VP Support & Diversity

One year

2009-06-30T06:41:00.000-07:00

So here I am 364 days later and I’m about to finish one challenge and start a new one. Tomorrow I am President of the University of Salford Students' Union and I’m excited, really excited, and ready for the fantastic challenges that lie ahead.

It’s my last day as Vice President Support & Diversity (or more traditionally known as VP Welfare) and it’s been a truly amazing experience. Looking after 20,000 student’s welfare has been a challenge but it has made me realise many of the challenges some other students face and it's something that will stick by me for the next year.

I’ve also had the privilege of working with a fantastically kind and passionate president in Usman Ali this year and being his successor is a wonderful challenge in itself. Also all the team at different points throughout the year have delivered on projects and that is something they should be immensely proud of.

Personally I have been delighted with the challenges that I as a part of a bigger ‘we’ have met. When I say ‘we’ I’m not just talking about sabbatical officers, or Union or University staff but every other student who took part in even one of these things. The ‘Are you afraid of the Dark?’ Torchlit March, ‘Save our Pav’ campaign, Staff Cuts protests, the 24/7 library, taking part by voting/standing in the elections, the individual students who desperately needed are help and it worked, the first AGM in years, ‘You Decide’ where students had the opportunity to tell (and mandate) sabbatical officers as to what they needed to do, that bungee jump, the Community Reps project where we were quick to engage with the local community made up of students and non-students, events for mature, international, part-time and postgraduate students, the Activities Collective, the much more vibrantly designed Student Direct, working with other Students' Unions on big projects, the list goes on and on…

We now have amongst the many challenges and opportunities for the next year the pioneering of the first big change in sixty years for Students' Unions nationally with the move to faculty Vice-President’s rather than portfolio roles.

There’s plenty more I could write but I have a feeling it will be more appropriate after my second and final year in the job (sabbatical officers may only serve two years under Government regulations.) I believe I’ve learnt a lot this year but in one year’s time I would hope there will be a great deal more that the Students' Union and I will have learnt, delivered on and improved and that every single person at the University has had a part to play in that process.

Where to start?

2009-03-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

Where to start?

Firstly a quick apology for not blogging over the past few months. It’s not hard to do, trouble is I am (despite the poor grammar)an English graduate and thus a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to writing. I like to spend a good hour on writing a blog.

However today I have set myself fifteen minutes to write FAST!!!

So here goes:

You Decide:
We have had two meetings since the last blog… the main issue has been Staff Cuts and thanks to the work of many students and staff members at the University we haven’t gone down without a fight. My main issues have always been the lack of consultation with students by the University and then the lack of communication with staff and students throughout the process. They label students ‘customers’ but in this instance we have been nothing more than an afterthought which is damn right disgraceful.

AGM:
Went well, had 220 people at the event. The University’s Director of Finance Simon Atwell came to communicate about the staff cuts (which was a step in the right direction) and policy got passed on a few things including the wonderful plans for an eco mosque and a Students' Union Environmental policy.

Awards:
We have entered several awards, Sound Impact Awards for Environmental issues, Best Bar None for good practice and will be entering the NUS Annual awards for several categories in April. Who knows we might even win something?!

Elections:
Had to mention the ‘elephant in the room.’ Big thank you to everyone who voted even if it wasn’t for me! The main thing is we got a great turnout on votes and then we have a bigger mandate which transfers into getting more done for other students. We have a great and diverse team elected and I am proud to be leading as President next year. Emily Godfrey returns as VP again having been VP Activities this year, Ricky Chotai one of our most experienced SLR’s after years of threatening to run in the elections did and will be a Vice President as of July. Also Jim Dale who has worked tirelessly with sport clubs and sat on countless sport club committees as well as delivering several thousand Student Direct papers on time every Monday morning around the campus will also be part of the team next year. Finally there is Joe Kirwin who has chaired Debate Society this year and also a fantastic guy. I’m delighted with the team as well for the four trustees (all new to the role!) who are Ram Bende, Lorna Cole, Adeel Khan and current Vice President Communications officer Vickie Scullard. A really good set of people!

