Nick Smith - Vice President Welfare RUSU

Election Season - letter to students

2006-12-15T16:05:00.000Z

Perhaps a rather strange thing to Blog, but I think it’s important to remind people that RUSU Elections are coming up and one of the positions you can be elected to is Vice-President Welfare – my current role. I’ve tried to identify some key groups that might be interested in this, and hopefully this letter will give you some ideas of what it is I do and what you could do differently.

VP Welfare is primarily a trustee, a representative and a campaigner. As a trustee they look after the RUSU organisation and, along with the rest of the trustee board, are legally and financially responsible for everything from 3Sixty to the Nursery and licensing to the intricacies of European legislation on minibuses. There’s a lot of support in this role and is more exciting than it might sound at first.

As a representative they are the “face of students” concerning Welfare issues to the local community, police and University. This role might include speaking on local radio about student accommodation, sitting on a board that makes decisions about the University health Centre or attending a local community forum on safety issues. It’s also as a representative that you’ll have an input into particular aspects of Welfare provision from the Students Union, like the Housing talks in Halls and be a link between JCR Welfare Reps and other Welfare services.

Many people get into Student politics because they want to change something – and this is where the campaigner comes in. You could be organising a walk for better lighting on campus, being part of an NUS march for higher education funding or petitioning the University to improve facilities in Halls.

The above examples are all things I’ve done (or plan to do) whilst being VP Welfare, but the role is flexible enough that you can make it your own. Is the burning issue on campus Sexual health rather than safety? Should we be doing less for accommodation and more for Mental Health?

It’s a wonderful, challenging and exciting job that offers you opportunities you’ll never get again. Each day you wake up knowing today’s job is to support and help students and the staff you work with are amazing. You feel part of a local, regional and national team through the Student movement and beyond.

If anyone is interested in running for VP Welfare next term and wants to consider what the role means and what they can bring to it then please get in touch.

Nick Smith

Nickers updates his Blog... sort of

2006-12-01T16:18:00.000Z

I've been really busy so apologies for not Blogging. Some stuff I have been up to includes:

· Money Week planning
· Ali’s memorial service
· Meeting with Martin Salter MP about safety
· Welfare Committee
· LGBT safety talk
· Welfare Support and Guidance University meeting
· Several days worth of press calls about students drinking
· Work supporting the build up to National Demo
· National Demo
· 2 talks to Fe students about coming to University and also some Chinese Ambassadors
· Sick with Shingles over Money Week so only worked half days and felt grumpy
· Met Janet Richards from Peer Support
· Met with LGBT to discuss Sexual Health
· Attended a local residence forum on safety
· Discussed student accommodation websites and landlord accreditation with head of accommodation service
· Organised the Night Walk – 25 people came including the Mayor.
· Dealt with press coverage surrounding Night Walk
· Physics Lobby
· Helped with 2 Course Rep training sessions
· Self Defence classes – again about 20 people attended and the feedback was excellent.
· “Don’t panic about” housing posters
· Working on community relations with councillors and MPs
· Sexual Health Fair (today)

Also – casework ranging from accommodation to sexual health to hygiene, supporting JCR Reps with campaign support, financial stuff like balancing accounts and signing cheques, building Facebook networks and of course the disciplinary actions.

Fish watch – fish are fine, cleaned regularly, but I think they may have worms as they’re pooing a lot at the moment.

Next term’s plans:
Biggest housing campaign ever, balanced lifestyle campaign.

2006-10-23T18:29:00.000+01:00

Freshers Week Blog – 29th September to 6th October

The International Welcome programme (29th – 1st) in 3Sixty went well and it was nice to work with other support networks within the University such as the International Office and the chaplaincy. There are some issues that need to be addressed before next year, but I’m confident these can be looked at.

The Open Day was as busy as we expected, and we fielded many questions about the potential closure of Physics. I always enjoy a chance to discuss the Students Union and what we offer, especially to new students.

On Monday I attended meetings for Mature Students and first year students currently placed in Host Families or houses and kept an eye on the Freshers Angels.

Tuesday – International Foundation Programme talk, helping the general mayhem that is the Union and campus during Freshers’ (directing, guiding, welcoming etc.).

Wednesday morning saw me speaking about student accommodation on BBC Radio Berkshire. I raised my concerns about private halls, concerns shared by two Freshers who were also interviewed, and visited a student house. My mum was very impressed.

While at Freshers Fair I kept losing my voice when I encouraged people to sign up for the Admission Impossible petition and demonstration – over 1,500 signatures and hopefully several coach loads of people coming on the demo itself.

On Thursday night I also attended the International tea-party put on by the VC and met with students in unusual housing situations as part of the quiz and karaoke.

