TB171

Union Update Report Report

Purpose: An update on what has been happening at Liverpool Hope SU

Recommendation:That the trustee boardnotes the report

Summary:To keep the board informed of activity in and by the Union against our objectives

Financial impact:None

Student impact:Impact is discussed under each section of the report

Risk:Discussed within each section if appropriate

Contact:Kira Cox, President

Introduction

It has been a very busy time for the Union and I am pleased to update you on our major developments. We continue to build and develop the Union to become a stronger and a more effective organisation to serve our members. In this report I will focus on Union activity against our Strategic Objectives.

Activity

  • We held 2 forums, one on 25th October and one on 1st December, both with a high number of attendees (54 & 70)
  • We attended the joing UCU/ NUS demo “United For Education” with other Students’ Unions from Merseyside
  • We worked with the Merseyside Pensioners Association to host a “Generations United Against Austerity” Conference, on the 12th of November, with a variety of speakers, including John McDonnell MP and Rob Young from NUS
  • 3 new students groups were set up: Not so Adventurous Soc, Debating, Game Developers.
  • We had motions to both forums, which passed, encompassing equality and diversity work – “BME Leadership Matters” and “Celebration Liberation History Months”
  • So far 7 people have attended the “SO you want to stand” briefings
  • We held 3 Course Rep training sessions, with a networking event set fo the near future
  • MFLP mentors training took place on the 26th October, and the programme ran smoothly throughout Novemer and December

Impact on Students

  • Students gaining skills to enhance their employability prospects
  • More students engaging with democratic functions of the Union
  • Increased awareness and engagement of students with Union activity
  • Students shaping the Union and the direction it takes – moving from Sabbatical Officer led to Member led
  • Students are shaping policy and the direction of work on a national & local level

Highlights

  • Ayo Akinrele, Vice-President Welfare & Community, spent 24.5 hours working down at the Creative Campus last term
  • Our next Forum (26th January) will take place at the Creative Campus
  • Kira Cox, President, has begun monthly drop ins at the Aigburth campus to allow students to feel there is more of an SU presence down there
  • The SU Annual Survey has been sent out and will run until 8th February
  • We have begun sending out an SU bulletin on a bi-weekly basis to keep students up to date with what the union is working on and how they can be involved

Impact on Students

  • Hope students forging better relations with local community
  • Increased number of student groups provides increased opportunities for students to participate in extracurricular activities helping to create more communities for students
  • Increased awareness and engagement of students with Union activities

Advice Service

The Advice Service was two and half years old in mid December. At that point it had worked with 565 individual students.

There was a 19 percent increase in numbers using the Service in the last quarter (16/09 - 16/12/16) - 94 students, up from 79 in the same period last year.

In terms of the issues presented, the final quarter of the calendar year is always one of the most varied and demanding.

In 2015, 48 percent were academic-related issues (Appeals, Complaints about the course, Academic misconduct cases, Professional Fitness to Practice, etc.), 35 percent were money advice (Welfare benefits, Student finance, Learning Support Fund, Debt, etc.), and 19 percent were other (Accommodation, Disciplinary cases, Legal difficulties, Employment law, etc.). This year, money issues have become predominant (42 percent of all cases in the quarter), with academic related issues dropping in relative significance (35 percent of cases).

Clients of the Service are now much more likely to bring with them multiple and more complex issues.

Impact on students

Students have access to free, independent, confidential, professional and impartial advice on their rights and responsibilities.

Conclusion

The Students’ Union continues to make considerable progress in several key areas with increased engagement in key services and activities and have plans to continue this development.

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