 Shakir Quresh Post Graduate Students’ Officer David Reardon Science Representative Christopher Mee Students with Disabilities Officer Mohammed Asim Welfare Officer Jonathan Henebury Site Union Councillor (Stafford) Gary McNaly Broadcast Media Program Area Rep Alison Hardy Site Union Councillor (Stoke)

Fee Wood President Gareth Barron Activities Officer Becca McLellan Commercial Services Officer

Tim Robinson Communications Officer Hyder Kamran Education & Welfare Officer

Fee Wood - Union President 2008 /09 Fee Wood - Union President 2008 /09

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Full-time officers (LtoR) Fee - Tim - Becca - Gaz - Hyder

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REPRESENTING STUDENTS’ VIEWS, CONCERNS& ASPIRATIONS Our members are central to what we do and representing them is key to our work...

So providing forums and platforms in which students can have their say and inform us on their views is vital. This year, our sabbatical team became ‘officers without offices’ as they moved to central, open-plan desk areas in our student spaces – making them more visible, approachable and breaking down barriers in communication.

Attendees to and members of Student Council (a key decision making forum) increased two-fold on 2007-8, with 35 officer positions being filled by November. In our March Elections, a record number of 42 candidates ran for office and a total of 14,726 votes were cast.

Our Referenda on the Students’ Union registering as a charity received 1241 votes, with an overwhelming 89% of responses in favour of charity registration, allowing the Union to gain access third sector revenue streams and recognition of public benefit of the Union’s work in advancing education.

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As a member-led organisation, we listen to what our students tell us and concerns on ethical issues are always high on our members’ agenda. A key student concern and officer focus this year was the environment. In response, our focus on improving the Union’s eco-credentials through things like implementation of glass recycling, campaigning on key green issues and holding environmental awareness events resulted in the Students’ Union gaining bronze standard in the annual Sound Environmental Impact Awards in February.

We’ve also been speaking out against racism and fascism in our society with our officers creating strong links with Love Music Hate Racism, providing a key voice locally on the anti-fascist movement and promoting a tolerant, hopeful message with our students and community. For the local and European elections held in June, our officers campaigned to encourage students to vote against parties with discriminatory policies-which

IMPACT REPORT 2008 /09

“IT’S GREAT THE UNION EMPLOYS SO MANY STUDENTS – IT’S BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT DOES FROM A NEW ANGLE.” we intend to repeat and build on next year.

In May 2008 the Students’ Union gained Fairtrade accreditation for its commitment to supporting and campaigning for Fairtrade on campus. Throughout 2008-9 we’ve continued to campaign for Fairtradevia tastings, sales, Diversity Fashion Show and even with Fairtrade Footballs in our annual Varsity competition - to successfully maintain our accreditation.

The Students’ Union has improved its communication channels with students, ensuring they are kept informed of how we are representing them and up to date with news, information and events on campus. A fortnightly news and events listing, Plugged, was launched in September 2008 and made available in print format, online and sent direct to students’ email inboxes. This was a key tool in communicating our campaigns, work for students and opportunities available for them to become involved with their Union.

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CAMPAIGNING, EDUCATING& ADVISING ON STUDENT ISSUES

“THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST HELPFUL HALF AN HOUR I’VE HAD ABOUT MONEY IN MY ENTIRE LIFE”

Campaigning is a core element of what the Union is here to do: supporting and speaking up for student issues. Here are some of our greatest achievements for students this year...

the service which includes online advice, one to one sessions and on-location information stands. This year, over a quarter of a million pounds has been raised for students by the SAC.

24 Hour Library Financial strains on students have led to an increased need to work in order to fund studies. This meant many of our students needed longer availability of learning resources.

In a culmination of campaigning carried out over the last few years, the Union secured a key outcome when the University Library agreed to run 24 hour library opening from early February to late May 2009.

Raising awareness on student finance issues...

In Spring, in response to student concerns over mounting loans and debt, the Students’ Union joined

NUS’ Broke & Broken campaign, launching its own website, www.brokebroken.com – an impactful campaign tool to be used nationally. The website allows students to upload their photo and current student debt and features a totaliser, tallying all entries. The site has encouraged awareness and debate around the subject of education funding and student debt.

At the time of going to press, the site’s total exceeded £6 million. ...And improving financial literacy of our members In September, whilst financial storms were gathering, the SAC launched Money Doctors – its new financial advice and support scheme. Money Doctors responded to the need for proactive assistance and advice in an easy, nonthreatening format. To date, more than a thousand students have used

“24/7 OPENING HAS BEEN A DEFINITE PLUS POINT ABOUT THIS YEAR. I’M IN MY FINAL YEAR AND WHEN HOME IS TOO NOISY IT’S GOOD TO KNOW THERE IS SOMEWHERE TO COME AT ANY HOUR.” impact_report_new.indd 8-9

Empowering and advising our students The Students’ Union is always here for our members with professional, confidential advice and expertise when they need it most.