By the end of the week I was completely shattered, a state that I was to get used to in week 1...

Week 1 Blog 9th October – 14th October

Much of this week is a blur, the tragic news of Alison Kemble’s death hit many people very hard and there were long periods of shock among the Sabbatical Team and others.

Monday started off with the Physics meeting, which I really enjoyed and showed how much students care about this issue. I caught up on a lot of my paperwork and e-mails from the previous week. In the afternoon I talked with the Careers Service about Student Rights at work and joined the LGBT that evening for their social and the scizzor sisterz gig.

There was more Physics debate at Senate, which I sit on. I was shocked by the way the question about keeping the department open was phrased and also by the way heads of School voted. There are other options between “close a department” and “cut all budgets” but these were ignored. If another department faces closure, no doubt everyone will vote for that one if it’s not their own. At the Students’ Union we often say that unity is strength – aspects of the University seem to think strength lies only in self-interest.

Also this week I was keeping an eye on the situation in Wessex with the suspected Meningitis, various bits of case work and attended a get together of Mature Students.

Saturday was a SEANUS Executive meeting, followed by my birthday party which had a London Underground fancy dress and was a much needed break at the end of the week.

Week 2 Blog 16th October – 22nd October

On Monday I caught up with the other Sabbs and discussed plans over the next few days. Also this week I’ve been doing lots of work for Money Week and the National Demo, met with Martin Salter MP and attended the very moving memorial service for Ali.

Reggie Dancing

2006-09-30T09:39:00.000+01:00

A Quick Blog before Freshers starts in earnest

2006-09-29T19:29:00.000+01:00

Since last time…

Attended meetings about Student Advice branding, International students (x2) and the RUSU Trustee Board on 20th September
Finished the Welfare JCR packs – over 2,800 condoms, 200 attack alarms, 750 ‘Spikies’ and LOTS of leaflets and posters distributed
Did a press release about RUSU Money Doctors
Trained 20 Freshers’ Angels
Got 30 Freshers’ Angels printed
Attended a meeting about Training sessions as part of RU Ready
Helped at the first day of International Student Welcome Programme
Spoke to June Orton and Tony Paige, two local Councillors about my campaign plans
Wrote a letter in reply to Rob Wilson MP, to be blogged later
Tried out the smoothies at Cereal Works
Did some LGBT awareness work with Sam, Dave and Ryan
Generally answered e-mails – and in trying to answer some got more information than I expected
Raved with incredulity at the decision of the University to reduce Student Parking permits, but not staff ones

I also helped my brother and sister-in-law to be plan a Wedding, baked 3 cakes and didn't go clubbing in London.

Nick x

A message for Freshers

2006-09-21T11:06:00.000+01:00

As the handbooks have now gone out, there will be many Freshers looking at this and other Sabbatical Blogs for the first time. I’ve outlined elsewhere my background, roles and plans but I think it pertinent to explain to new students, and indeed even some returners to talk about Welfare and the student experience. And the message should be regarded as a positive one.

It’s true that occasionally Welfare is often about supporting someone who is upset or worried, lonely or unhappy. I hope that you don’t feel these things at University, and for many people University is a great time in their lives. It doesn’t mean it always will be a great time for everyone however, and this is why we have Welfare representation. It’s my job to make things better, through campaigns, meetings and making sure that there are services from the University and the Union.

Reading University is generally a safe and enjoyable place. Students, especially new ones, shouldn’t feel worried about coming to University at all. We campaign because things can always be better, not because things are always bad. A degree opens many doors to you, but should be a door open to everyone, not just those that can afford it. The University campus is a friendly environment, but we can make it better with more lighting. Reading is full of life and opportunities, but better transport for Students would allow us to enjoy it even more.

So come to Reading with optimism, come to Reading with confidence but also come to Reading ready to fight, campaign and be part of your Union.

Freshers, Money Doctors, National Demonstrations and other things which I have planned...

