Northumbria Students' Union Impact Report 2011

OUR VISIONBy 2012 Northumbria Students’ Union aims to become the national leader in improving student life through quality and effective representation, a positive impact on the University and local community and in delivering an excellent all round user and customer experience.

WORDS FROM THEVICE - CHANCELLOR Winning the Students’ Union of the Year award was a superb achievement.

To beat off such strong competition from across the UK is something you should all be very proud of. As a University, we are delighted with this award and thoroughly agree with the judges

when they say that Northumbria Students’ Union is “living up to its mission to have a positive impact on the lives of its students”.

Your success is down to the collective effort and ongoing hard work of the Union team - an effort which has resulted in a 129 per cent increase in student involvement in the local community and record numbers of students participating in societies.

You can also be congratulated on your campaign work, particularly around tackling the issue of burglaries and thefts from student homes.

Northumbria University is well placed to continue being successful and meet the challenges ahead. The Union plays an important part in that success. Applications to the University remain strong and we can be

The University and the Students’ Union enjoy a very good relationship. I look forward to working very closely with you in the 12 months ahead.

Professor Andrew Wathey FRHistS FRSA FSAVice-Chancellor and Chief ExecutiveNorthumbria University

OUR VALUESDEMOCRATIC * INCLUSIVE * ETHICALINNOVATION * QUALITY * PARTNERSHIP

2011 has been the best year that Northumbria Students’ Union has had to date!

Our Positive Impact for 2011 3

4 The Year We Became The Best

6 Winning For Students

8 Getting Involved

10 Welfare & The Local Community

11 Welcome Week

12 Staying Connected

13 Delivering Quality Services

14 Building A Stronger Union

15 Our Goals

CONTENTS AND WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Hi Northumbria,

I think it’s fair to say that 2011 has been the best year that Northumbria Students’ Union has had to date! We have achieved so much for our students and it has certainly been

NUS HE Students’ Union of the Year 2011 award - a

put in by Sabbs, staff and volunteers alike, it has certainly made me proud of our fantastic Students’ Union and I hope you feel the same!

Northumbria Students’ Union is all about making positive change and 2011 was also the year of the Hidden Fees campaign where we achieved a commitment from the University to remove all additional costs wherever possible - fantastic! Since then we have managed to remove the £900 additional yearly cost to law students as well as a fee of £250 for students who need to resubmit their project or dissertation.

for students and the positive impact we have made.

I hope you are as proud of your Union’s recent success as we are and enjoy reading this report.

Jo RhodesPresident 2011 - 2012

Our Positive Impact for 20114

THE YEAR WE BECAME THE BEST2011 was a ground breaking year for us. We were recognised as the NUS Higher Education Students’ Union of the Year. Here are some of the highlights of this amazing year!

My congratulations go to Northumbria Students’ Union for their remarkable achievements in record breaking participation levels, modernising the Students’ Union and creating real change for its members. The

the Union has achieved and its NUS Award recognises this. Liam Burns, NUS National President

* Special Commendation at the NASTA Awards

* Gold & Silver in the Best Bar None Club and Bar categories

* Winning for Students Campaign launched

* Silver Sound Impact Award

year

* Volunteer Northumbriavolunteers WIN two vInspired Awards for Overall Commitment to Volunteering

* NUS HE STUDENTS’ UNION OF THE YEAR

2011

OUR VOICE YOUR FUTURE


3,910 STUDENTSVOTED IN THE ELECTIONS

2,275 TOOK PARTin the Your Union Your Say survey

£12,000 INVESTEDin improved Coach Lane Café

40,680HOURS DEDICATEDto volunteering from our students

I will remember forever, new skills I have learned...

7,680 PEOPLE ATTENDED GIGS

1.1 MILLION HITS

5,000+STUDENTSdirectly spoken to by

G.O.A.L Days (Go Out And Listen)

£69,000RAISEDby RAG for good causes

The best thing about Northumbria SU is the experiences I will remember forever, new skills I have learned and the feeling that you are part of something special. Rachel Smith, Women’s Rep

ON SU WEBSITES


WINNING FOR

STUDENTS

Students from all backgrounds come to Northumbria to study. Northumbria Students’ Union is so welcoming and I feel grateful that I have picked a University with a strong Union that represents their members in such a positive way. Amy Irving, Caring Responsibilities Rep

staff work hard to make sure you get the best experience possible from your education. Be that

entertainment and bars, welfare advice or CV enhancing opportunities.

