University of Chester Student News Autumn 2014

ISSUE 1, 2014

STILL THE BEST IN THE NORTH WEST THE University has maintained last year’s strongest ever position in the National Student Survey (NSS), with Chester Students’ Union (CSU) holding its place at the top of the region for the second year running – and it’s all thanks to our students.

A record number took part in this year’s NSS, helping the University to sustain its overall student satisfaction rate of 88%, meaning it has held on to second place within the North West, and positioning it 2% above the national average.

And with a score of 75%, CSU is not only the leader in its field in the region, but also 7% above the sector average. The University has also earned joint first place in the North West for teaching (89%), and academic support (85%).

Jonathan Harper, President of Chester Students’ Union, said: “This is wonderful news, and a credit to the constant hard work and enthusiasm displayed by all the CSU officers and staff.

“We won’t be resting on our laurels however, and have even more support and activities planned for the coming academic year.”

Dr Chris Haslam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor – Corporate Development and the Student Experience, added: “The NSS is one of the most important sets of results for the University as the Survey is all about the students, their experience and what they think about the institution.

“Once again, we have achieved a really outstanding set of scores across the whole institution, with some fantastic improvements in key areas. It is extremely encouraging for everyone at the University that we continue to have very high levels of student satisfaction, significantly above the national average.”

All final year students from every UK higher education institution are invited to participate in the NSS, which is independently administered by market research experts Ipsos MORI. Over the course of the next academic year, when the University celebrates its 175th anniversary, CSU will be launching an awareness raising campaign about the Survey with the hope of securing the University its best ever score, so look information across in the lead up to the 2015 questionnaire and make sure if you are in your final year that you have your say.

INSIDE STORY Win an iPad Air

Page 2

Hannah’s African challenge

Page 3

A glowing review

Page 14

Good try!

Chester Students’ Union’s Tom Little, Vice-President (Warrington and Satellite Campuses); Savannah Miles, VicePresident (Campaigns and Activities); Christina Cooper, Vice-President (Academic and Welfare); Jonathan Harper, President; and SU Mascot, The Cat.

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2 Student News Welcome Student News, is an official University of Chester publication, produced by the University’s Corporate Communications Department to keep students informed of University news.

Any students who would like to write for Student News are invited to get in touch with the Corporate Communications Department on the email address below.

CONTACT: communications @chester.ac.uk

EDITORIAL TEAM Alex Read Alexandra Williams Amy Jones Anna Mackenzie Chloe Naylor Gemma Sproston Gregory Marl Jonathan Harper Kate Johnson Olivia Wheeler

PHOTOGRAPHY The University’s AV team, unless otherwise stated

To obtain this information in an alternative format - large print, audio, electronic or other alternative format – please e-mail communications@chester.ac.uk

175 years of Chester!

THE 2014/15 academic year is a big year for the University and its staff and students: it is the University’s 175th anniversary as an institution!

The institution was founded in 1839 as a teacher training college by people the names of some you may well recognise from across Campus, for example John Bird Sumner, the Hon Horatio Powys, and Rt Hon William Ewart Gladstone. The Chester Diocesan Training College was the first purposebuilt teacher training college in the UK. It officially opened in 1842 for its first intake of students (10 male student teachers) on the site that the University still occupies today. In 1961 the first female students were admitted, and the College became Chester College of Education in 1963; in 1996 it became University College Chester.

The College expanded in 2002, opening the Warrington Campus, then in 2005 the institution became the University of Chester. It has continued to grow since then, acquiring the Kingsway Buildings (the home of the Faculty of Arts and Media), the Riverside Campus (housing the Faculty of Education and Children’s Services and the Faculty of Health and Social Care), and most recently the former Shell Technology Centre in Thornton, creating the Thornton Science Park.

To celebrate 175 years since its founding, the University has a number of exciting events throughout the year for students, staff and members of the

local community. The Warrington Campus celebrates its 65th anniversary with a special open day on May 30. (There will also be a fireworks extravaganza evening in Chester next year with a host of other exciting elements on the night).

The new academic year will also be a year for fundraising. The University and Chester Students’ Union are working together to raise as much money for charity as possible. The charities supported throughout the year are: • Chester Mental Health Support (Chester); • St Rocco’s Hospice (Warrington); • Brainwave; • Kisiizi Hospital Project - The University has had an association with the Church of Uganda Kisiizi Hospital from 2008, developing long-term links with the hospital (with the Countess of Chester Hospital) to support the facilitation and delivery of programmes and improvements to the institution.

Kisiizi is located in a remote area of Uganda, an hour’s drive from the nearest tarmac road, and it relies on funding from the Government, patient and private sources; • Busoga University - private university in Uganda, affiliated with the Church of Uganda and opened in 1999. The University of Chester is currently working in collaboration with BU to develop health and education programmes with the Busoga University Support Team, a charitable organisation based in the UK. If you have any ideas for fundraising,

The original College building, now known as Old College, in 1843.

please get in touch with either Jonathan Harper, Students’ Union President (csupres@chester.ac.uk) or Anna Mackenzie in Corporate Communications, Project Co-ordinator for the anniversary celebrations (a.mackenzie@chester.ac.uk).

Win an iPad Air just Trio of award by sharing your views nominations for The Cat on Student News THE team behind the University’s Student News paper wants to know your views on the publication and is interested to hear about what you think works and any suggestions on how it may be improved.

In the next few weeks, the Corporate Communications Department will be sending an email to your University account with a short survey about Student News.

There are only five short questions to answer, so it won’t take much of your time, and you could be the winner of an iPad Air, simply by sharing your thoughts and opinions.

Please help the Student News team to ensure that the service it provides is one which you, the students, want by completing this questionnaire. We look forward to hearing from you!

TO TOP off the plethora of awards and titles received in 2014, the University’s own student-run radio station, the Cat Radio, based at the Warrington Campus, has received a hat trick of nominations in this year’s Jerusalem Awards.

The Jerusalem Awards promotes Christian involvement in broadcasting and the Cat Radio has been shortlisted in three categories: Series or Strand; Easter (2014), and Under 25s.

The The Best Radio On Radio (BROR), a weekly magazine style show broadcast on the Cat Radio and presented by the Warrington Campus Chaplain, Father Ian Delinger, has been shortlisted in the best Series or Strand category alongside some of the biggest names in broadcasting including BBC 2’s Pause for Thought and BBC 4’s Thought for the Day. Though not explicitly Christian, The BROR’s ethos follows Father Ian’s theology of valuing and affirming God’s children in who they are and what they do and focuses its interviews on the lives, issues and interests of students and staff at the University.

The BROR’s Easter Special programme, which was broadcast on Good Friday 2014 and told the story of Holy Week through to Christ’s Resurrection in a contemporary way, has been shortlisted

Keep your eyes out for further information about the 175th anniversary events on the website listing events and posters around campus.

Celebrate this exciting year with us!

in the Easter category of the Awards.

The broadcast included four timeless, placeless interviews of key people in the Easter Story (voiced by staff and students at the University), including a witness to the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, the maître d’ of the Upper Room, Judas after the Betrayal, and Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection.

The interviews were interspersed with chart songs which reflected the events and moods of the various contexts of the interviews.

The Easter Special was produced and edited by Radio and Television Production student Siân Heron, who has also been shortlisted in the Under 25s category of the Awards for her role in the production.

Father Ian Delinger said: “We’ve been nominated alongside some heavyweights, including BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4. This is a testimony to the work of our Radio Production students and to the trust, effort, support and patience that our colleagues in the Media Department, Dave Grimshaw and Jenny Spruce, contribute to the show. It also reflects that Christian values have a place in contemporary culture, including at a university.”

The winners of the Jerusalem Awards will be announced in October at a special ceremony.

Student News 3

Hannah cuddles a newborn baby.

Just a few minutes old.

African nursing placement enriches Hannah’s degree HANNAH Cawley, a third year nursing student from North Wales, experienced the challenging reality of nursing in a developing country when she spent three weeks on a placement in Tanzania.