2006-09-21T11:04:00.000+01:00

Here is a ‘what I did in my last week’ Blog. It’s quite difficult at this time of year as so much of it is to do with finalising things for the term ahead and makes for less than interesting reading…

Monday 11th September – Freshers Planning, sorting out JCR Welfare boxes.
Tuesday 12th September – Sorting out stuff for the RUSU Campaigns stall and enquiring about publicity materials for the year ahead.
Wednesday 13th September – Talk about money Doctors, a scheme that RUSU is part of which looks at Student Advice in finance and how it ties into money weeks and the finance campaign ‘Money for Nothing’. Also took part in the Demo Planning at RUSU.
Thursday 14th September – Met a ‘Money Doctor’ from Roehampton, replied to lots of e-mails and general paperwork…
Friday 15th September – Talked to Kay Dickinson and Dave Lewis about the house hunting day on Saturday and did more work on the JCR packs, Freshers Angels and other planning bits and bobs.
Saturday 16th September – House Hunting day at Palmer Building all morning. Met lots of new students and tried to make a difficult situation better. It’s frustrating that with the new variable fees so many University’s are squeezing students into courses, and I hope that this is not a sign for things to come. We need more Halls places yes, but with proper pastoral support systems and not just a shell for living in. I’d hate to think that the University were looking at commerce and residency as the same thing

Slide Show from Sabbatical Social

2006-09-18T10:11:00.000+01:00

Welfare Officers are NOT fluffy

2006-09-14T12:01:00.001+01:00

Welfare Officers are in no way, shape or form “fluffy”. That’s not to say we aren’t caring, open and concerned people, but I think there’s a perception that we’re just about giving out condoms, telling people not to drink excessively and showing students where the Nightbus is. There’s much more to us than that. As my predecessor Jenna Roebuck once put it “Good Welfare Officers are all nice people, but not all nice people would make good Welfare Officers”.

I write this for two reasons, firstly because I’ve been getting Welfare supplies for the year delivered, with the usual jokes about having something to do now I have over 3,000 condoms, but also because of a letter I’ve written to local Councillors and MPs. I was elected to VP Welfare on a campaigning mandate – a promise to be proactive about student issues and make a political difference. For each of the 6 major issues I want to combat this year I’m dedicated to providing support for students to relieve the symptoms of these issues, but also steps to combat the causes of these problems.

Taking the first term’s campaigns as examples – for the Safety campaign I’m organising a self defence class, a sexual health fair and will be making alarms and condoms available along with the JCR Welfare Reps. In addition I’m organising a night march to show how important safety is to students and creating a coalition of local people who want better transport and lighting around the campus and student areas.

For the finance campaign, there will be talks on budgeting, training on managing finances and more resources to help with student finance and debt, particularly working with the Money Doctors initiative. In addition, RUSU will be having an active involvement in the NUS National Demonstration, in the campaign for South East Weighting and showing that the funding system for Higher Education is fundamentally flawed, favours a system of commerce over provision and alienates certain communities from Education.

So yes, condoms and attack alarms are part of my job, but so is lobbying, representing and fighting for students. This year I’ll be arguing with MPs, marching through London and making a stand politically. That is far from fluffy, and I hope you’ll be there joining me.

Nick x

The following is the letter I sent to MPs and Councillors

---

Dear Councillor

As Vice President Welfare for Reading University Students’ Union, the safety and security of students in and around campus is naturally of the highest importance to me. Statistics on the amount of students who become victims of crime whilst at University lie between 25 and 33%. Poor quality of student accommodation; late journeys into poorly lit areas after studying, socialising and part-time work and the annual adaptation to a new area automatically put these residents at high risk. These issues have been accepted as part of student life for too long. Security and safety is a basic right.

Students also have a need to feel part of their community. The University and Students’ Union have increased the amount of volunteering and fundraising it does in the local area. Students (and later graduates) are a vibrant and important part of Reading’s cultural and economic growth. We’d like to promote a sense of local citizenship and responsibility among students in terms of their care towards other citizens, their local area and environment.

To this end, I’m writing to local councillors, MPs and other members of the community asking for support in the following areas.

1. To improve the safety and security of students and other residents by informing them of hazards and making steps to improve lighting and transport links in areas around the University campuses and halls of residence.

2. To promote student involvement in the community through community action projects, participation in local elections and encouraging a care among students in their local environment in areas such as recycling.

3. To work with local landlords and others in raising awareness of the importance of safe, secure and affordable accommodation for students as a benefit to their well being and ability to participate in their community and work towards improving student housing standards across the area.

Your support of any or all of these areas would be much appreciated and I’d like to hear from you so that we can be in touch on future campaign news and other projects.

My thanks in advance of your reply,

Nick Smith
RUSU Vice President (Welfare)
South East Area NUS Convenor

Training, Planning and Travelling – a summary of Nick’s Summer.

2006-09-11T09:12:00.000+01:00

My family members and friends often ask whether I have the summer off work. When I was an undergraduate I worked full time during my holidays, and as a Sabbatical Officer that has changed in no way at all. Since the last time I blogged I’ve been doing a lot of training in preparation for the year ahead, a lot of planning towards the campaigns and Welfare provision that we’ll be delivering next year, and travelling an awful lot. What follows is a Bridget Jones style account of my August and early September.