1,000OV

ER

STUDENTStook part in our Hidden Fees Campaign

* Coach Lane Rep elected * Emergency Taxi

Scheme launched making sure you get home safely

* More parking meters for students at Coach Lane

* Gained agreement from the City Council to seek restrictions on ‘To Let’ signs

I appreciate the chance to make a real impact in student welfare and education and helping to make a difference not only within the University but in the wider community.Yunaus M Akram, Elections Committee

TAX I

BUS

now eligible for student bus passes

* Students over

26

£1,150REMOVAL OFhidden Law School fees

7

Meet people and promote what the Union stands for...

Northumbria SU has one of the best Rep systems in the UK and has been nominated for many National Awards. 2011 saw us make great strides in the engagement and representation of students, delivering real changes across the University improving the quality of education.

* GROUND BREAKING LONG TERM EDUCATION POLICY PUBLISHED

181 COURSE/SCHOOL REPS

attended Course Rep Conference

11 NEW EQUALITY REPS ELECTED

to represent diversity within Northumbria

533COURSEREPS TRAINED

75%OF COURSEREPS

believe they’ve had a positive impact on quality assurance at the University

* First SU International Women’s Day event organized by new Women’s Rep

Being a School Rep is a fantastic opportunity to get out on campus, meet people, make a difference and promote what the Union stands for. William Downey, Human Resource Management, School Rep

176NEW ADVICE CASES


GETTING INVOLVED

There are so many fantastic opportunities at the Students’ Union, my role as an events coordinator for RAG was one of the most challenging and rewarding roles of my life. Megan Blacklock, RAG Annual Events Coordinator/Course Rep

The Get Involved Fair held during Welcome Week opened up a whole host of opportunities for students to give something back to the community, enhance their social lives or their CV.

£69,000RAG RAISED

during 2011 thanks to the

340VOLUNTEERSwho made it happen

* Environmental project volunteering launched under a new Environmental Activities Coordinator

MEMBERS OF2,390

56ACTIVE SOCIETIES


The best experience was the tea dance I coordinated for older people in the local area with Age UK Student Volunteers, there were smiles on everyone’s faces. Lydia Burnside Hughes, Volunteer Northumbria Ambassador

The best experience was the tea dance I coordinated for older people...

It was a great feeling that I had helped someone grow into a more confident person...

PEOPLE in the community 1,000

Volunteering at Northumbria continues to have a huge impact on all areas of the community:

41 COMMUNITY PROJECTS

coverage for Volunteer Northumbria projects

PIECES OF PRESS 211,384 STUDENTS

engaged in volunteering

Lydia Burnside HughesvInspired Award for Overall Commitment to Volunteering (North East Regional Winner)

Sam Booth-Malone vIspired Award for Overall Commitment to Volunteering (Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Winner)

Xirxong He Shine Award for Best International Student of the Year 2011 Regional British Council

And some were recognised for their hard work:

The best thing was seeing some WriSoc members grow from shy and uncomfortable to leaders within the Union. It was a great feeling that I had helped someone grow into a

Trent Cannon, VP Writer’s Society and Volunteer Northumbria Project Leader


WELFARE AND LOCAL COMMUNITY

The SU delivers many opportunities which are fun, rewarding and provide a range of experiences that develop interpersonal skills. Matt Dinnery, Disabled Students Rep

Being elected to represent one of the largest Schools in within the University enables me to recognise and represent a diverse student population. Sophie Chilton, Coach Lane Student Rep

Being elected to represent one of the largest Schools in within the University...

Our commitment to students goes beyond that of academic studies. We work in partnership with local police, the University Student Support and Wellbeing Service, City Councils, NHS and many more to ensure that students are healthy and safe during their time at Northumbria.

1,000STUDENTS

Safe in the City Week reached over

* Joint campaign with the University for Christmas safety tips

* Drink Aware campaign launched

* Emergency Taxi Service introduced to get students home safely

* Reduced crime in student communities

NU:TV Drink Aware video viewed

480+HITS

100BALLOONSplaced in vulnerable properties to highlight security issues in vulnerable areas

WELCOME WEEKIn September we welcomed students from all over the world to Northumbria with an unforgettable Welcome Week 2011. There

class entertainment line up, Welcome and Get Involved Fairs to Give It a Go sessions.

11

induction talks to over

2,500 NEW STUDENTS

221 WELCOMETEAM MOVED

4,500 STUDENTSINTO

19 HALLS OFRESIDENCE

2,900WELCOME WEEK PASSES SOLD in record time 14,000 PEOPLE

attended the Welcome Fair over three days

Welcome Week Facebook page receives

3,575* First international and Coach Lane student mailings are launched with special welcome messages from President Jo Rhodes

5,000 GOODIE BAGS GIVEN OUT

The Welcome Team really made me feel at home, they helped me make new friends and settle in at Northumbria. I’ve been involved in the Students’ Union ever since. Alex Lenaghan, Lay Student Councillor

they helped me make new friends and settle in at Northumbria.