Arranged through Work the World, a company that organises elective placements for healthcare students across the globe, Hannah chose to go to Africa in order to experience healthcare in an environment where basic human needs are in short supply.

Through the placement, she was able to spend time on a paediatric ward, neonatal unit and a labour

ward, in Dar Es Salaam in East Africa.

Hannah also spent a week working in the Masai community at a small village hospital, where she was able to experience the provision of primary healthcare in the area and discover the difficulties that medical staff have in delivering it.

Hannah, who comes from Denbigh, said: “The whole experience was a real eye-opener for me having only ever experienced ‘luxury’ healthcare in the UK as a comparison.

“In Dar Es Salaam, resources are scarce and many hospitals rely on donations and used equipment from

Orphans receive donated clothing.

Labour ward.

Tiny newborn babies.

elsewhere that would be deemed outdated in the West. I took gloves, aprons and alcohol hand gel with me, knowing that these stocks would not last long. The staff were so grateful for these things which we would take for granted. The aprons were donated by a local bakery and it made me smile when I saw all the labour ward staff had an apron on the following day and were walking around with pride. The nurse in charge of the neonatal unit said that they needed thermometers as they had none.

“The opportunities for ‘hands on’ experience throughout my time there

Donations to staff at the village hospital.

were endless. I assisted in deliveries, supported mothers with breastfeeding, resuscitated neonates, vaccinated children and dressed full body burns.

“Often there was no running water on the ward, so hand hygiene was minimal. I never saw any hand wash or hand drying facilities. The wards were very hot, so doors were kept open but not for long as flies and mosquitos could come in. Mosquito nets were hanging over some beds on the ward, but most were damaged and had holes in, rendering them useless.

“Fortunately healthcare is free

in the majority of hospitals across Tanzania. However, patients rely on family members to bring in water and food during their stay. The most common reasons for admission to the paediatric ward were diarrhoea, fever, vomiting and fungal infections.

Many children suffered with malaria, HIV, typhoid or tuberculosis and the mortality rate is high.”

Hannah has since returned to the UK to carry on with her studies, but she would like to return to Africa in the future to help support the provision of healthcare in the country.

She added: “I would really like to learn a lot more about nursing children and neonates. I feel a great determination to return to Tanzania to help support the nurses and healthcare staff in making best use of their resources, and educating them and the communities about public health.”

For more information about elective placements through Work the World visit: www.worktheworld.co.uk

4 Student News What our current volunteers say

Name: Katherine Harris.

Course of Study: Human Nutrition.

Volunteer opportunities: • Cheshire Young Carers • Good Grub Club • Church Homeless Drop-In • Westbank Diabetes Project • Westbank Cafe volunteer • Westbank Befriending • Healthbox CIC. Why do you volunteer?

I love meeting new people, especially in the community and helping those who are not as privileged as myself, for example the homeless or young carers.

What’s been the most surprising aspect of volunteering?

How quickly I feel I have changed throughout my volunteering experience, especially with children.

When I started I didn’t know how to communicate with younger people, which made me very nervous, but now I am excited to get involved with youth work.

What would you recommend most about volunteering?

The chance to meet new people and gain a huge amount of confidence.

Name: Sophie Ball.

Course of Study: Psychology with History.

Volunteer Opportunities: • Terrapins Disabled Swimming Club • Cheshire Young Carers • Vintage Blacon.

What skills have you gained from volunteering?

I have gained confidence, team work skills, organisational skills, communication skills, and time management skills and so much more.

What has been the most rewarding part of your volunteering?

Knowing that what I have done has made a difference to someone else and seeing the benefit.

Describe volunteering in three words: Rewarding, exciting, challenging!

Volunteering?

What’s that all about then…?

By Maria SKinner, Student Skills Development Manager THE official definition of volunteering is a bit long and boring; to us in Student Support and Guidance it mainly means students being extraordinarily wonderful and giving up their free time whilst at University to help other people, whilst helping themselves.

Here in Beswick 010/2 (Chester) and Martin 012 (Warrington) we have a veritable plethora of fantastic and

engaging volunteering opportunities.

There are those which are for a few hours weekly, those which will help you to gain skills for your course, or those which you can just do at random points of the year.

Here are some examples of what students like you get up to: • Growing organic fruit and veg at the allotment;

• • • • •

unning healthy eating sessions R for the homeless; Planning and managing charity events; Mentoring young people in local schools; Helping at a day centre for the elderly; Giving advice at the local Citizens Advice Bureau;

• • • •

lanting trees and tidying around P our local canal; Participating in youth clubs for children with disabilities; Being role models in Scouting and Girlguiding; Mentoring to support individuals with mental health difficulties

And much, much more!

Benefits to you Employability You’ll be graduating into a competitive job market where hundreds of other graduates are your direct competition. How do you stand out from the crowd?

Why, through volunteering of course!

According to a survey of employers carried out in 2009: • 73% of employers said they’d employ someone who has volunteered over someone who hasn’t; • Over 70% of employers believe that those who volunteer have a better chance of earning a higher salary and gaining promotion; • When recruiting, 80% of employers value volunteering on a CV. (TimeBank and Reed, 2009)

Skills Recently we polled 43 of our best student volunteers and asked them how volunteering had impacted on their lives. The results may surprise you: • 51% reported that it helped them to gain new skills and experience new things; • 34% mentioned that volunteering had helped them to make friends and meet new people; • 25% reported that volunteering had improved their confidence; • 20% identified that what they were doing made them and others feel good; • 13% stated that it had been beneficial for their CV or career development.

UoC School Mentors being introduced to their mentoring school; Rossmore Primary School, Ellesmere Port.

How to earn £25,000 This is Billy Bob. He has a 2:1 degree in Ancient Philosophy and Art. On top of his studies, Billy Bob has volunteered as a Student Ambassador for two years, volunteered every fortnight in his local National Trust property giving tours and directions to guests and has also been involved in creating a local marketing campaign for the property which has seen a rise in 5% in visitor admissions.

This is Barbara Ann. She also has a 2:1 degree in Ancient Philosophy and Art. Barbara Ann concentrated mainly on her studies, held down a part time job in shop for nine months in her third year and played a little hockey.

Q. Both of these students are applying for a graduate role as an Admissions and Tour Manager for a local Museum with a salary of £25,000.

Which one do you think would get the job?

Student News 5 What our current volunteers say

Name: Karen Elliott.

Course of Study: Geography Volunteer opportunities: • Green Chester • StARs • People and Planet Society • Canal and Rivers Trust • Student Ambassadors.

UoC volunteers breathing fresh life in to the areas canals and rivers; May 2014.

UoC volunteers hosting a Coffee Morning down in Garden Lane as part of National Students Volunteer Week.

Volunteering UCV Scheme home truths “I have my studies AND a part-time job – there’s no way I can find time to volunteer!”

will usually be able to claim back your travel expenses from the organisation with which you volunteer.

Incorrect! Our best volunteers tend to be those with many commitments outside of their degree course. Of course we would never encourage you to take on more than you can handle, but volunteering will help you to learn valuable time management skills whilst adding clout to your CV.

“I’m volunteering but not telling you – can I get recognition?”

“Your opportunities are too far away.”

Many of our opportunities are within five miles and easy travelling distance of Chester or Warrington.

However for some opportunities like ChildLine, Barnardo’s and the Red Cross you will have to travel a little further. To get the best experience you sometimes have to put a little more effort in, plus when you get your first full time job, you’ll be lucky if it’s a convenient five miles away! Plus, you

Naughty you, but a resounding YES! As long as it fits our criteria for volunteer work, anyone can log their volunteering hours with us. This includes any writers for Student News!

“I have my own ideas for volunteering world domination and I need help making these dreams a reality.”

SO, how exactly do you transform all that volunteering time into something tangible to impress employers (or prospective partners)?

Our University of Chester Volunteering (UCV) scheme enables you either to record your volunteering hours in return for a certificate of hours, or apply for awards to add some extra pizazz to your volunteering experience (and your CV).

But wait… there’s more! If you log 20 or more volunteering hours in one year, we’ll invite you to our Volunteer Celebration Evening. This invitation-only event celebrates and recognises you for your fantastic volunteering achievements with local dignitaries and fellow volunteers.