Friday 11th August – Sunday 20th
Reading to Chester via Crewe
Distance travelled = 400 miles

My parents have all but forgotten what I look like since I became a VP last year, so I popped in to their house to see them, as well as my Granny, before heading to Chester University for Action through Advocacy. This course, run by the NUS, is aimed at Vice-presidents with responsibilities for Welfare and Education. Over the three long days and full nights I did a lot of work on running campaigns, successful planning and role-played some meetings with University staff members asking for support. It was a good chance to meet new officers, and old ones, and many e-mail addresses were exchanged so best practice in campaigning ideas can be shared. I shared a group with Sabbs from Newcastle, London, Birmingham, Huddersfield and East Anglia and it’s these diverse views contained in common interests that makes the Student movement so strong. As well as this it was really nice to spend some quality time with NUS National Executive Committee (NEC) members; particularly Veronica King the VP Welfare and Wes Streeting, VP Education. The NEC members are very happy to help with the work at RUSU and a chat with them is often very productive.

Monday 21st August – Monday 28th
Reading to Bath via Bristol
Distance travelled = 200 miles

After a weekend recovering and a quick meet up with Dave Lewis on the Sunday, I spent the morning of the 21st “fire fighting” my inbox and then headed to Bristol to see my brother Tim and sister-in-law to be Katrina. I was a tutor on a training event over the next few days in Bath Spa as part of the National Student Learning Programme (NSLP) scheme from NUS. This was a bit of volunteering I did, and really counts as a break from Student Politics as I was a member of staff and so had to keep my views to myself – which was difficult! Never the less, the week was really enjoyable and I’m excited for the Unions who sent people on the course (including RUSU) because the standard of trainers coming out of it was very high I felt.

Friday was a day off to celebrate 80 years of the University of Reading, and I spent the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend catching up with friends in Oxford and entertaining Emily Beardsmore’s sisters and friends when they came over to use our showers during Reading festival before a mini-dinner party on the Monday.

Tuesday 29th – Friday 1st September
Reading to Leeds via Winchester
Distance travelled = 520 miles

I grabbed an hour in RUSU HQ on Tuesday morning before heading to an NUS National Demo planning day in Winchester. The demo on the 29th October as part of the Admission:Impossible campaign looks to be a really exciting and positive event, and one that I’m fully behind and encouraging all students to get involved with. After the planning event I chaired a SEANUS Executive meeting in the afternoon where we discussed the forthcoming NUS Extra card, student finance and the National Demonstration.

I grabbed a train at 6am on Wednesday up to Leeds for a training event on student accommodation and new legislation for landlords run by NUS and Unipol. This was a really useful course for the accommodation campaign I’m running in the spring term as well as the Housing talks. New laws concerning deposits that will see them being looked after by a third party (and therefore not cashed and earning interest for unscrupulous landlords) should be much fairer for students and see a higher return on deposits for tenants who look after their houses. Several Unions, such as Birmingham, now have a Sabbatical officer for Accommodation and Housing and it will be interesting to see if RUSU ever go down this route…

I got into Reading late on Thursday and had a goodbye meal and drink with one of my old housemates Jo, who I’d lived with for two years, before an early night and an early night on Friday and my first full day in the office for two and a half weeks (someone else was feeding the fish by the way). On the Friday I sent out letters to local MPS and Councillors, which I’ve blogged about elsewhere.

Saturday 2nd September – Sunday 10th September (today!)
Reading to Birmingham via London, then back to London
Distance travelled = 300 miles

On Sunday 3rd I met up with Paul Butters the West Midlands Area Convenor and an Officer from University of East Anglia called Martin who’s involved with Liberal Democrat Youth and Students and Anglia Area NUS to talk about being convenors. On Monday I was in NUS HQ talking to Sam Lebens and others about a National RAG event. I got a bit of culture at the Royal Academy at the Globe in the evening (go and see “A comedy of Errors”- it’s only a fiver and a lot of fun). Tuesday was spent sorting out JCR packs and answering e-mails.
Wednesday 6th was spent in Birmingham at NUS’ Campaigns launch. Last year I wrote a long blog about Campaigns Launch, and then Dave Lewis stole it. So I’ll just redirect you to his one. Mine was better though :P

Over Thursday and Friday I caught up with some RUSU Staff who I haven’t seen for a few weeks and had meetings with Rachel Holley the Nightline co-ordinator and Kay Dickinson who’s the head of accommodation about the forthcoming House Hunting Day on the 16th September. In the evening I went to London and chatted to officers from University of the Arts London and Kings College.

And that brings me up to today.