Community Reps:
All going very well, the reps have been appointed and started work on different projects. We are hoping to do a big community event at the end of May.

Disabled Collective & National Disabled Students Conference:
We had our first meeting last month which went very well, and have another one in half an hour hence while I am writing this fast. There is also a National Disabled Students Conference in Huddersfield on 16/17 April which has been co-organised by student officers at Huddersfield, Manchester, Sheffield and myself at Salford which should be great fun.

Sabb Gunging:
RAG organised the traditional annual event of let’s throw a bucket of the most disgusting things possible over the student officers. What they weren’t counting on was Usman (SU President) and I giving them big gungey hugs after we got gunged.
By the way the gunge recipe is gravy, tomato skins, egg, peas and custard and possibly a few other things. The event raised £240 for Red Nose Day.

Islamic Awareness Week:
Really enjoyed all the work Sara and the rest of the Islamic Society committee put into this. Great debate, fantastic musical and comic entertainment and pro evo soccer tournament. Can’t go wrong!

NUS:
I have annual conference next week where about 1000 delegates from different FE and HE institutions from across the country meet in Blackpool to discuss National policy for the next year. Particularly important considering recent feedback from the big cheeses at the Universities the Vice Chancellors who at least 2/3’s wish to put tuition fees up to a minimum of £5000. On their salary that might even be affordable, on ours absolute nonsense.

International Students Collective:
Over the past eight months it has become more and more apparent that many International students get treated appallingly by the University. I’m working with a friend of mine who is an International Student to set up a Collective for International Students. I envisage it to be both social and when needed or if wished for political in order that International Students get the best possible deal from the University.

Post Grad and Mature Student Events:
This weekend we have a Post-grad cinema event which has already been heavily booked for. Such interest is encouraging and it’s certainly something I would like to repeat. We are also doing a dinner for mature students next month, more info on that will be on the SU website soon.

Manifesto promises:
This should have gone in with elections but it’s important and kind of different. Just to let you know I’m working on my manifesto promises for next year already and hope to have some good news and updates for my next blog (which won’t be in four months time!!!)

Anyway my fifteen minutes are up, any questions/comments please come say hello (I’m in the Advice Centre) or email me at support-ussu@salford.ac.uk

Bungees, Fire and Radio

2008-11-18T07:31:00.000-08:00

Wow, what an amazing couple of months!

Back in August we started planning the ‘Are you afraid of the Dark?’ campaign. We made posters, we bought lanterns and torches and we started a petition that we are on course for one out of every twenty students who attends the university to have signed.

We had the Rec Night at the Pav where many students in societies and clubs dressed as what they are afraid of in the dark and the ‘Get your Torch Out!’ stand at the Health and Well Being Expo, a Torchlit Yours Bar and of course the big march with fire dancing!

We met with councillors and continue to do so to make sure we get the lighting in the park where so many students are subject to attacks and verbal harassment.

It doesn’t stop there though!

We will continue to meet with the council till they give us students what we need, which is a safe park.

Watch the video of the march at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-pjvPUsRxA

So what else have we been up to?

You Decide: This Thursday we meet in Yours Café so that you decide what we campaign on next. There’s a lot to choose from. The staff cuts in ILS, Business and Health faculties. The maintenance loans fiasco. Assessment and Feedback. Whatever you want, tell us and we can start a campaign on it if necessary. You Decide is this Thursday at 4pm in Yours Café with free food.

Hate Crime Awareness Day: Based in the Lowry Conference Suite, there was a fair of different stands offering support and guidance for anyone who has gone through or knows someone who has been subjected to a Hate Crime. Both the Students' Union and it’s society the Islamic Society were there with stands. I also gave a speech about how the Students' Union viewed those who subject others to Hate Crime as being ‘idiots and evil.’ It was a really interesting event and I was proud to represent the Students' Union there.