Pop along to the office and we’ll offer you as much support as possible to get your volunteering idea off the ground, including access to our Community Project Fund.

Drop in and come and talk to us about all of your volunteering needs and dreams.

Email us on: student.skills@chester.ac.uk

Or phone us on: Chester: 01244 511552 Warrington: 01925 534282

What’s the biggest skill you’ve learnt whilst volunteering?

Listening – hearing that volunteering can help someone/an organisation can really help reflect on what you can do further to make a difference!

Why should other students volunteer?

It’s a great initiative – you can make great friends within a fantastic support network from Volunteering. You can gain confidence and volunteer hours!

Volunteering celebration evening.

Come and visit us!

Visit us in: Chester: Beswick Building 010/2 Warrington: Martin Building 012

What’s the best bit about volunteering?

The people, the fab feeling of helping out, the memories and the laughs!

Alternatively if you’d like to check us out from a distance (we won’t be offended) then visit our social media sites: Facebook: ‘University of Chester Volunteering’ Twitter: ‘UoC Volunteering’

Name: Chris Spencer.

Course of study: Fine Art, now Graduate Head Start.

Volunteer opportunities: • Youth Federation • Mulberry Day Centre • Northwich and District Youth Centre.

Why do you volunteer?

I have continued to gain valuable experience where I am able to provide practical help to others. I find it satisfying to devote some of my time to worthwhile charitable causes.

Most surprising aspect of volunteering: I have found it enjoyable and inspiring to engage with a group of people that have wide range of abilities who deal with difficult challenges on a daily basis.

What would you recommend most about volunteering?

It helps to build a solid CV that demonstrates that something worthwhile has been achieved for the good of the community.

Careers & Employability

6 Student News

UniJob – earn while you learn Recruitment closes October 20, 2014 UNIJOB is the University’s very own recruitment bank for students looking to undertake paid employment on campus during term time.

Successful applicants receive exclusive notification of paid roles on campus, which are limited to 15 hours per week during term time, in order to fit around studies.

Most roles pay between £7 and £9.61 per hour and are extremely varied, including library work, office administration, events, caretaking, cleaning, and working in the grounds and gardens.

How to apply • Recruitment for UniJob opens on September 22, and closes on October 22. This is the only time of year the UniJob team recruits for bank members so don’t miss out!

• Application forms and full details are available to download during the recruitment period from www. chester.ac.uk/unijob. If shortlisted you will be invited to meet the team for a short interview.

• Due to the competitive nature of the recruitment process, it is important to take care when filling out the application form and produce as strong an application as you can.

•

Need guidance on the application process? There is a UniJob application training session taking place on October 15.

Why apply?

• Over 100 jobs were available last year across all campuses.

• A great opportunity to develop employability skills that will make students stand out following graduation.

What the students say Student Liam Cookson gained employment working in the Careers and Employability Department: “I think that UniJob is great for everyone at University – whether you need continuous, year-round employment, or just a temporary role that you’ll be able to run over to after a lecture, there are always vacancies that will suit you. He added: “I’ve definitely acquired a number of great skills that will help me in the future, especially in terms of communication and customer service.”

UniJob bank member Sion Platts Kilburn worked for both Student Support and Guidance (SSG) and the University of Chester Business School.

Speaking of his UniJob experience, Sion said: “The aspect I have most enjoyed about my work with UniJob

has been the people. All the staff members I have worked with have been brilliant, so lovely, helpful and supportive.

It’s been a dream!”

He went on: “Jobs through the UniJob scheme are not your average run-of-the-mill ‘student’ jobs - they hold genuine gravitas on your CV and for your future employment opportunities.”

Sion’s success in both roles gained

Liam Cookson.

external recognition as he scooped two regional titles at the Student Employee of the Year Awards (SEOTY) 2014.

For more information and to download an application form visit: www. chester.ac.uk/unijob Alternatively you can call 01244 513066 or email: unijobapplications@chester.ac.uk

Student News 7

Success for Sion!

STUDENT, Sion Platts-Kilburn, has won two awards in the regional round of a major national employability competition that recognises the outstanding contribution and achievements of students who combine part-time work with their study commitments.

Sion, a Geography student and member of the University’s UniJob Temp bank, won the Jobshop/ Student Temp Award and Commercial Impact Award in the North West Student Employee Of The Year (SEOTY) Awards and came runner-up in the same two categories of the national competition.

Initially employed as the Volunteer Co-ordinator for Student Support and Guidance (SSG), and then in a number of roles for the University of Chester Business School, Sion impressed employers with his consistent professionalism and enthusiasm for the job.

Becky Maitland-Titterton, former Volunteer Co-ordinator at the University said: “I couldn’t have asked for a better candidate for this role and although it was a tough ask, Sion shone through and has left a huge impression on everyone he has worked with in SSG. He was an absolute joy to work with!”

Speaking of the experience, Sion said: “It was fantastic to have been nominated for the National Association of Student Employment Services.

Awards but, as clichéd as it sounds, I never worked for recognition; I was dedicated to my projects and was lucky to have worked with such talented people who actually made my job not just easier but enjoyable and any success of mine is also a credit to my colleagues.”

Sion’s achievements have only added to the huge success the University has seen in the SEOTY awards in recent years, with Likith Balakrishna winning the national competition in the Student Temp category in 2013 and students, James Taylor and Graeme Frood, winning regional titles in 2012.

WORK Shadowing gives you the opportunity to find out whether the career you have in mind is right for you. The scheme is highly accessible, with previous students visiting a wide range of workplaces ranging from law firms, care homes, laboratories and even here at the University.

So, what are the benefits of Work shadowing?

• Developing your commercial awareness through gaining insight into a particular sector and organisation; • Understanding the requirements and responsibilities of a particular role can help you tailor your applications for further experience or graduate jobs; • Providing evidence of your motivation to work in the sector when applying for graduate jobs; • Helping you decide where your future career interests lie • Making contacts within the sector and potentially arranging further work experience where you can take a more practical role; Jack Mason , Employee Enhancement Assistant, explains: “By observing a professional for one day, students have the opportunity to ask questions and perhaps even attend meetings, events or handson activities which gives them a real taste of what it’s like to work in the sector on a daily basis.”

Third year Geography student, Peter Gloslie-Phillips, recently benefited from a visit to Wirral Council to find out more about a career in planning.

Sion Platts-Kilburn.

UniJob Work on Campus • Exclusive access to on-campus roles, earning up to £9 per hour • Develop employability skills in addition to your studies • Stand out in a competitive recruitment process.

P AP

LY

Curious about a career?

Try work shadowing

W! Applications close 20th October 2014 O N

W: www.chester.ac.uk/unijob E: unijobapplications@chester.ac.uk T: 01244 513066

Don’t miss this opportunity. We only recruit once a year.

“I would recommend work shadowing to other students as I was able to spend the whole day with several people who are in the profession I want to be in,” said Peter.

“All the staff were friendly, welcoming and really helpful with providing me with plenty of information regarding the jobs I want to go into.”

Karen Elliot shadowed the University Sustainability Manager, Alice Elliott, and used the opportunity to generate useful contacts. “I was introduced to Daniel from WARPit, which is a resource distribution network. He encouraged me by explaining that there could be potential job opportunities coming up, and that in the meantime they were searching for student representatives to run their institutions.”

Register now at www.chester.ac.uk/work-shadowing to receive a monthly list of visits and opportunities. Once registered, you can have a one-to-one appointment with a member of the Work Shadowing team to discuss your requirements and gain valuable advice to help you make the most of your visit.

Alternatively, students can organise their own visit. “We recommend this as a great way to develop confidence and communication skills,” said Jack.

“We can help you to do this, through a training session or a one-to-one appointment. Whatever option you choose, we will support you before and after the visit to help you make the most out of your experience.”