* Family Fun Day at Coach Lane for all students, staff and friends


STAYING CONNECTED

GO OUT & LISTEN (GOAL) DAYS from

hear your views directly

88 EDITIONSOF NU:LIFE

1.1 MILLIONpage views on Student Union websites

3,575 MEMBERSof Welcome Week Facebook event

10% IMPROVEMENTin e-communication open rates

37,184 VIEWSof on NU:TV YouTube channel

2,501 TWITTERFOLLOWERS@NorthumbriaSU

in visits to www.mynsu.co.uk

INCREASE16%

WWW.

* New Coach Lane monthly e-newsletter introduced

5,011 DOWNLOADS

AP

P

* NU:TV WINS Tim Marshall Highly Commended Award at NASTAs

9,946 FACEBOOKLIKES ON@Mynsu

My best experience was NU:TV winning an award at the NASTAs in April. It was a testament to all of the hard work that the entire team had done. Sam Honour,NU:TV Programme Controller

We are committed to communicating with students in a range of ways, be this through new technologies such as Smartphone Apps or the old fashioned way, by getting your

you directly. When you talk, we listen.


DELIVERING QUALITY SERVICES

The Union is the social hub on campus with 3 amazing clubs and bars there’s something here for everyone and I’ve always felt safe. Mike Squire, Lay Student Councillor

I’ve always felt safe...

100,000PEOPLE ATTENDED club and live music events

Biggest Welcome Week ever

2900

35,000PASSESSOLD

STUDENTS ATTENDED WELCOME WEEK

Enhanced Starbucks provision in Habita and Reds and served

84,000 COFFEES

SOLD

199,080 PINTS

GENERATED

£1.7 MILLION in commercial income and increased sales by

10%

* to redesign Reds Café Bar, Coach Lane and the outside patio to make more appealing

MYSTERY SHOPPER SURVEY achieved average

SCORE OF 96% across City and Coach Lane outlets for customer care

The Students’ Union has continued to enhance and develop commercial services in line with student needs across the board and has achieved outstanding success. Our commitment to providing

students is evidenced with increased growth at both City and Coach Lane Campuses and better feedback from members in market research.

This has led to

better facilities,

enhancing our

activities and

enabling us to

represent students...


Governance £7,379

£45,940

Depreciation £109,018

Cost of Sales £486,511

Support Costs £626,199

Salaries & Wages £1,138,290

University Grants £808,506

Self-generated income £1,623,854

The Students’ Union grows from strength to strength by

assets of £141,065 compared to £83,432 the previous year and down from its peak of £493,007 net current liabilities in

Union’s ability to manage its affairs in a prudent manner was rewarded with an increase grant funding of 4.2% to £808,072. This increase in funding has allowed the Students’ Union to grow the quality of its representation services and the increase the breadth of student activity and personal development opportunities for our members.

SURPLUS OF £19,023Increase in net current assets of

£57,633

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

BUILDING A STRONGER UNION

This year we have been able to put

our members due to the good

support and increased funding from the University. This has led to better facilities, enhancing our activities and enabling us to represent students more effectively with better staff support. Holly Seabrook, Vice President Communications & Involvement 2010-2012

4.2%University grant fundingincreased by

£10,000invested Coach Lane Café

£96,000invested into Reds Café and Bar

£20,000to enhance our entertainment venues

* Created new staff posts to support the student experience including; Representation, Societies and Environmental Co-ordinators

INCOME

EXPENDITURE


OUR GOALS

Yeah!Be recognised nationally for providing sector leading systems and support for our students

Yeah!Increase our members’ awareness of our values, services and activities

Yeah!Embed community engagement, as a core purpose of the Union

Yeah!Developed a stronger sense of loyalty to the Students’ Union by all Northumbria students

Yeah!Develop new partnerships with the University community and other key external stakeholders

Yeah!Achieve a 70% rating by our members in having had a positive impact on their lives

Yeah!

stability and sustainability

Yeah!Increase participation in all activities by a minimum of 10%

Yeah!Increase overall commercial revenues by a minimum of 10%

Yeah!Ensure that Coach Lane student needs are considered in all our activity and service plans

Yeah!Increase usage, cultural activity and income of the redeveloped Students’ Union

Trustees and Leaders of the Students’ Union 2011Adam White Adam Wigley Andrew Cheung Ashleigh Blackwood Becky Warburton

David Caldwell David Inman Hannah Horne Harry Marshall Holly Seabrook Iain Harrison Jo Rhodes Karen Ingram Kate Bradshaw Kirstie Wilson Osemeke Mosindi

Paul Hughes Pete Woodward Samantha Farndale Tim Mallender William Ralston

Documents

Northumbria Students' Union Impact Report 2011