Health and Well Being Expo: We handed out free torches on our stand for the ‘Are you afraid of the Dark?’ campaign, aptly entitled “Get your Torch Out!” Loads of people signed the petitions to ask the council to put in the lighting too. It was a great event and I loved the free smoothies our RAG society did (charitable contributions were encouraged) as well as the Wii Tournament and even the good news I received on the blood pressure front from the Allerton nurse! The event was on for three days and I reckon over 1000 students turned up, a really good event by the University.

Shock Radio: Union Air or Uni on Air is the name of our show depending on whether you like puns or not. We are online on www.shockradio.co.uk on Fridays 3-4pm every week. The show is designed to tell you a bit about what we’re doing and for you to email/SMS us with any questions you may have. I got to run the show last week and it was fun playing around with all the switches and playing DJ whilst answering some questions about what we are doing.

Charity Events: There have been loads of these recently and there great fun. A few weeks ago Usman (the SU President) co-organised an evening aptly called ‘Charity Night’ at Allerton Cafeteria. Aiming to raise £10,000 it made an eventual £12,000 which was great. Vickie (our comms officer), Usman and I were auctioned as sabbatical slaves for a day and between us made over £500 for charity. A great evening!
We also did a bungee jump from outside University House from 180ft which was awesome once you fell -though terrifying beforehand- and at some point soon I believe the five sabbs are going to be gunged at ‘The Pav’ for Children in Need. Can’t wait!

Widening Participation: 55% of students at this uni are recognised as mature students. One of the goals that I have this year is to do more activities and events for mature students, for part time, for post grads, for disabled students, for international students as well as improving stuff for everyone else. We are in the process of getting access to everyone’s student webmail email address so that we can get in contact with other students more easily. Once we can do this (which I hope we will have done by the end of 2008) we can then start organising more events. If you have any ideas for events or think I’ve missed out something then let me know, I’m here to do as much as I can while I’m an officer.

NSS Results in Health and Social Care Faculty: As the representative in the Students' Union for other students in HSC faculty I needed to look at the NSS Results (National Student Survey that all final year students are asked to fill in) and see what areas needed improvement. The main ones were quality and timing of feedback, organisation of course and any communications of alterations to courses. I will be asking the SLR’s of HSC to ask other students about these concerns and also speaking to the faculty administrator for Health and Social Care this month about anything they may be doing to resolve any potential challenges.

Community Reps: Finally this scheme should be up and running for recruitment in December. I have got the funding, now the structure of it just needs to be finalised and then we can go out into the community and get involved in exciting projects in Salford.

RUCLEAR?: ‘RUCLEAR?’ came to Uni House to do limited STD testing. If you missed them and want to get tested we have kits in the Advice Centre which you can take away or you can meet them in Uni House foyer on the 9th of December during the day. There really simple tests to have done, you get a text to either let you know you’re clear or that you’re not and what action you need to take. It sounds a bit daunting but is easier to do once you’ve had a few pints particularly as all you do is urinate in a cup.

On that icky note I shall leave it there but please as always get in contact if there’s anything you feel your Students' Union should be doing for you. Ring 0161 736 7811 or email me at support-ussu@salford.ac.uk or come in and see me in University House.

September is here!

2008-09-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

In just under two weeks the Students' Union Café, Bar and Club all open their doors again and I can’t wait, particularly as many of the other 19,000 students will be back!

We have so many exciting things going on with all the different activity fairs. There will be the society and clubs days and many days to get lots of freebies! We have ‘Give it a Go’ which are one off events over a fortnight from late September for a fortnight where you pay around £3 for fun activities.

September is quite easily one of my favourite parts of the year. The University has a carnival atmosphere about it and with so much going on, there is sure to be something for everyone.

I should probably also let you know a few of the things I’ve been doing over the first few months in the Students' Union .

