What Have the Sabbs Done for You? 6 Months In – VP Welfare
Get in Touch!
Twitter: @BeckieVPwelfare Email: vpwelfare@susu.org
Click here to see my year in photos!
I’ve created wordles to show you the 2 areas I am responsible for in my role: WELFARE & SUSTAINABILITY
JULY (A lot of networking)
- Said goodbye to the old sabb team
- Spent time networking with University staff, and other student officers at the Student Unions’ 2014 Conference in Bolton.
- Took part in EcoCampus Audit Interviews; in which the University were awarded EcoCampus Platinum!
- I carried out research to inform my goals for the year.
- I featured in a University Sustainability video for the e-learning module
- We carried out research into student employability support across the sector, both other student Unions and other Universities, to enable me to create a plan.
- Sabbaticals had a tour of our sites: SGH, NOC and WSA
- Lobbied Student Services to send out an automatic email response from enabling services, detailing available support services to help students whilst they are waiting for a response.
- Attended a Westminister Briefing on Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education in London
- Represented SUSU on stage at Summer Graduation Ceremonies.
AUGUST (2 weeks) (A lot of planning)!
- Helped University Residences to map the student journey through accommodation to see where improvements need to be made.
- In August I took part in some training with the sabb team, which was mostly a refresher for me since I went through the full training last year.
- Planned welfare & sustainability events for Freshers
- Met with various people to discuss plans for the year ahead including: Sam Bailey(equality & diversity officer). Solent sabbatical officers, the Recovery College, and presidents of the residents associations, SUSU Chief Executive.
- I took 2 weeks off to interrail through Europe!
SEPTEMBER (A lot more planning)!
- The sabb team presented University open day talks in which we attempt to explain everything SUSU has to offer in under 20 minutes!
- Worked on some quick improvements to the YourSkills page on the SUSU Website.
- Attended the SUSU Staff Conference
- Contributed to stategy sessions on the next Union Plan
- Presented our ethics and environment project BEES at a city business event called CRUMBS and met the mayor of Winchester.
- Conference call with the NUS to discuss the future of the BEES programme
- Spoke at Creative Industries and JCR Inductions, and SUSU Lettings Staff Induction.
- Set my goals in my Sabbatical Plan
- Planned marketing and communicating my ideas for the year ahead
- Freshers Week: Student Survival Day, Welcome Talks, Bun Fight, Freshers’ Fayre, Chill Out Day, Bar 3 Diner Launch.
OCTOBER
- Discussed plans for the year ahead with: Emily Shepherd( Nightline Officer), Lydia Butler (Ethics and Environment Officer), Holley Barclay (Wellbeing Officer), Head of Career Destinations
- Discussions on SUSU values for next Union Plan
- Voiceover for enabling services cartoon videos
- Spent a day working at WSA reception
- Held Make a Difference Day
- Mapped the student journey on skills reflection with the University to figure out how best to support
- Created a plan of action for SUSU for the next 2-3 years to improve employability support for students
- Lobbied Letting Agencies not to rush students into looking for properties before January 26th at the earliest
- Engaged businesses owners in the BEES project by visiting stores on Portswood high street
- Represented student views on welfare and sustainability to the international head-hunters for the new Vice Chancellor
- My Birthday!!!!
- BBC Radio Solent interview on SUSU Lettings and the Housing Campaign
- Discussed welfare considerations with the Library management regarding January 24Hour Library Trial
- Discussed Ideas with Sheffield Student Unions’ VP Welfare
- Attended SUSU’s Annual General Meeting
NOVEMBER
- Disability Focus Group to gain feedback on accessibility of SUSU facilities and activities
- Released the Rate your Letting Agency Question
- Attended Wellbeing Day which we’d organised with the University, SUSU signed the Mindful employer charter.
- Met with some of the JCR Welfare Officers to discuss their
- Committed to promoting the Student Consultancy Programme at University
- Further lobbying letting agencies on the Don’t Rush housing campaign
- Student Minds Mental Health campaign training course in Leeds
- We helped to promote Interfaith Week
- We organised Blackout, in which I was a team leader on the night!
- Attended University Council and University Away Day as Deputy President in the President’s absence, discussing international growth and the Business School.