Keep your EYE on your career goals THE new academic year brings a new and improved Enhance Your Employability (EYE) training programme. EYE training provides a diverse schedule of workshops to help students develop key skills in finding work and getting ahead in the workplace. Topics such as ‘Interview Techniques’, ‘How to get a Part-Time Job’, ‘Project Management’ and ‘Customer Service Skills’ are all back and in place to help you secure a job and acquire part-time and graduate roles.

New sessions this year include ‘Sustainable Business’, ‘Inspirational Leadership’ and ‘Influencing Skills’.

‘Sustainable Business’ will be delivered by the University’s Head of Sustainability, Alice Elliott. When asked about the importance of understanding sustainability in the business sector, Alice said: “Sustainability issues are relevant to all organisations of all sizes and in all sectors. Increasingly, organisations themselves are demanding sustainability skills from their employees. Graduates who can demonstrate that sustainability is about transforming the business, who have an understanding of the agenda, and can influence and inspire change will be the first choice for the best jobs.”

EYE training also gives you the chance to polish up your computer

skills with two IT based sessions, ‘Introduction to Spreadsheets’ and ‘Introduction to Databases,’ which have been reintroduced in response to student demand.

Feedback from students highlights the many benefits of undertaking EYE training; MBA student Bianca Salazar said: “I have significantly increased my confidence through EYE training, it has helped me to make decisions and tackle barriers in both academic and professional areas.”

Micaelo Sunico, who is studying for a Master’s in Weight Management, added: “EYE training is a very supportive learning environment that provides students with key knowledge, skills and attitudes which are absolutely invaluable in the competitive job market after graduation. If you want a good shot at securing your dream job after graduation, attending EYE training sessions is absolutely worth your time.”

EYE training sessions are normally around two hours long, but can vary between one and four hours depending on the topic. Book your place and start Enhancing Your Employability by contacting the EYE Team on 01244 513066, email unijob@chester.ac.uk or visit www.chester.ac.uk/eyetraining to find out more and download the full programme of training sessions.

8 Student News

Christina Cooper.

Tom Little.

Savannah Miles.

An incredible year in store!

By Jonathan Harper, Chester Students’ Union President

HEY friends! Welcome to the University and congratulations on your success in securing a place here to study for a degree. What an incredible year we have ahead of us!

March 2014 saw the election of three new Sabbatical Officers into Chester Students’ Union (CSU), including myself as President, Christina Cooper as Vice-President (Academic and Welfare), and Tom Little as Vice-President (Warrington and satellites). As well as the newly elected officers came the re-election of Savannah Miles, Vice-President Campaigns and Activities, who did a fantastic job in the same role last academic year. With a batch of fresh minds and new ideas coming into CSU you can rest assured that you’re in for a year of some unbelievable developments and incredible social events.

We have seized the opportunity to increase our staff team, ensuring that we are able to represent everyone across all our campuses, voicing your opinions and actively working with your ideas.

CSU is a vibrant team and with the new addition of our Student Engagement Co-Ordinator, this will give the Sabbatical team a better opportunity at reaching out to as many students as we can, so that you can let us know what it is you want to see from ourselves and the Students’ Union.

It is our core objective to enhance your student experience, and we do so through a multitude of hands-on

activities, campaigns, and initiatives, inspiring you to make a difference while studying for your degree.

We provide representation, welfare advice, academic appeals, job opportunities, volunteering opportunities, a community, a bar, a shop, and a Starbucks coffee shop. Most of all we are here as your first point of call for anything you want to know about while you’re at University including the Students’ Union, university life, forthcoming events, ways you can get involved, and how you can make a positive change during your time at the University.

We really couldn’t have achieved any of this without the help of everyone who got involved with CSU last year, from our ever-growing sports teams and societies, to the students who just wanted to make a difference.

We are award winning!

THIS year the Students’ Union won Gold in the National Union of Students (NUS) Best Bar None, and came first in the NUS Cocktail Competition. We took Gold in the NUS Green Impact Awards and received special recognition at SU14, a conference designed to bring together all Students’ Unions where CSU’s Men’s Rugby Union came runners up in the Club of the Year category. We are particularly proud that CSU was also placed first in the North West in the National Student Survey. These are just a few of the awards we have received over the past 12 months (see front cover).

Each year we build on our success which demonstrates our determination to develop our students as well as enhance their university experience.

The new CSU team.

Jonathan Harper.

Get involved!

GETTING involved has never been easier. CSU’s sports teams and societies are growing all the time, in fact there are already over 100 established sports and societies for you to choose from across the Chester and Warrington Campuses. You can check out the full list of sports and societies by going to www.chestersu.com If sports teams or societies’ aren’t your thing, how about getting involved in our campaigns? The General and local Elections 2015 is fast-approaching, and we are preparing a huge list of events and activities to encourage students to get involved. Our aim is ultimately to raise awareness of the importance of voting and getting your

voice heard not just on a local scale, but national!

We will be running health and guidance campaigns, making sure that you’re looking after yourself while at the University, and taking a break now and again from the stresses of studying. It’s a big change coming to University, but we are with you every step of the way.

Contacting CSU is simple – you can Tweet, Facebook, email, or better yet come upstairs in the CSU building on the Parkgate Road Chester Campus, or the ground floor of Padgate Hall in Warrington. It’s our job to be here for you, and no issue is too small.

Have fun settling in, go and say hello to your neighbours, and good luck for your year ahead!

Student News 9

Campaign supports disability awareness

Students participated in wheelchair sports to support the disability campaign.

STUDENTS from across the University have taken part in a host of activities to highlight the importance of being inclusive.

Organised by disabled student representatives at Chester Students’ Union (CSU), the week-long campaign saw both able-bodied and disabled students making pledges of support (see above photos), wearing purple and taking part in wheelchair sports to help change opinion and banish the stigma associated with disability.

Disabled student representatives, Darren Asante and Laura Stott, together with Savannah Miles CSU’s Vice-President (Campaigns and Activities), started the week by collecting social pledges from students, which ranged from helping to educate others about the inclusion of all disabilities in all activities, to encouraging people to embrace their own disabilities.

The week culminated at the

Northgate Arena in Chester with students participating in Wheelchair Basketball, and Wheelchair Rugby, also known as ‘Murderball’ in which Paralympians took part.

Laura, a Psychology student, said: “Having a disability is not about being in a club of people who are susceptible to abuse because they’re different. We don’t want disability to be viewed as some kind of ‘lurgy’ that people run away from, but something normal, and that you don’t need to look twice at or feel sorry at a person for having a disability. We wanted to raise awareness that society really needs to meet the needs of a person in need, and not the other way around.”

Darren, also a Psychology student, added: “I believe that sport really brings people together and this event really proved that.

Students from all kinds of sports teams and societies took part in the day, some even trying their hand at wheelchair sports, others just to support the teams.

“We managed to raise £90 for future disability awareness and projects on Campus. The week was a huge success. It was a great laugh and also incredibly humbling to see people embrace, take part in and support the disability awareness campaign which will hopefully be the first of many more to come.”

10 Student News Student Counselling

SC

Student Welfare

SW

Disability Support

DS

SSG

University Proctor

UP

Student Skills Development

Sports Development

SSD Sp

Student Support and Guidance

Support for all students

Whether you’re a returning student or it’s your first year, the Student Support and Guidance (SSG) team is here to help you. With offices based on both the Chester and Warrington Campuses, the team is on hand to offer information, advice and guidance to all students on every aspect of life.

The Hub

THE Hub is an online calendar of events where students can find out what is going on in and around the University quickly and easily.

You don’t have to drink to have fun at University! With hundreds of events being run by Chester Students’ Union, the International Welfare team, Chaplaincy, Careers and Employability, Health for Work, Student Skills Development and numerous diversity activities, there are opportunities to attend events, to help out with running them and even to promote your own.

Students and staff can find The Hub on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ chesterunihub and on Twitter at www. twitter.com/chesterunihub. This is where

StARs

we post regular updates and details of what is going on in Induction Week and the rest of the academic year.

This Induction Week, students who are new to the University can expect to see a whole host of fun events taking place, including a quiz, afternoon tea, ghost tours, trips to Chester Zoo and shopping expeditions, not to mention local walking tours which are a great way to find out about your new city. At Warrington Campus there will also be trips to local shops, a film night and other social events.