Allerton: We went to Allerton in July to talk to other students about what their Students' Union can be doing for them. We got loads of useful feedback, particularly about the Union Shop and the car park, but it was also good to just find out some of the issues we can work together on. As I will be faculty rep for Health and Social Care (see below) it was a good chance to find out what issues I need to tackle.

Faculty Reps: Alan, Emily, Vicky and I have all been assigned different faculties to be the point person for other students to talk to. I will be the main Students' Union representative for Health and Social Care which I’m looking forward to, particularly as it has the most students! Usman and I have done a few talks over there to some other students about Students' Union stuff and also how we can improve. This will be something I’ll be continuing in Welcome Week in September with some more talks with new students about the Students' Union, as will the other officers.

Fun Stuff: The week of the 15th of September we will be doing events for any students around before Welcome Week. Though typically this will be the time when International Students are around campus, any students are welcome. We have a curry night, games night, film night and quiz night during the week. Details are on the website!

Campus Bus: After meetings to discuss one of my campaign promises, I’m pleased to say that we do have an improved bus timetable for this year. Buses will stop at John Lester and Eddie Colman during the day as well as us retaining the extended running hours in the evening. This was really important to get done, particularly in the evening as there are safety issues about walking through Peel Park.

Community Reps: We are setting up a Community Rep scheme in order to engage more and take advantage of the opportunities that are possible between students and everyone in the community. We’ll be recruiting in October so I’ll write more about that nearer the time though please do get in contact if you are interested in doing some work within the community.

Peel Park Campaign: Last year the Students' Union led a campaign to get adequate lighting, CCTV cameras in the park and raise awareness of the severe dangers that walking through the park can lead too. This year we intend to carry on this campaign. I believe that everyone should have the right to be walking nearby campus without having to look over their shoulder. If we can get better lighting and CCTV installed in the park this may act as a deterrent to those who take delight in violently and verbally assaulting passers by. The campaign will be happening later this semester so do look around campus for posters and more information about it.

Give it a Go: I’m really excited about this. A whole series of activities which you don’t need to commit too, you just go when you feel like it. Kind of like that one gym class you go too and never go back to without the guilt. There are loads of cool things going on, we got yoga, self defence and creative writing classes amongst others. My favourite is the trip to Chill Factor, though I’m hoping if I get a place on it I don’t fall down the ski slope!

That’s it for now. Any thoughts on anything then please email me at support-ussu@salford.ac.uk or ring 0161 736 7811.

Hello!

2008-07-14T02:13:00.000-07:00

As this is my first blog I should probably introduce myself. I’m Matt, I’m 21 and until next summer I am one of the sabbatical officers in the Students' Union. This week I will graduate from an English and Creative Writing course and have joined the obligatory Facebook group where we all vow post-graduation to throw our caps and deposits into the air in one foul swoop!

I’ll start by telling you a bit about what we have done and what we plan to do. I’ve been doing the job now for two weeks. Over that time we’ve been working out the best way to help all students. One of the main things which came out of our planning was more consultation of those who might have some opinions on student rights and welfare – YOU! If we do our jobs right, then that will be an underlying theme throughout the year. After all who better to tell us what we need to do than just over 19,000 students at University of Salford? So if you want to feedback anything to me then please leave a comment on the blog, email me at support-ussu@salford.ac.uk or if you have time pop by to University House to the Student Union and we can have a chat. Without representing you effectively there really is no point having a Students' Union.

We have also planned an event in Allerton this week (14 & 17 July 11-5pm) where you can find out more about your USSU and in particular you can meet the officers, there will be information about the Advice Centre, some STD testing and some fun and games. This may be the first year that the first thing the USSU can do for you is tell you is that you have Chlamydia, fun times!

There is also a Facebook group for new students’ that has been set up so we can all get to know each other and find out information a bit more informally. The link is: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=17359979849

That link tells you a lot about what we are planning to do including some information on Welcome Week.

I’ll leave it at that for now but please get in touch with any questions or queries or just to chat!