Third Blog - Plans for the year

2006-08-10T12:00:00.001+01:00

It’s very difficult to plan a year as VP Welfare – because the job has to be reflective of the students that come and talk to me. I may well be planning to do an identity theft week, but if there’s a Mumps breakout in a Halls of residence, then that becomes priority. However I have planned for 6 campaigns, two each term. I’ve outlined the aims, events and resources I’m planning for each one as well as other things that are happening.

Autumn Term

International Welcome week and Freshers’ week will be an important time for me, helping new students settle in and looking after the Freshers’ Angels, who are there to help people meet new friends and get around the campus.

In this term I’ll be running campaigns on safety and finance with VP Education Ryan Bird. The safety campaign will cover drink, safe sex, drink spiking and getting home safely. I’m hoping to produce a leaflet for students with essential information on it. The finance campaign will include the fight to keep the cap on top-up fees, leaflets on supporting students and also money talks in Halls of residence.

Spring Term

Many students will start thinking about accommodation so I’ll be organising Housing talks, a petition for better Housing and calling for the University to keep Halls fees as low as possible. The other campaign will be on balanced lifestyles, such as healthy eating, getting involved in clubs, societies and volunteer groups and having regular exercise.

Summer Term

Exam Stress will be on everyone’s mind and I’ll be giving tips on how to look after yourself during exams and running a few events to help alleviate the stress. We care about students who are leaving as much as new ones, and so we will be having a ‘Finalists Fair’ (possibly in Spring) and tips on coping with the culture shock of returning home or starting a new job.

Nick's second Blog - his responsibilities

2006-08-10T10:51:00.000+01:00

I have several responsibilities within Reading University as both a representative and a trustee as well as the National Union of Students. This blog will hopefully explain some of them, though it might seem a little stuffy – it’s all more exciting than it might sound!

As a Sabbatical Officer I am a representative of students, as elected by the student body. This means I sit on various University meetings that are relevant to student welfare and discuss things such as the Health Centre, accommodation and disabled provision. I also run campaigns to be pro-active about certain issues, which are detailed on this web page and discussed on a later blog. I’ve taken a year out of my course, so I don’t go to lectures and seminars so I can concentrate on this job. I get a small amount of money to do so.

All Sabbatical Officers are trustees of the Students’ Union, along with 3 course students and external, non-student, trustees. Collectively we make sure the organisation is financially and legally sound – which includes putting on music events and running the shop and Mondial.

Outside of RUSU I am Convenor of South East Area NUS (SEANUS). This means I run campaigns that affect students across the South East of England along with my fellow Executive Officers. SEANUS covers Unions from Canterbury to Oxford and Surrey to Portsmouth. More information can be found on our Blog www.southeastnus.blogspot.com. I always make sure that my SEANUS work doesn’t interfere with my responsibilities at Reading.

Nick's first blog - his background as introduction

2006-08-10T10:28:00.000+01:00

My first blog as VP Welfare! It’s quite difficult to know exactly what to write, so I’ve written a series of Blogs explaining my background, my responsibilities (including ones outside RUSU) and also my plans for the year.

Although many students will know me principally through my work as VP Development working on volunteering and personal development my experience in Welfare is actually even longer than my involvement volunteering.

I first got involved in the Students’ Union as the head of a Society and then got quickly involved in Nightline, the listening and information service. After a few terms I became head of Publicity for them – if you have a credit card sized Nightline leaflet or a plastic keyring then I ordered them a few years ago! I also ran the ‘Yak’ campaign during Freshers ’04. This position led me to get involved in the RUSU Trustee board. While a part-time officer I helped out on the phones in halls campaign and the ‘Easy tiger’ drink campaign – which created a gallery of embarrassing photos of me as a tiger. While a Sabbatical officer I helped deliver training for Nightline and Welfare reps in JCRs as well as accommodation and money week talks. Before University I was a Youth Worker at St Cassian’s centre in Kintbury, where I led discussion and activity groups for young people. So that’s me!

A New Year Begins….

2006-01-01T12:17:00.000Z

Happy New Year!

Well, a whole term has now passed. There are so many aspects to my role that it is important to take time out to reflect on how things have gone, the balance between different areas of work and on the affect on students.

I am very passionate about the Union, supporting student's welfare and working with volunteers. I hope this has come across in my work and has strengthened it. I look forward to running the Housing campaign early next term. This should help students with the daunting task of moving into rented accommodation. I have already started on the groundwork for the campaign. I have learnt a lot from running the Money Week held this term and think this will help me with future campaigns.

It is important that we can continue improving the Students' Union in the support that we offer, the opportunities to get involved, the building up of communications between the University and its students and as a service provider. Sometimes it is hard to take a step back and see the bigger picture and focus on what really matters, not the things that bog us down, not the infighting over little things, not the red tape, but the student body.