Details of all the social activities will be posted on The Hub’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/chesterunihub)

Disability Support Service Team.

Accessing disability services THE University offers a comprehensive Disability Support Service for all disabled students including those with mental health difficulties and specific learning differences (SpLD), such as dyslexia.

Disability Support Officers give information, advice and guidance on: • Reasonable adjustments to courses and assessment (including examinations); • The process of accessing support,

STUDENT Academic Representatives (StARs) play an important role at the University. They provide students with the opportunity to voice comments and feedback (both positive and negative) any concerns relating to their course and the University.

The scheme was established to ensure that the quality of all programmes and modules is maintained at a high standard

• • •

for example applying for Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA); Advice and guidance on accessible accommodation and specialist accommodation aids; Information about accessible parking; Liaison with other University departments, academic staff and external agencies (including Assessment Centres, Student Finance England (SFE), NHS

and that the University is fulfilling students’ needs. StARs may represent undergraduate or taught postgraduate courses.

Last year, Student Support and Guidance, working in partnership with Chester Students’ Union, took the decision to give the StARs project something of a makeover.

More StARs than ever have taken part, attending training sessions and meetings with their department. You

Student Bursaries and Local Authorities).

The SpLD staff offer: • Self-referral for dyslexia (SpLD) • Provision of a Standard Assessment Feedback Form (SAFF); • Specialist group tutorials focusing on academic skills development; • Referral to an external agency for individual specialist tutorials (once DSA is approved).

Once the team receives supporting evidence of a student’s disability, mental health difficulty or SpLD, such as an educational psychologist’s report or medical evidence, they will aim to put appropriate support in place. To find out if you have the appropriate evidence please contact a member of Disability Support.

For more information, or to make an appointment, please come to the Information Point in Binks (Room CBK 101) in Chester, or Martin Building (Room WMA 012) in Warrington, or email us via disability@chester. ac.uk or call us on 01244 511059.

might have seen some StARs around Campus wearing their bright blue hoodies bearing the StARs logo!

This year, we will hold the second ever StARs conference on November 3. Any students who would like to stand for nomination for this important role should contact their Programme Leader at the beginning of term one.

The scheme is run by Student Support and Guidance in partnership with Chester Students’ Union.

Student News 11

Hall Wardens are here to help

By Anna MacKenzie, Senior Residential Tutor

FUN fact: the University of Chester is the only institution in the UK to have a fully voluntary out-of-hours service for residential students. The people you see in the photography includes Hall Wardens, Proctor, Deputy Proctor, Senior Residential Tutor and Residential Tutors who work voluntarily to make students’ experiences in University accommodation as good as it can possibly be.

So what does a Hall Warden do?

The Hall Warden role is first and foremost an experience-sharing one.

Most members of the Hall Warden team have been where the first year students are, in moving away from home, getting to grips with a new lifestyle, new processes, a new place to live. They’re

ideally placed to advise freshers on a whole range of aspects of University life and signpost them to helpful places and/ or people.

Sometimes Hall Wardens are approached with more serious issues, such as concerns about housemates, welfare or courses. This is where other members of the team can get involved; each Hall Warden works with a Residential Tutor (RT) and the whole team of Hall Wardens and RTs is managed by the Senior Residential Tutor, who in turn works closely with the University Proctor and Dean of Students. There is always someone who can advise on problems and work things out to the satisfaction of everyone involved. Also, the Dean of Students and the Vice-Chancellor of the University are on-call year round in case any serious issues arise.

Hall Wardens aren’t here to stop students having fun – they’ve all been there! What Hall Wardens try to do is to ensure that no one is disturbed or

feels uncomfortable; degrees are the reasons students are here, so the living environment needs to promote a good atmosphere for studying.

What do Hall Wardens get out of it?

Hall Wardens are a very valued part of the Student Support and Guidance team; we’re very lucky that such fab students get involved to share their experiences with new students and work hard to make their lives in halls as good as possible.

As a benefit for their hard work, each Hall Warden is entitled to free gym membership (a healthy Hall Warden is a happy Hall Warden!) and each one accrues volunteering hours that go towards certificates from the Volunteering Office. These certificates look brilliant on a CV, making Hall Warden über-employable and standing out from other candidates further down the line in job interviews.

If you fancy being a Hall Warden in

Some of the out-of-hours team at the Chester and Warrington Campuses (2013-14).

the next academic year (I know it seems miles away, but we like to plan ahead!) do get in touch with me by email at a.mackenzie@chester.ac.uk and we can have a conversation about the role.

We will also be recruiting some Assistant Hall Wardens (AHWs) in November; AHWs are important in

helping the Hall Warden reach all of the students (sometimes up to 100) in their halls and make sure that everyone is happy and safe.

Keep your eyes out in your halls/ houses and on Portal/Sharepoint for adverts for Assistant Hall Warden positions from October!

Sports Scholarship Success A NUMBER of the University’s sports scholars have achieved personal bests this year and the funding they received from the sports scholarships has enabled these students to train at a high level without the worry of financial hardship.

Cheryl Wilson 19, swam her way to two finals at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championships where the majority of the England, Scotland and Wales commonwealth team raced. Cheryl also came away with many medals from other competitions but most notably a Gold and Silver medal at the Regional Championships.

Elliot Dillon, returned to the BUCS Championships to retain his heavyweight boxing championship gold medal from 2013. He was narrowly beaten to the title by his opponent from the University of East

Elliot Dillon.

London. His performances on the amateur scene in the North West have also been very impressive winning a number of bouts throughout the year.

Lilly O’ Driscoll, was the University’s top tennis player in 2014 and won 90% of her games. She also made the final of the North of England tennis cup and is ranked sixth in Lancashire.

Leah Evans, was captain of the Cheerleading society in 2014 and led her team to two National titles as well as representing her home team at the National Championships.

Niel Gillard, was the University’s Captain of the basketball team and top points scorer in a season packed with excitement and progress. The team only missed out on promotion to the top league of BUCS by a small margin over

Cheryl Wilson.

University of Salford who fielded a professional team.

Ivan Gorgiev, has his sights firmly on Rio 2016 and is aiming to make the Bulgarian National Swimming Team. Ivan used his scholarship money to travel back to Bulgaria to compete in the Bulgarian National Championships coming fourth and fifth respectively in the 100m medley and 100m butterfly.

Thomas Corlett, represented the University in fencing and went to the BUCS Championships as hot favourite to win Gold in the men’s foil event. Thomas didn’t disappoint and won easily (15-7) over his opponent from the University of Edinburgh.

To find out more about the sports scholarship scheme visit www.chester.ac.uk/teamchester/ scholarships

Niel Gillard.

12 Student News

Working nine to five

By Alex Reed and Chloe Naylor

How does spending five weeks of your life in an office, unpaid, doing nine to five sound?

“We have done just that on Work Based Learning with Green Chester in the Facilities Department, at the University. It was a massive eye opener for us to see what working in an industry would be like when we leave University. During the five weeks we spent there, we have learnt more from everyone around us, especially from our placement provider, than what we would have being taught just sitting in a lecture room.

“Our first big task was to train as Green Impact Auditors, with other student volunteers, at a NUSled training session. Green Impact Auditing involves volunteers visiting the University’s Green Impact teams, and assessing whether they have done enough for the awards

that they have aimed for. This provided us with a basic understanding of what Green Impact was all about, especially when we had to organise an event for the awards at the end.

“Previously we only looked at recycling in terms of holding a ‘green’ event but for this we had to write a detailed assessment of what the impact of our event might be, which was totally new to us.

We looked at food and drink supply chains, transport emissions, resources for example, paper and printing and waste. Our event did not create much waste because the catering team provided reusable plates and glasses and we ordered the right amount of food so there was no waste. It’s definitely something we’ll assess at future events.

“We were also introduced to The DoNation scheme which is used at the University to give staff and students the opportunity to pledge to do a certain action for two months, which reduces their carbon footprint. We are now part of the DoChester league, and it was great to see the departments fighting it out for the top spot.

