Impact Report 2013

Your Students’ Union

IMPACT REPORT 2012/13

01

Introduction

UWE Students’ Union Impact Report 2012/13

UWE Students’ Union is a registered charity whose student members democratically lead the organisation, supported by a team of staff who are responsible for the operation and management of the Union.

The student members are represented at all levels of decision making within the University and are supported by the Union’s Representation and Community Team. The elected student representatives sit on committees and other bodies to represent the views of UWE students.

“It is with great honour and pride that I am able to reflect on, and present to you UWE Students’ Union’s annual impact report 2012/13.

The report provides an insightful reflection on the key successes and achievements of UWESU for the past year, and outlines the positive changes that have been put into action to improve and benefit the lives of students.

I am very lucky and privileged to have been elected to represent just under 30,000 students and am very much looking forward to leading the 2013/14 Executive through another successful and exciting year.”

Charlie Roper - Students’ Union President 2013/14

What is in our Impact Report?

This report gives an overview of our work in 2012/13, highlighting key achievements and impacts through our diverse range of our activities, demonstrating what really matters and the difference UWE Students’ Union makes to our student members’ lives.

Our Board of Trustees The Board of Trustees is comprised of the 5 full time elected Sabbatical Officers, 2 student trustees and 4 external trustees. The role of the Board is to ensure a sound, healthy and legally compliant organisation, thereby empowering our elected Council of students to concentrate on campaigning and representing students with confidence and integrity.

Introduction

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Our Mission: Making a difference to students’ lives.

Our Vision: We will be recognised as a leading Students’ Union that all our students are proud of.

Our New Values: Student led, Creative & Fun, Relentlessly Ambitious, Open to Change and Inclusive.

03

Representation

REPRESENTATION Elections, Campaigns & Successes - 2012/13 Student voice is at the core of UWE Students’ Union. Our structures, processes and elected officers have ensured a successful year at many levels. UWE students’ voices have been heard at the Board of Governors, within students’ courses and throughout the Students’ Union.

Elections 35 Students’ Union Candidates 19 NUS Conference Candidates

Representation

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Student Voice Our biggest ever student survey with

2,274 Responses “ Without the UWESU as such a supportive and engaged partner, UWE would not successfully achieve such a broad profile of activity which enhances the health and wellbeing of the UWE community”

“ The Student/Governor Forum provides a valuable opportunity for Governors to engage with students on the issues that are important to them” Gillian Camm - Chair of the Board of Governors

Students’ Union filled places on UWE Committees

Judy Orme - Professor of Public Health and Sustainability Chair of the Healthy University Group Student Executive led Meetings

Students’ Union Dept Forums in one year

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Representation

Student Reps

Impact

Hours worked

Of all students represented

Trained Student Reps Student Led Teaching Awards 161 nominations for 7 awards & 109 members of staff Student Rep Awards 47 Student Reps nominated for 6 awards

Increased exam guidance and extra revision sessions for the department of Law students Extended number of tutorials for level 3 Dept. of Engineering, Design and Maths students Smaller group sizes of tutorials, extended studio time for Dept. of Planning and Architecture students

Representation

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Advice

Enquiries dealt with

“They genuinely care about the well being of the students at UWE” “The Students’ Union Advice Service provided me with valuable advice to help me through some of the most difficult situations that I faced in my final year.

Academic related issues

The staff are friendly, helpful and very nonjudgmental no matter what your situation is. They were great help in terms of helping with all the UWE rules and regulations and they can give you the right information and advice with regards to any academic problems. Not only this, I truly believe that the advisers are there to help students with their problems and they genuinely care about the well being of the students at UWE.” Year 3, Biomedical Science student

First ever Accommodation Fair

Students have found accommodation of email advice enquiries responded through Student Lettings to within 48 hours

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Opportunity

OPPORTUNITY Sports, Societies & Volunteering

Sports

Varsity

We provide students the opportunity to develop new skills and enjoy their time at UWE

“Being an active member of a UWE Students’ Union Sports Club, I was able to achieve many things that I wouldn’t have deemed possible before I came”

Students involved in SU Sports

Hannah Lawton - Student

Opportunity

Societies

Students in societies, 26% increase

Societies, 31% increase

“Help give you an edge in coursework and exams�

Being a member of an academic society helps you to meet and socialise with other people on your course. Guest lectures and workshops outside the timetabled ones can help give you a broader view on specific topics and give you an edge in coursework and exams Jamie Jordan, Year 3 Forensic Science

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Volunteering

Students involved in volunteering

Volunteering hours

Number of local volunteering activities advertised

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2012/13 Timeline

NUS Demo

2012/13 Timeline

UWE Students marched in London as part of the National Union of Students’ National Demonstration against tuition fees

Freshers’ Fair

2012 Officers

1 day, over 10,000 students in attendance, over 195 stalls showcasing Sports, Societies and Networks as well as local and national companies

SU President, Emmanual Okon VP Sports & Health, Nina Gizzie VP Education, Olly Reid VP Community & Welfare, Louise Goux-Wirth VP Societies & Communications, Annie Turner

Action Day 8 action days were held throughout the year giving students the opportunity to give something back to the local community in a friendly setting

2012

NUS Conference 19 candidates stood for 8 positions to enable them to represent UWE at a National Level

Settle-in Team Each student in the Frenchay Student Village received a visit providing information as well as answering any questions students had about UWE and Bristol life

AGM Over 300 students attended to vote on policies affecting students both within UWE, nationally and globally

Bower Christmas A popular annual event showcasing the best of student work in Bower Ashton, enabling students to sell their creations to other students, staff and the public

2012/13 Timeline

Last Orders The popular end of term event held across all UWE campuses

Varsity Biggest ever varsity series with over 112 teams consisting of over 1300 athletes, leading to UWE winning the series

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2013 Officers SU President, Charlie Roper VP Education, Megan Edmunds VP Sport & Health, Chris White VP Societies & Communications, Hannah Khan VP Community and Welfare, Tom Renhard

Elections 35 candidates for 15 positions, over 4500 votes cast over 1 week

2013 Rep Awards Combined with the Student Led Teaching Awards, over 200 nominations were received for 13 awards celebrating the success of Student Reps and UWE staff

Dragons Den 4 dragons, 8 student ideas, a range of investments to develop the students’ ideas

Summer Ball This large event saw students coming together to end the year in style with a festival feel Summer Ball.