I hope everyone is having a good holiday. Spend some time reflecting, step back from things for a while, remember what you enjoy in life and you might feel better for it.

And again, I wish you all a happy new year.

After Money Week....

2005-11-25T16:10:00.000Z

Hey all,

Very sorry for the delay in updating my blog. A lot has been happening in the last week and so this has kept slipping down the list of things to do.

This will be a slightly different stile of update to normal due to the changes in my workload and the type of work I have been doing. Here is a basic round up on the areas of work I have been concentrating on.

Money Week:
Lots of time and effort went into planning and running this week of campaigning. During the week there was a stand, flyers, posters and petitions each day on different money related campaigns. 8 budgeting talks were held throughout the week in various halls and on the Whiteknights Campus. The attendance was an impressive 165. That is 16400% up on last year! There was campaigning on the Wednesday night by volunteers from the Women's Group for pay equality for women. Treasurer training also took palace during this week. Finally, general awareness was raised through posters, flyers, spark, Junction11, emails, website and wonderful hall welfare reps.

Spark:
Some of you may be aware of the issues that have arisen with spark over the last week. As a member of the Executive it has been a very time consuming part of my job this week to look into and discuss this issue with the parties involved. Due to the nature of spark things have been moving on very quickly and after a lot of emotional presure on everyone, I hope an agreement can be made on the way forward very soon.

Working with Police:
There have been 3 incidents of assault recently, which Police believe to be connected. One of which was on one of our students. I have been working with Police, Welfare Reps, Jinction11, spark and the RUSU Student Advisors to ensure that personal safety information is widely available and that people are aware of the support that is there for them.

Day-to-day stuff:
Case work, emails, paperwork, meetings, phone calls (it rings a lot more these days!), supporting JCR Welfare Reps, working with volunteers, disciplinaries, talking with staff, local police, university staff and helping Nightline.

Any questions just ask!

Getting in the swing of term....

2005-11-01T18:33:00.000Z

Hello,

There is a lot to write as I have been very busy and not managed to update my blog for a bit. So a quick catch up of what I have been up to:

I produced a wonderful Student Council report
Attended Student Council.
Seen the President of RAGs several times about some fund raising events. Supporting her with it as much as I can.
Spent time with the chair of the Students With Disabilities Group discussing a few of the issues he was worried about. Hopefully helping to resolve some of the concerns that he had.
Attended Activities and Support Committee.
Attended Exec meeting.
Met with Kay Dickinson, the University's Accommodation Officer, about the halls situation and possible improvements in the system for when accommodation is oversubscribed.
Held a planning meeting for the Money Week campaign.
Met with Prof. Downs, Pro-Vice Chancellor, about provisions for Nightline.
Attended University meeting for welfare, support and guidance.
Attended hustings for the by-election.
Helped out with Nightline training sessions.
Spent time working with Tom and Gemma who are two of our part time officers.
Given out condoms.
Lots of time spent organising and preparing for the Money Campaign. It has been very time consuming over the last few weeks. Lots to try and get organised!
Been working with the student advisors.
Visited Reading Student Village looking at the current security facilities there. They need improving in order to offer a safer place for students to live.
Supported some individual students.
Been in contact with campus security on several issues. This includes the Student Village, attack alarms, crime prevention information and disciplinaries.
Prepared and held a meeting with welfare reps on improving the welfare rep training.
Kept up communications with welfare reps and supporting them when required.
Had a meeting with members of the Police on safety, burglaries and extremism.
Met with the warden at St Patricks Hall to discuss student safety.
I have spent time looking into and trying to resolve a dispute between some students.
Been in contact with several university departments on a range of issues like safety and accommodation.
Supported the by-election. Encouraged people to vote, spent time supporting campaigning individuals and of course I voted!
Held a meeting to assess the progress for money week. Spent time phoning round for freebies for the campaign. Been liasing with welfare reps to arrange budgeting talks in halls. Worked with staff to produce the required materials for the campaign. Of course, these are just a few of the many parts to organising money week.
Worked on the Little Book of Welfare, trying to acquire accurate and up to date information for the book. I have also been looking into the issue of attaining advertising in order for us to be able fund the project.
Spent time on disciplinaries.
Made changes to and updated my blog. I had a little help with some of the programming. So thank you Joff if you are reading this!
Did the time consuming job of ordering in more leaflets on a range of things for a proposed welfare week in one of the halls.
Met with Liz Longhurst. Please ask at reception for information about her campaign and sign the petition if you agree in improving regulations for violent porn sites on the internet.