The Student Advice Centre (SAC) has worked hard all year to offer advice, support and solutions to thousands of students on issues including finance and debt, housing disrepair and academic appeals.

New initiatives this year have included regular outreach sessions at Shrewsbury for Nursing students and a very popular House Hunter week to advise students on issues surrounding renting properties.

Equipping students Education at University doesn’t begin and end with lectures.

We’re always working to educate students on the issues that really matter. This year, we’ve focused

IMPACT REPORT 2008 /09 on safety and health issues, amongst others, equipping students with the tools and knowledge to stay safe and healthy on and off campus. We’ve run sessions on alcohol, self defence, drink driving and unit measurements, as well as hosted drug displays and sessions on the dangers of drink driving.

We’ve given out condoms, run fruit giveaways, and encouraged hundreds of students to take responsibility for their sexual health with Chlamydia screening. 500 free attack alarms were distributed in Safe Week (and also available from receptions).

Here are some of our other important wins for students...

• In line with our green agenda, the Union secured additional bike storage at Stafford campus.

• On 31st October – labelled women’s equal pay day –more than 200 signatures were received and sent to the local MP to support salary equality for men and women.

• Following safety complaints from students, we secured round the clock opening of a through-campus route to key student housing areas.

• We’ve taken on board and acted on diversity awareness issues raised by our students, for example with the launch of gender neutral toilets in our nightclub.

Fee Wood - Union President 2008 /09

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IMPACT REPORT 2008 /09

DELIVERING QUALITY SOCIAL SPACE& SERVICES ON CAMPUS The Union has improved student ownership of space on campus, encouraging the University to see all space as essentially student owned and making this space work for them.

In September, the Union took over an unused University space in Stafford and engaged students to truly make this area theirs. The emphasis was on this space being student, not Union, owned and so a comment board was erected to encourage student feedback and ideas on what the space would include. The space is now filled with beanbags, has plenty of computers and is complete with wi-fi.

We’ve harnessed student enthusiasm and involvement to ensure that we’re providing the sort of nights they want in the sort

of environments they enjoy. We’ve run a series of user focus groups, social networking research and online polls to inform the way we develop our venues, events and services. Student input and feedback has really put the student at the heart of events like this year’s Summer Ball, our fastest selling ever. Student ambassadors from our focus group played a great part in its success.

Student run nights also played a major role in our entertainments calendar this year and again kept students at the heart of their social space. Weekly events in Stafford run by our clubs and societies not only provided a regularly changing event programme, but also allowed these groups fantastic fundraising opportunities, whilst providing the Union with events that were not just

financially viable, but successful.

With this as a starting point, a host of student run events were also held over the year, including In the Mix, the Diversity Fashion Show and The Switch Up. All events were incredibly popular, ranging from catwalk clothing to DJ battles, live dance and hip hop performances.

Our students can also be a hungry bunch and - along with our food provision in bars Ember Lounge and the Lounge (which introduced a new range of gourmet pies and a popular burger menu) - this year we expanded the provision of juice bar, Squeeze Box, into healthy food and snacks. Squeeze Box now sells freshly made paninis, bagels, wraps, and-following student demand-sushi and ice cream. In fact, the Students’ Union now feeds 1000 students a day. We told you they were hungry!

Fee Wood - Union President 2008 /09

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ENCOURAGING INTERACTION THROUGH CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL& SOCIAL GROUPS& ACTIVITIES University is more than a degree.

We believe that the social and recreational time of our members is an essential part of the University experience and really helps students get the most out of University life.

The Union provides lots of ways for our students to get involved, with a diverse range of clubs, societies, groups and activities.

We’ve supported more than 70 activity groups this year, assisting financially, logistically and with experienced support. 19 new clubs and societies also joined the current list as students took advantage of the opportunity to start up their own activity. 17 of these trial activities will be carried on to next year.

And what’s more, our clubs and societies give our students something to be proud of and provide an arena to succeed.

Our Women’s Rugby League Team have players performing on a national level in the British University Women’s Rugby League Team, one member being awarded player of the year for the British Universities Women’s Rugby League.

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The award of Top New Student in the British University Cycling Championships was awarded to one of our members. Our Cheerleading Squad won the British Cheerleading Association and BCA Universities competitions in Stunting and Senior Cheer at level 2. The University LGBT Society also received a Highly Commended at the NUS LGBT Awards in recognition of their consistently high standard of work.