- Meeting of SUSU Social enterprises Directors (the sabbatical team)
- Ran a Stress Management Session as part of the YourSkills programme
- Wrote a policy with Sam Bailey, to introduce equality impact assessments to SUSU, to ensure our activities and facilities are as accessible as possible over the next few years.
- Organised and hosted the Inspiring Women Event
- Updated housing web page with agencies who had agreed to join our Don’t Rush campaign
DECEMBER 
- Meeting on the future of the BEES Programme with the NUS in London
- The Elections Coaching Programme is now in place; I wanted to support students from groups who don’t usually stand for elections, so we have 10 ex-sabbatical officers ready to coach students who need help deciding whether or not to run for a sabbatical role, email democracy@susu.org if you are interested.
- Organised safety bus for the 24 hour library and wrote a bid for funding
- Business Engagement session for BEES programme calling local SMEs
- Represented SUSU at Winter Graduation Ceremonies
- Organised Stress Less Fest
- Organised plans for refreshers: Housing Fayre, Wellbeing Wednesday
JANUARY
- Worked on sabbatical handover document
- SUSU staff conference
- Filmed elections videos on role of Vp Welfare and Vp Sports Deveopment
- Discussed student communications and marketing with the sabbatical team
- Worked on a plan for promotion of a complete guide to welfare services for students
- Banana Giveaway for the Stress Less Fest in Hartley Library, Avenue, SGH, NOC and WSA.
- Met with head of senior tutor network, and attended Senior Tutor Network
- Facilitated discussion on equality and diversity priorities for students (informed by e&d committee) with University staff.
- Facilitated discussion on marketing work placement opportunities to students with University Staff
- Discussion on University plans to respond to the changes to the national Disabled Student Allowance
- Reviewed SUSU Profiles on the Opportunities at University of Southampton website (OPUS)
- Attended the Student Green Fund ‘Education for Sustainable Development’ Conference in London
- Met the new faculty liason officer in enabling services
- Improving Participation Project Meeting
- Worked on budget aspirations for student life and sustainability zone ready for the January Budget review
- Asked University to meet me to discuss how SUSU can help to make students more aware of the Student Harpship Fund
- Coffee with Alex Neil (Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education) to discuss welfare support and education
- Discussed my plans for JCR Welfare Officer training with Frankie Moat (JCR Officer), and Anjit (VP Student Communities)
- Ordered a fibreglass elephant for the elephant in the room mental health campaign
- Speech at the SUSU Housing Advice Fayre
Throughout the year I have also been busy attending meetings, here are some examples:
- Chairing Student Life Zone & Sustainability Zones
- Student Groups funding allocations for Student Life and Sustainability zones through 3 funding rounds
- Reporting to Union council
- Senior staff & sabbatical forum
- Trustee Board, Finance sub-committee, staffing sub-committee, remunerations panel for Chief executive
- Equality & Diversity Committee and Environment and Ethics Committee
- Meeting Pro-Vice Chancellor International to discuss faith provision
- Shortlisting and interview panels for several core SUSU members of staff
- University meetings on: Employability strategy, Access agreement, Work experience and Placements, Halls Experience, Enabling services, Sustainability.
Below is a table of the goals I set myself for the year, and some photos of the incredibly opportunities that I’ve taken as a sabbatical officer. If you can’t tell already, I really really love this job.
If you’re reading this thinking you’d love the chance to be the next VP Welfare, send me an email at vpwelfare@susu.org and I can give you some more information, nominations to stand close on Friday 13th February 2015, so you still have plenty of time!
Regular Meetings throughout the year:
- Pro Vice Chancellor International to discuss faith provision on campus
- Shortlisting and interview panels for core SUSU members of staff: Student Life Zone Co-ordinator, Peer Support Co-ordinator, Sustainability Zone Co-ordinator, Advice Centre Advisor, Policy & Volunteer Manager,
- Chaired Student Life Zone & Sustainability Zone
- Union council
- Senior staff & sabbatical forum
- Attended Trustee Boars, Finance subcommittee, staffing subcommittee, remunerations panel for chief exec
- Attended Equality & Diversity Committee and Environment and Ethics Committee. Allocated funding to student groups in student life and sustainability zone through 3 funding rounds
- University meetings o: Employability strategy Network Access agreement advisory group
- Work experience and placement meeting Halls Experience Board, enabling services catch up, carbon management planning steering group meeting, esag
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