On top of all that I have also been keeping up to date with emails, phone calls, paperwork, seeing visitors, looking after the fish and looking at the forums.

Term begins...

2005-10-13T18:32:00.000+01:00

Hello,

There has been a bit of a longer gap between my blog entries than I had hoped. This is because I was off ill most of last week (week 1 of term). I have been working hard to catch up on things that I missed in that week. Saying that, I was working very hard before getting ill! In fact, I normally work hard!

Anyway, here is what I have been up to since my last blog entry. I may have forgotten a few things…

Given a talk to International Foundation Program students on welfare provision by RUSU.
Given a talk on personal safety to students in Wessex hall.
Spent hour manning the RUSU Executive stand at freshers fayre, talking to students and helping give out information.
Working closely with several JCR Welfare Reps on a number of issues such as the accommodation shortage, isolated student issues in halls, training, condom distribution and resources.
Attended several welcome events run at the Union, being friendly, talking to people and generally getting my face known and making myself approachable.
Working on disciplinary issues. I can't go into this in any more detail. However, it has taken up a lot of my time, far more than I would have liked!
Spent time at Bulmershe. Helping issue NUS cards and updating the notice boards.
Did 'mad hour' training. This was training on how to serve at the bar so that I can work alongside other members of the exec directly with students, getting myself known and hopefully making it easier for students to talk to me!
Gave help on several issues brought to my attention by students. I will not go into detail. This is an important part of my role and varies lots each day.
Prepared paperwork for university meetings that I sit on.
Attended the Vice Chancellor's international student welcome event. A good chance to talk to members of university staff and international students.
Helped at reception a few times when it has been busy. I have learnt a lot doing this!
Attended the Mature Students Welcome Meeting.
Spent time at Childs Hall with students who were being moved out due to lack of rooms.
Been following the accommodation situation and looking at plans for the future.
Did an interview with Spark.
I have spent time working with volunteers from Nightline.
Assisted with Nightline training.
Held meetings on and started preparations for the Money Campaign that will be held in week 6.
Visited the Student Village about some security issues that will hopefully be addressed by the hall management soon. I will be following this up.
Went to the Equal Opportunities Committee meeting.
Attended Volunteers Committee.
Been working with the Student Advisors in Membership Services on several areas of student welfare.
Produced and distributed some informative welfare posters
Held Welfare Committee. This is a meeting for all Welfare Reps, chaired by myself.
And of course checking emails and post, doing paperwork, telephone communications, seeing people, giving out condoms, looking after the fish and checking forums.

It's hotting up…

2005-09-25T14:59:00.000+01:00

With freshers arriving today and many international students arriving over the weekend just gone it has been a little bit hectic to say the least. So here is my little round-up of my week.

Been communicating with Nightline on several issues including publicity and training.
Met with Mark Laynesmith, the University Chaplain.
Helping with several student enquiries.
Written letters to welfare reps and hall wardens.
Finished packing boxes of welfare bits and delivered them personally to the halls.
Compiled paperwork for and chaired an exec meeting.
Attended a meeting with RUSU's Student Advisors.
Went on the Spark run, collecting the student newspaper from the printers and taking it out to the halls.
Getting in touch with hall Welfare Reps, offering support and helping with individual requests.
Working with the University Accommodation Office to ensure new students are getting housed and have access to any support they may need.
On Friday I danced very badly with Dave and Sam at the salsa night for international students. It was a good night and a great chance to mingle with the international students who attended.
Supplied Attack alarms to the halls which requested them.
Went to the world music event on Saturday, talked with more international students and danced badly again!
Produced and put up some welfare posters highlighting access to free condoms and where people can purchase attack alarms.
And tidied up my office. It needed it!

The build up to a new term...

2005-09-19T13:16:00.000+01:00

Hello,
It has been a busy week. (Isn't it always!) So here is a quick round up of what I have been doing…

Working with people in the NHS on changes to the process by which we obtain our condom supplies.
Updated my web page and developed my blog. This is still quite new to me and I have had some teething problems (e.g. differences between Firefox and Internet Explorer coursing me haste!) This is one of my personal rants at the moment so I thought I should mention it!
Arranged for more supplies of welfare information leaflets to distribute.
Been working with the Student Advisors in Membership Services, looking at possible campaigns etc.
Working on the RUSU freshers handbook. Checking that important welfare contact numbers are included and that they are correct.
Dealing with the forums. Moderating them, working on the plans for change and attending meeting about them.
Boxing up welfare goodies for my lovely welfare reps J
Chasing up University management about a welfare issue. (Sorry I can't say more here.)
Dealing with prospective students and current students on day-to-day issues.
Talking to a rep from a new communications company hoping to advertise to our students. Essentially, looking at options for sponsorship such as the little book of welfare.
Been on two more training days. One on mental health and one on running sexual health campaigns. Both very useful.
Been working with the head of campus security to support the personal safety and crime prevention awareness campaign being run in week 1 of term.
Finally, working on the time consuming communication and admin bits such as emails, post, forums, meetings, meeting prep, paperwork and phone calls.