“A new thing for both of us was the introduction of ThunderClap which is a social media platform, which we had the task of creating ourselves. ThunderClap gains a certain goal of supporters and once that has been reached, it sends out a set message on Twitter and Facebook at a specified time, so more people have the chance of seeing it. We had 104 supporters and our social reach was over 87,000!

“One of the biggest challenges over the past five weeks was waking up at 7am each morning, which is a struggle for many students who don’t usually get up quite so early!

During our placement we have improved our time management, as we’ve been going to bed early to make sure we get up for the bus in the morning.

“We have learnt a new skills that will benefit us in the future, no matter what industry we end up being in. At the end of the day we will take what we have experienced and keep trying to always improve.

“We will always remember our five week placement and the Facilities Department we owe it to.”

Oli, Alex and Chloe with Alice Elliott, Head of Sustainability.

The ‘Grow Your Own’ revolution Are you potty about parsnips?

Do you go crazy for carrots? Think squash is sublime? Then join us for a ‘forking’ good time up at Nature’s Garden allotment!

No prior skills or experience necessary, just a willingness to get down and dirty growing and harvesting yummy fruit and vegetables.

Meeting once a week, the ‘allotmenteers’ take care of the plot, plant and nurture new crops and get to harvest any produce which grows! You’ll learn about good plants, bad plants, sowing out times, harvesting times and seasonal allotment management from other volunteers, all of whom have varying levels of experience and knowledge.

So come along and try your hand at gardening for a great purpose!

Contact greenchester@chester.ac.uk for more information.

Nature’s Garden.

Green commitments highly commended

The University’s array of NUS Green Impact Awards.

STUDENT volunteers had the opportunity to audit those departments from around the University taking part in 2013/2014’s NUS Green Impact Awards.

The focus of the Green Impact initiative is to encourage departments to accomplish a series of workbook criteria which highlight simple, achievable actions that can lead to positive, meaningful change to its environmental performance. In total, 12 teams took part in the initiative all working towards achieving a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly workplace.

Student volunteers audited the workbooks and awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold accreditations, plus three special awards- the Innovation Award, Best Energy-saving Idea and Environmental Hero, to departments meeting the criteria.

Library Information Services (LIS) and Chester Students’ Union (CSU) were the two highest achieving teams, receiving Gold accreditation in recognition of their outstanding

Green Impact Award winners.

efforts implementing sustainability actions from across the Green Impact workbook.

Actions in the workbook included duplex printing, recycling paper, plastics and ink cartridges, communicating energy saving ideas to colleagues, turning off lights and electrical appliances when not in use and participating in other green initiatives such as making sustainability pledges through DoNation (www.thedonation.org.uk).

Corinne McKenna said: “Auditing for Green Impact was a great experience; I got involved because I wanted to see the changes the University had made in its daily running towards becoming more carbon efficient and I picked up many new skills.

“It was a great day walking round the Campuses talking to members of staff and listening to their interests and stories about how they go about achieving their goals! It goes to show that with a little competitive spirit and inspiration from the top, great things can be achieved.”

The following departments achieved Silver accreditation: LIS Old College; Geography and Development Studies; LIS Riverside.

JET Library in Leighton, LIS Clatterbridge, Broomhead Library in Warrington, Student Support and Guidance and the Warrington Directorate Office all achieved a Bronze accreditation.

Student News 13 Could you become the next It is never too Student Ambassador? late to learn

by Kate Johnson

Volunteering opportunities are currently available for students at the Chester and Warrington Campuses.

The Student Ambassador Scheme is a vital part of student recruitment and has been created to encourage prospective students to engage and interact with our current students to learn more about life at University.

What do we look for in a Student Ambassador?

We are looking for friendly, approachable and enthusiastic students to act as representatives for the University both on and off Campus.

Students looking to join the scheme must have good communication and time management skills and be able to work unsupervised as well as part of a team.

What does a Student Ambassador do?

• Act as a tour guide at recruitment events such as Open Days and Applicant Days; • Work with our Outreach Team during school and college visits; • Represent the University at external events, such as UCAS Fairs; During these events Student Ambassadors may be expected to share their University experiences and student knowledge of their subject area with prospective students and/or their parents.

Rewards….

All Student Ambassadors receive detailed training once they sign up to the scheme, with the opportunity to specialise in the future.

Students Ambassadors work on a voluntarily basis and will receive

volunteer hours for both the University and Millennium Volunteer schemes.

Students can use the experience they gain from working as an Ambassador to enhance their CV. Interested?

For more information or to sign up to the Student Ambassador Scheme, please contact your Campus representative.

Chester T: 01244 512450 E: studentambassador@chester.ac.uk Warrington T: 01925 534684 E: studentambassador@chester.ac.uk Marketing and Out reach Ben McGee 07747764769

AT 20-something it is likely that a person has had one or several jobs, lived away from home, and maybe even travelled the world. But why is it that so many people decide to return to education in their 20s? Better career, more opportunities, the idea that they want to ‘do’ something with their lives and ‘be’ somebody. According to a Million plus and an NUS study, one in three undergraduate students doing a first time degree are over the age of 21, therefore there are plenty of ‘mature’ students out there.

I grew up in Spain and did all of my education in the Spanish language. Spain is not as strict as the UK with having to attend school so when I was 15 I just irresponsibly decided I did not want to carry on pursuing my high school education. At that age how can you really make that sort of decision? Well, I did. My logic was that I wanted to work (in this particular occasion in a call centre) straight away and earn money. That of course did not go according to plan.

Moving back to the UK at the age of 19, I started working in a burger restaurant, where I was quite happy, as I was earning enough money to

be able to go on holidays and stuff whether it was back to Spain or places like Portugal, the Canary Islands, Greece and a handful of festivals. It was not until I turned 22 that I decided I wanted to do something worth my while. When you find yourself flipping burgers for a living you have plenty of time to think ‘where is my life going..?’ I always knew I wanted to do something with my languages, as I can speak English and Spanish so I enrolled in an Access to Higher Education course at Newcastle College. I was not sure whether I would even be capable or smart enough to learn but I surprised myself and feel extremely proud for achieving high results from that course.

Choosing which university to go to was pretty easy for me as I have wanted to live in Chester since my first visit there as a little girl and luckily enough the University of Chester has the exact course that I wanted to do.

With University fast approaching the nerves and excitement have kicked in. Some of my thoughts and worries are about my age. I will be 23 by the time the course starts. I know you can go to University at any age, so I hope that my experience will be as good as anticipated.

It´s now time to start getting excited about my course, induction week and University life. I have asked some friends and family how their experiences were and none of them could tell me. They just say it was great! It is like it is some big secret! So without really knowing what to expect I am diving head first into Uni life and definitely am looking forward to what the future may bring.

Old or young we should all get to have the privilege of going to University. Age, I guess really does not matter.

Student Quality Ambassadors

STUDENTS at the Riverside Campus will be able to pick out the University’s Student Quality Ambassadors (SQAs) on Campus and on practice placement.

Aimee Mortimore, Stacey Bagley, Amy Wixie, Lindsey Boyd, Christopher Malcolm and Jennifer Brand can be instantly recognised by their purple hoodies with SQA printed on the back.

All the nursing students have taken on board the role of SQA are in their first or second year of the BN (Hons) Nursing programme representing Learning Disability, Mental Health and Adult Nursing fields.

The Student Quality Ambassador project involves healthcare students from the North West of England.

There are currently 160 SQAs in the region who are student nurses from the four fields, midwives, allied health professionals and healthcare scientists. The project aims to engage students to support raising quality in practice and offer a fresh eyes approach. The SQA project values students’ voices and encourages them to be heard, and meets with the recommendations of Keogh (2013)

who recognised that the inclusion of students to gain frank and honest opinions on the quality of care in NHS Trusts, promotes open and honest discussions.