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Opportunity

Fundraising & RAG “ An invaluable experience, worth its weight in gold” Raised by UWE students

Being supported by UWESU has been an invaluable experience. The logistical support, as well as the personal support that can be offered to our students throughout their fundraising activity, is worth its weight in gold.

Carla Powell, East African Playgrounds Founder

Collaboration with other UWE Teams & other organisations UWE Volunteering UWE Sustainability UWE Facilities and Security Recyclabook Children’s Hospice South West Sue Ryder Cancer Research UK Avon and Somerset Wildlife Trust (Feed Bristol) Winterbourne Barn Trust Dhek Bhal Vassall Centre Trust Shelter Fareshare South West Bristol FoodBank East Africa Playgrounds

Average number of fundraising stalls/events on campus

Opportunity

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Jobshop

Our Jobshop advertised 4,437 part time jobs

“ Being part of a successful team in a positive environment�

During my placement year I have: Had the chance to practice skills I learnt during my first two years of University in a working environment, as well as develop other skills that will make me more employable (such as team work, communication and problem solving); Learnt new technical skills and expanded my knowledge of web technologies; and been part of a successful team and developed relationships with other members of staff I have met some great people during my time on placement and made many new friends. Being part of a successful team in a positive environment has helped me perform to the best of my abilities and I would recommend taking a placement year at UWESU to any student on a sandwich course.

Richard George - Web Designer & Digital Media Assistant / BSc Web Design

From over 185 different employers

with 86% of students very satisfied with the Jobshop

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Community

COMMUNITY Networks, Communications & Events

Networks 23 networks 4 new networks in 2012/13 Ghanian Students iUWE (International UWE) Buddhist Students Mental Health Awareness

Network Members, 54% increase

“A home away from home, where you don’t have to explain yourself at all.”

“Ice hockey, sauna and salted liquorice. Three things I would miss from home if it wasn’t for the UWESU Nordic-Baltic Network. Being involved with the network is not only about friends and common culture, but also about having a safe haven, a home away from home, where you don’t have to explain yourself at all.”

“Jääkiekko, sauna ja salmiakki. Kolme asiaa, joita ikävöisin kotoa, ellei UWESU Nordic-Baltic Networkia olisi olemassa. Networkissä toimimisessa ei ole kyse vain kavereista ja yhteisestä kulttuurista - se on myös turvallinen satama, koti kaukana kotoa, missä minun ei tarvitse selittää itseäni lainkaan.”

Sonja Huttunen - President of Nordic-Baltic Network 2012/13

Events held by Networks

Community

Freshers’ Welcome Week Settle-in team visited each flat in the student village to answer any questions and give information to new students

120 Student led

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Community

Bars

Shops

In the last year

Separate transactions were put through the Frenchay shop alone from 14/5/12 - 14/5/13

That’s an average of

Transactions made every month

Recycle your cash

Community

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Communications “ Directly engage with students, introduce them to the Students’ Union” The use of twitter as an interactive business tool allows us to quickly and directly engage with students before they arrive and introduces them to the Students’ Union Catherine Daveridge Business Studies with Marketing

Followers on Twitter

‘Likes’ on Facebook

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Awards

Awards

for Cycletrain project

NUS Internationalisation Awards 2013 Innovation in Internationalising the Student Experience

Bristol Business Fairtrade Awards 2013

Community Legal Services

Gold Award for UWESU Frenchay Shop Best in Category for Full of Beans

Advice Quality Standard Certification for the Advice Centre

Green Impact

Best Bar None

Silver Award

Bronze Award

Travelwest Sustainable Business Awards UWESU & UWE ‘Most Cycle Friendly Employer’

Runner up and Highly Commended

UWE Better Together Awards Strategic Partnership Award Mental Health Awareness Student Experience Award Feel Good February and Health Eating

Finance

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Financial Summary Income

Trading Surplus 3% (£50k) Direct Student Contribution 31% (£553k) Block Grant & Charitable Income 66% (£1154k)

Opportunity 49% (£782k) Other Costs 20% (£320k) Representation 18% (£287k) Community 13% (£197k)

N.B. Nursery income & expenditure is accounted for For full accounts please see www.uwesu.org/accounts

Expenditure

Making a difference to Students’ lives.

Trustees Students’ Union President: Charlie Roper Vice President Education: Megan Edmunds Vice President Sport & Health: Chris White Vice President Community & Welfare: Tom Renhard Vice President Societies & Communications: Hannah Khan

Communicating with you www.uwesu.org Twitter.com/uwesu Facebook.com/uwesu Youtube.com/uwesuvideo Flickr.com/uwesu

External Trustees

Contact us:

James Clune Peter Brasted Craig Pocock

0117 32 82577 union@uwe.ac.uk UWESU Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol. BS16 1QY

Student Trustees

Registered Charity Number:

Holly Manners Chris Nicholls

1143067 and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales no. 7675253.

www.uwesu.org/trustees www.uwesu.org/impactreport Produced By: Nerys Neath, Emma Brown, Neil Clark, Clare Clark and Kirsty Tomlinson Designed By: Laurie Jackson