My summer so far...

2005-09-08T13:47:00.000+01:00

At the end of the summer term I started my role as VP Welfare for Reading University Students' Union. Since then I have done the following:

A two-week handover period, where I started to find my feet and Sarah (the previous VP Welfare) showed me the ropes.

Had meetings with a number of University and Union staff that I will be working with over this year.

Been on three NUS training courses. A course on being a Welfare officer, a course on fulfilling my manifesto and a course in being a member of the Union executive.

Attended and took part in the Student Activities Budget meetings. These were two very long meetings where we had to spread the money that is available across all areas of student activity, volunteering, sports, societies and the student media.

Gone to several exec meetings.

Sent back old bulky attack alarms to be replaces by new small swishy ones.

Met with the local Community Drugs Worker.

Held a meeting to discuss and plan 'the little book of welfare'. This will be a small book containing important welfare information for Reading students. Producing it is one of my manifesto pledges. It will hopefully be available to our students at the start of the spring term (for free of course).

Had meetings with the community police officers who cover Whiteknights, Bulmershe and surrounding areas which have a large number of student houses. We talked about student safety and how we could work together to make students as safe as possible. This was one of my manifesto pledges.

Spoken to Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Downes, about the situation with the phones in halls. (Also one of my manifesto pledges.)

Sat on a Disciplinary Committee.

Met with several people concerned with student safety and crime reduction, like the head of campus security.

Working hard on reviewing the RUSU forums, current problems and possible solutions. Ensuring that we consider what is best for our whole membership and not just a minority who use the forums.

Attended the NUS Campaigns Launch in London. This is where the NUS release the priority campaigns and the issues that they will be fighting against on a national level this year. These campaigns are:

The recognition of the importance of student activities and improved funding for sports, societies, student media and volunteering activities.

Developing stronger student representation in further education colleges.

Getting anonymous marking across all institutions.

Fighting the proposed removal of the cap on top-up fees in 2010. (Imagine – no cap on fees! Universities charging students 10 thousand, 20 thousand, 30 thousand… a year in fees. It's bad enough as it is. Pricing people out of education, choices based on bank balance and not ability, sickening!)

Ordering supplies of safe drinking, personal safety, sexual health and emergency information leaflets/booklets/beer mats. Obtaining supplies of condoms, lube and attack alarms. These are to be distributed in halls by welfare reps, at freshers fayre and by other union groups and, of course, myself. This has taken a lot longer than I thought; many hours spend chasing around places and finding appropriate recourses.

Helping JCR Welfare Reps. Making sure they know what I do and what I can do for them, helping directly those who have contacted me with specific issues and informing them of the recourses available.

Packing up boxes of the Welfare goodies to be given to JCR Welfare Reps in halls ready for them to distribute in freshers week. (Takes absolutely ages counting out amounts for each hall dependent on their student numbers! Still have a fare bit more to do!)

Producing a plan for 'the little book of welfare'. It is now at the stage where the costs, funding from advertising and the practicalities are being addressed.

I have been working with Nightline on developments they are looking into. I cant go into detail as things are not yet confirmed. This will be an ongoing issue (which may have some really good long-term outcomes).

Networking with other Students Union Welfare Officers is proving to be useful. I have been developing some good connections, which are a great resource for information and ideas.

I have been highlighting the issue with a proposed parking scheme due to effect selected areas that are dense with student houses. The Reading Borough Council planed to close consultation periods on the scheme before the start of the new term, therefore not giving students the chance to have their say in their community. This has been resolved now as the Reading Borough Council have agreed to take responses to the parking proposed scheme up until the 16th of October 2005. We got what we were pushing for, that’s a very good result I think!

Other very time consuming things which I have been doing involve responding to emails, ongoing communications (e.g. phone calls, meetings, paperwork), preparations for freshers week and also a huge pull on all of the executives time is moderating the forums.

I think I have mentioned the important stuff, if I realise I have forgotten something I will post it on my blog soon.

Hope this helps give people an idea of what I have been up to!

A new start

2005-09-02T17:15:00.000+01:00

Well this blogging stuff is all new to me but I have decide to give it a go for all those Reading University students out there who want to know what I am up to. Please be gentle with me while I get the hang of this!