What makes a Good Student Group?

By the Activities Officer & Activities Development Co-ordinator

Structure of Training session

1. Student Group of the year exercise.

2. What the Union requires.3. Working with Staff and the

structure of the Union.4. Representation

1.Student Group of the year• Economics• Food Co-op Society• Students’ Union Dance Society• Snow Soc• RAG Club

Why?

Criteria• Clear objective & aim for the year.• Representation• Working with the Union• Accessibility• Development of Exec & Members• Critical evaluation• Fun

SWOT Analysis

2. What is Durham Students’ Union?

A registered charity and a company limited by guarantee:

• Under the statuary requirement under Education Act 1994; all students are automatically members

An independent body with certain responsibilities to University Council.

What the Union requires• Risk Assessments• 3 x signatories on Finance forms• Speaker request forms• Trip forms• Event Forms• CIS Forms• Membership through the website• Attendance at compulsory training.

3.Working with the Union

Beth Pearson: Student Activities ManagerHannah Parratt: Activities Development Coordinator

dsu.adc@durham.ac.ukLucinda Thompson: Fundraising Coordinator

dsu.fundraise@durham.ac.ukJonathan Clinch: Music Coordinator

music.coordinator@durham.ac.ukCharly Burnell: Theatre Coordinator

theatre.coordinator@durham.ac.uk

5 staff dedicated to student groups:

Respect

• Staff hours: 9-5pm

• Drop in sessions

• Respect within Student Group Execs

4.Representation

Working Sub-Committees• Active: Marisa Plater marisa.plater@durham.ac.uk• Outdoor: Tom Stevenson t.a.stevenshon@durham.ac.uk• Political & Causes: Will Yuill william.yuill@durham.ac.uk• Music: Sophie Kidwell sophie.kidwell@durham.ac.uk• Hobbies & Games: Adam Symonds a.j.symonds@durham.ac.uk• Academic: To be Elected• Culture & Faith: To be Elected• Arts: To be Elected

These representatives are your voice.

• LGBTA Katie Reynolds katherine.reynolds@durham.ac.uk• Mature SA. Rachel Kurtz rachel.kurtx@durham.ac.uk• Disabled SA Steven Williams s.i.williams@durham.ac.uk• International SA Lei Wang international.students@durham.ac.uk• DUCK Naomi Atkinson dsu.duck-chair@durham.ac.uk • Media Ben Hamer b.f.hamer@durham.ac.uk

Assembly5 student officers1 from Media Committee1 from DUCK Committee8 from Societies committee9 Faculty Representatives16 College Reps1 JCR President’s Committee Chair1 MCR President’s Committee Chair4 Associations’ Presidents

• Highest democratic body in the Union• Sets and approves Union policy• Approves Officer and Committee action plans• Holds Officers and Committees to account• Ratifies new societies and society grant allocations

RepresentationActivities Officer:

Has the lead Student Officer responsibility for:• Effective operation and support of Student Groups, Student Media,

Charity Fundraising and volunteering.• Campaigning to secure enhanced resources for student groups.

Development of policy ensuring fair and equitable distribution of resources to Student Groups.

• Reviewing and researching the impact of Student Groups and their activities

• Advising student groups on best practise and supporting them to become more successful.

Activities Officer Objectives• To increase active participation in student groups by removing

barriers, increasing publicity and student engagement.

• To improve the standard and structure of student media in order to increase accessibility, skills development and student engagement.

• To work closely with Experience Durham to ensure that all student groups are moving forwards in a common direction.

You and your RepTwo way communication

• Student• DUCK Exec• Society Exec• Associations exec• Media Group Exec

• DUCK Representative• Society Representatives• Association

representatives• Media Representative

What do you leave this session with?

What makes a good student group• Clear aim• Planning• Development• Accessibility• Work with the Union• Good Communication

What the Union is• A charity• An independent body with certain

responsibilities to University Council• Student-led

How to work with the Union & Staff• Respect the working week.• Drop in sessions• No personal social media.

How you are represented• Society/DUCK/Media/Association

Representatives sit on assembly.• Activities Officer – DUCK, Societies,

Student Media• Community Officer - Associations