A proud moment for everyone at Staffs came when we gained victory over Varsity rivals, Keele University, in March this year to reclaim the Cup in a nail biting final.

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IMPACT REPORT 2008 /09

The annual Sports Presentation Evening and Volunteers & Society Awards were held in March to reward and acknowledge all those students who give their time and effort to a Students’ Union activity.

The Union’s Volunteering scheme has also gone from strength to strength this year with a re-branding that saw its name changed to inVOLved. We saw a huge increase in active registered members overall and had an unprecedented number of students volunteer their time and energy to help out in the busiest week of the year – Welcome Week – with more than 150 students involved across our Stoke and Stafford campuses.

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FINANCE OVERVIEW The Students’ Union has continued to grow through the past year and, following the challenging economic times we faced in 2007 – 8, our successes this year allowed us to plan for the future and both replenish our reserves and commit to some exciting projects to take us into 2009-10.

The Students’ Union receives a large proportion of its funding from the University in the form of a block grant, but in addition to this, our trading operations are a key source of revenue.

The days of making most of our trading income from alcohol sales

have passed (although social space still plays an important role) and we now feed more students and staff than ever before, with an increasingly diverse range of food.

Our shops have continued to grow as expected this year, and we invested in a new till system in all three outlets to speed up servicethis has been a popular decision with our customers!

Our Venues have seen a decline in alcohol sales on traditional club nights but an increase in daytime trade - and of course food sales.

Ember Lounge had a bumper year with strong growth across the board.

LRV and Stafford venues performed well with impressive food growth at Stafford and robust cost control at LRV. Our advice centres continue to help more students struggling with the financial burden of university life, and we have seen an increase in interest from students wanting to work part time for the Union.

As we are about to undertake another exciting academic year, the Union’s finances stand strong and robust. We’re not recessionproof, but have certainly remained responsive to the climate.

WHERE SUPPORT COMES FROM University block grant - £630,000 Project funding grants - £111,500 External advertising - £28,000 Net surplus from trading operations - £140,000 Other fundraising - £46,000

HOW FUNDS ARE SPENT

Student representation - £161,000 Member Communications - £79,000 Infrastructure & Central Services - £273,600 Advice & information services - £204,000 Student Activities - £227,000

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IMPACT REPORT 2008 /09

& THE YEAR TO COME Representing Students’ Views, Concerns and Aspirations We will be engaging students in the Student Written Submission for the 2010 Quality Assurance Audit.

Our Student Academic Representative programme (StARs) will be supported and joined up to deliver grass root representation and real change to the academic experience.

and a general election imminent, the Union will work to galvanise students to register, engage with and participate in local and national government.

Through Money Doctors and our Advice and Representation Team, students’ financial literacy and access to available resources will be increased.

expanded at both campuses in response to students’ calls for quality, value and speed of service.

The Union will be making more of its un-licensed social space to create more opportunities for students to programme activities.

A Shisha garden is being piloted following requests from international students.

We will harness Stafford students’ experiences to ensure the University’s plans for the campus improve both the community and the facilities.

“WE WILL HARNESS STAFFORD STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES TO ENSURE THE UNIVERSITY’S PLANS FOR THE CAMPUS IMPROVE BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND THE FACILITIES.” Conducting the ‘Big Question (aire)’ survey to identify the members’ priorities for their Union to inform our future planning until 2014.

Union governance will be modernised as we move to register as a charity, advancing education.

Campaigning, Educating and Advising on Student Issues With the BNP having gained a foothold in the local community

The Union will continue to raise its environmental efforts to push for a Silver Sound Impact standard and to push the University to progress across campus.

Delivering Quality Social Space and Services The Union will be expanding its venue space to provide additional rooms to increase the diversity of choice for students.

Catering provision is being

Encouraging Interaction through Social Cultural and recreational Groups and Activities We will be encouraging student enterprise and skills development by supporting students to create at least 30 new events and nights through the year.

We will be laying the groundwork for building sporting pride and reputation through the focus on TeamStaffs in the run-up to 2012.

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S T A F F O R D S H I R E U N I V E R S I T Y S T U D E N T S’ U N I O N CONTACT US

Stoke Campus Staffordshire University Students’ Union College Road Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire ST4 2DE Reception: 01782 294629 Stafford Campus Staffordshire University Students’ Union Beaconside Stafford Staffordshire ST18 0AD Reception: 01785 353311 www.staffsunion.com theunion@staffs.ac.uk

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