In the short time each has been involved they have achieved the following: • SQAs were well received when they presented at the Compassionate Caring in the Clinical Environment Conference at the University with delegates from Houston, Texas; • Attended a student forum in the North West with a SQA colleague, where they raised awareness about their roles and the innovations in which they are currently involved; • Aimee Mortimore, Lindsey Boyd and Stacey Bagley have become a Dementia Friend Champion - raising awareness about dementia; • Stacey and Jennifer both delivered a presentation about the roles and the 6Cs, to students in March 14and aim to promote more Care Makers and SQAs in the future; • Amy, Aimee and Lindsey both attended an open day at the Countess of Chester (COCH),

where they raised awareness to the Care Maker role, and got to meet the Director of Nursing, Matrons and the Chief Executive Officer; • A number of them have helped out at the Countess of Chester Hospital on both National Nurses Day and the Countess’s 30th Anniversary and attended the Care and Compassion Conference at the University which they highlighted as a great experience; • Stacey created an educational leaflet for learning disability, which shows different methods of communication, a capacity assessment tool and the definition of learning disability; and she gave a presentation at the SQA development day; All are currently, negotiating a 15 step challenge in the COCH and planning with lecturers on presenting the role to the next intake of students, looking forward to how things progress with the role in the future.

They have already been to meet the new intake of Nursing students starting in September 2014 at a recent coffee morning and will be delivering a

Aimee, Lindsey and Amy with Tracy Barker and Anita Hargreaves Practice Education Facilitators, (PEF’S) at the Countess of Chester Hospital open day.

presentation to them during their Induction Week.

All of this takes place alongside their demanding programme of meeting both their practice and theory elements of the programme. All have shown a commitment and enthusiasm for their roles and are proud, as is the Riverside Adult Programme Leader Jacqui O’Hare, to support them in their promoting of the roles and activities.

Interested students?

Applications are welcomed from all healthcare students studying within the North West of England for the next intake of SQAs. Application forms available from Ann Butler ann.butler5@nhs.net Closing date for application forms is 9am Monday, October 13, with a Welcome Event for new SQAs taking place in Liverpool John Moores University on November 21.

14 Alumni News

Playwright John Godber Students represent gives Haylo a glowing the UK thanks to generous alumni review A GRADUATE theatre company from the University has been given an impressive endorsement in its burgeoning career by one of the most performed writers in the English language.

John Godber, who has penned such plays as Bouncers, Teechers and Up ‘n’ Under, has given his support to up-and-coming theatre company Haylo – founded by Faculty of Arts and Media students Hayley Riley and Louise Evans, who met while freelancing as actors for the University’s Theatre in Education company, 2engage.

The artistic director of the acclaimed Hull Truck Theatre Company previewed Haylo’s touring production Over the Garden Fence and spent two days with the two writers and performers at the University, giving them a writing masterclass and helping them finely tune their production before they headed back out on the road.

Crafted and performed by both former Drama and Theatre Studies students, and directly influenced by their own personal experiences, Over the Garden Fence deals with the story of Annabelle and her grandmother, Dolly, and the journey that they undertake as they come to terms with the onset of Dolly’s dementia.

It is a production in which the award-winning dramatist saw something of himself.

“It’s very early John Godber,” he said. “In fact it reminded me of my early days with Hull Truck Theatre because when I started there, I had next to nothing but the passion to make it work. They’re very much the same, so I guess they’ve brought out the underdog in me.

“I talked to them about the importance of really developing their skills and keeping on writing. What they’ve got now is really good but they need to persevere with it, to keep writing – after all, David Beckham didn’t become a great footballer after just one match.

“I truly think that they are talented and committed enough to really make a career out of this.”

Hayley and Louise described the experience as ‘amazing’.

Louise said: “He’s given us a new perspective on the show, made us look at it in a different way and given it a new lease of life. Some of it has been really subtle but it’s been a great eye opener to how just the smallest of details can make the hugest of differences.”

Hayley added: “He’s also given us some great advice on writing, and it’s given us a real confidence boost that someone of his calibre has been so encouraging about what we’re doing – it’s been such an amazing opportunity for us so early our company’s life.”

TWO aspiring athletes were given a helping hand along their way to an international competition thanks to the institution’s generous alumni.

Quidditch players Jessica O’Neill and Dale King-Evans from Whitchurch were each recipients of the Cestrian Alumni Award- a bursary managed by the University of Chester Alumni Association, consisting of two £500 awards each year. Students or staff from the University are able to apply for the funding which could assist them in achieving their personal goals in sport or community initiatives at a high level (national or international representation).

Mathematics students Jessica and Dale, applied for the bursary after being chosen to represent Team GB in the Quidditch Global Games in Canada over summer. As a joint application, they shared the £500 award so received £250 each.

Inspired by the famous Harry Potter book and film series, Quidditch is now one of the fastest growing team sports in the UK in which participants move around the pitch, mounted on broom-

sticks, dodging ‘bludgers’ while attempting to score points by throwing a ‘quaffle’ through one of the three hoops at the end of the pitch.

The Global Games is a biennial event in which national teams representing quidditch-playing countries from around the world, meet to compete and crown a global champion. Team GB competed against Canada, America, Australia, France, Belgium and Italy in the tournament and came fourth overall with the USA in first place.

Jessica said: “It was a great honour to be chosen to represent the country and an even more amazing opportunity to be able to play in Canada against so many other countries. The Cestrian Alumni Award was a huge financial help for us as we had to pay for travel, accommodation as well as the equipment needed to play in the tournament.

We’re really grateful to the University’s Alumni Association for helping us participate in this event.”

If you would like to apply for the Cestrian Award for 2014-15, please email f.roberts@chester.ac.uk

Students Jessica and Dale with Alumni Association members (From l-r) Stan France, Dave Robertson and (far right) Pat Ransome, with staff member Dr Ceri Nicholas who also received an award.

The University’s Alumni and Development team aims to keep you connected to the institution long after you leave, through a programme of events and reunions which run throughout the year. They also produce a magazine for alumni (a Latin term used to refer to former students of an institution), called The Cestrian which is packed with the latest news from the University as well as from your fellow alumni.

You can stay in touch with the University and get involved in alumni events by following @Chesteralumni on Twitter, finding them on Facebook and registering on www.chester.ac.uk/alumni.

Right: Louise Evans and Hayley Riley in character during one of the workshsops and above with John Godber.

Student News 15 Who’s who in Chaplaincy?

Retreat to Quiet Garden

For more information on Chaplaincy, call into Longfield House, email them on chaplaincy@chester.ac.uk or phone on 01244 513083

Rev Canon Dr Peter Jenner Dean of Chapel and Senior Chaplain Tel: 01244 513083 p.jenner@chester.ac.uk Anglican beard, chemist, dad, ex-teacher, follow Sale Sharks, galleries, hills, Independent Crosswords, joined in wedlock to Vicki, keen on cricket, laid back, Mahler, need I say more?

Fr Ian Delinger Chaplain to the Warrington Campus & Faculty of Health and Social Care Tel: 01925 534361 i.delinger@chester.ac.uk Big mix: California/Nebraska, chemistry/theology, Silicon Valley/Manchester, ‘Celeb chef’/ kind host, wine/beer, comfort food/Eucharist.

Alison Upton Chaplaincy Co-ordinator Tel: 01244 513083 / 01925 534361 a.upton@chester.ac.uk

Gaz Thomas Chaplaincy Assistant (Chester) Tel: 01244 513083 g.thomas@chester.ac.uk

Hospitality, liturgy, prayer. Singer, dabbles with paints, books, film, pet greyhound, wife of Brian.

Books and Film. Exploration. Open? Eclectic.

Hoping to become more like Mary, less like Martha.

James Wallace Chaplaincy Assistant (Warrington) Tel: 01925 534361 j.wallace@chester.ac.uk

Fr Paul Shaw Associate Chaplain (Roman Catholic) Tel: 01244 350236 Werburgh465@btinternet.com

Easy going, musician, grafter, focussed, passionate, available and trying to live out Heb 12:1-2

Fr Robert Clack Associate Chaplain (Anglican) Email: robertjec@btinternet.com Tel: 01244 399990

Find us on Facebook Search UoC Chaplaincy

Students help International Youth Games in Chester become a great success EVENTS Management students have been praised for helping to organise this year’s International Youth Games.

Held on the University’s Parkgate Road Campus, the event is held by the Chester International Links Association (CILA), a not-for-profit association of people in the city who are interested in making links between the people of their community and citizens in other towns and cities around the world.

Chester is twinned with Sens in France, Senigallia in Italy and Lorrach in Germany creating a partnership.

This year it was Chester’s turn to host the Youth Games.

Events Management students Laura Stopczynski and Evelyn Robinson (pictured) both received praise for their help in organising and running the successful tournament.

Laura said: “Helping to organise and run the International Youth Games was a really good opportunity to put event management into practice. We had to liaise between many different members of the University and CILA to

ensure that every area of the games had been considered. It was a fantastic way to be challenged by organising an event as big as the games but to still have the support of the University.

“The games went even better than we expected and it was a very enjoyable weekend coordinating everything that had been planned and watching all the different countries really getting involved and having fun!

“It was a really good event to gain practical experience dealing with an external organisation and making sure we met the standards of the industry.

It was challenging but a very fun and exciting weekend.”

The teams, who were aged between 13 and 15, were welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Chester, Councillor Bob Rudd to the weekend-long event.

He said: “This is a hugely successful event which has brought together young people from across Europe to participate and to make new friendships, and is a project of which Chester is proud to be a part.”

All the teams were mixed, with members of each country represented.

Senior Lecturer in Events Management Tim Brown and Gordon Reay, Students’ Sports Development, Performance and Coaching Manager, took part in refereeing the games which included football, swimming, indoor rowing, dodgeball, rugby, rounders and other sports. The teams also stayed in University accommodation.

Tim said: “The event was led and delivered by the Student Event Society, who did a phenomenal job with the vast array of logistics and the complexities of delivering an event where the participants spoke four languages!”

Gordon added: “It was a pleasure to be able to host another large scale sporting event at the University and we are quickly becoming the first choice for many organisations due to the number and quality of our facilities.

The kids really enjoyed themselves and got into the spirit of the competition even if the refereeing was a little suspect!”

The Rev Canon Dr Peter Jenner, Senior Chaplain and Dean of Chapel, blesses the garden.

STUDENTS can take time to ‘escape’ in a new space of sanctuary developed on the Parkgate Road Campus, Chester.

The Quiet Garden has been created in the renovated garden at the back of Longfield House (nextt to the Binks Building), where Chaplaincy is based, to provide a pleasant space for staff and students to find a few moments of quiet away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It was opened in May with a prayer of blessing to celebrate the newly planted garden.

Alison Upton from Chaplaincy said: “Chaplaincy has been promoting the ‘sanctuary’ spaces on the main campuses this year, encouraging

people to find their own sanctuary spaces, where they can spend five or 10 minutes every day, away from technology and from busy University life.

As Chaplaincy has a back garden we thought it would be a good idea to bring it to life again, develop a new planting scheme which appeals to the senses and to wildlife, put in some seating and bird feeders and encourage staff and students into the garden.

“We are very grateful to all the staff in Grounds and Gardens for their hard work in getting it ready and all hope that it will be enjoyed by many people in the years ahead.”

Evie and Laura.

Sports

GET INVOLVED WITH KUNG FU

Good try! Rugby team scores national success

WE are so excited to be launching one of the most beautiful forms of martial arts in which the University has ever been able to be involved.

Kung Fu has been practiced for centuries. Its roots can be traced back to more than 4,000 years ago at the Chinese temple of Henin, where it was developed by Shaolin monks to protect the region from bandits. Hung Kuen is a style of Kung Fu developed in Malaysia.

However its origins can also be traced back to the temple in China. The style is based around five animal systems: Dragon; Tiger; Leopard; Snake and White Crane.

After being part of a Hung Kuen class in Preston, I emailed the Master of Hung Kuen in the UK to ask whether there were any instructors to open a club at the University of Chester. Master Ang Kee Kong is a 10th Dan Black Belt.

It is with great excitement that I can tell students that he has agreed to instruct us every Thursday himself. This gives the club a flying start.

Recently Jonathan Wood, a Black Belt from Loughborough, has also offered to instruct the club for a second night in the week which is currently being considered.

We had a taster lesson in April this year to give students an idea of what to expect which was a massive success.

During our classes this year, students can expect to learn a range of attack and defence techniques.

Furthermore, students will learn each animal form: a series of moves, similar to Katas in Karate. This aspect of Hung Kuen Kung Fu is very beautiful and mesmerising.

Students will also have the

THE University’s Men’s Rugby Union team beat tough competition to come second in this year’s National Union of Students (NUS) Sports Club of the Year award.

The awards ceremony was in recognition of clubs, societies, teams and individuals that have shown outstanding dedication in their work from widening participation to ‘thinking outside the box’.

The teams were shortlisted to just five candidates for the celebration evening held at the Reebok Stadium, home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club.

The University’s Men’s Rugby Union team worked hard on and off the field throughout the year, and increased their membership, created a development squad, coached in local schools, raised money for charity and starred in an international advertising campaign with Volkswagen gaining over 150,000 views on YouTube.

Awards judge Alec McKenzie of Endsleigh, said: “The focus on the attitude and behaviours of members and being an active part of the community here is great. The use of ‘give it a go’ sessions to encourage new players and welcome new members is also effective, and the active involvement in charity work, impressive.”

The award will act as an inspiration for other sports teams and indicates the level of support and professionalism provided by Chester Students’ Union (CSU) within the 100 sports and societies existing, as well as putting the University on

By Gregory Marl, Kung Fu Team Captain

opportunity to do sparring training to build up their fitness and endurance.

Once a year, students will have the chance to go to an optional Hung Kuen tournament to compete in sparring matches and perform patterns. We will be competing against other universities such as Hung Kuen Central Lancashire, Leeds Metropolitan, Manchester and Loughborough.

There are other forms that can be learnt which are part of a set of techniques. Once mastered, students will have the opportunity to grade twice a year and receive belts starting from yellow to black.

Above all, we want students to get to know each other. After training, students will be encouraged to socialise as a team. We want students to be able to make friends and feel like they are part of something special. Furthermore, there will be an opportunity to go for elected committee positions to run the sports club each academic year.

Any University of Chester student can join Kung Fu and you can do this at any point in the

academic year. We advise students to come along for a training session and try us out! I remember going to my first session. I was so nervous when I first arrived. I soon became hooked! Not only does it make you very toned, it really helps with stress when you feel weighted down with assignments and exams.

Once you have attended your first session with us, and you feel that we are the sport for you, simply visit the Chester Students Union page to get hold of your Sports and Societies Duty of Care Membership Card. It’s that simple.

Training will begin Thursday, October 9. For more information about the Kung Fu club, please visit the Chester Students’ Union website at http://www.chestersu.com/sportssocieties/chester-sports/ or ‘like’ our page on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/uniofchesterkungfu and visit us on Twitter @Uoc_KungFu Of course, email me for any queries at all at 1322147@chester.ac.uk Looking forward to see you there!

Gregory Marl

by Olivia Wheeler

The Men’s Rugby Union team.

the NUS sporting map.

The Rugby Union team is not the only team to have had a successful season with an increase in participant and performance levels across a number of sports clubs over the past 18 months, most notably in Men’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Netball and Futsal.

Laura Pearsons, CSU General Manager, said: “I am immensely proud of the team! It has been recognised as the second best sports team out of all the students’ unions in the country, which is a phenomenal accomplishment, and well deserved.

“Many students regularly tell us that the teams were the reason they came to Chester, and importantly, involvement in sports and societies has directly led to them finding employment which is extremely rewarding to hear.”

Conor Giggle, Club Captain of Men’s Rugby Union, said: “As a club and committee we were overjoyed to be considered for this award, as it was nice to have the hard work that the club as a whole has put in recognised.

“Getting to this point has been a continuation of the hard work of other committees which has started to come to fruition. On a personal note, it was great to know that the worry and stress has been worth it because it’s great to try and give something back to a club that has given so much to so many people.

Be it fitness, friends or contribution to charity.”