A city welcome for the new Vice Chancellor

The news magazine for York St John University WINTER 2010
A city welcome for the
new Vice Chancellor
see page 2
09
Graduation 2010
York Minster provides the
backdrop for the celebrations
10 12
Focus on
Development Office and
SPARK scholarships
In the spotlight
Jo Piddington, Opportunities
Coordinator, Students’ Union

NEWS
A city welcome for the
new Vice Chancellor
Professor David Fleming was
inaugurated as Vice Chancellor
of York St John University at a
formal ceremony held in York
Minster on 2 November, in front
of an audience of staff, students,
guests and professional partners
of the University.
The event began with a procession down
Stonegate towards York Minster. This
involved staff and students, members
of York’s civic party and the University’s
Chancellor, The Most Reverend and
Right Honourable Dr John Sentamu. The
inauguration ceremony included musical
performances, symbolic gift giving and
ended with dramatic African drumming to
accompany the procession as it left
the Minster.
In his inaugural speech Professor Fleming
said, “This has been a fantastic event
for the University’s students, staff and
friends. I believe that this is a remarkable
university in the heart of a remarkable
city. Today marks the start of an ambitious
period which will establish York St John
as a leading, internationally recognised,
teaching led university.”
Dr Sentamu commented, “I warmly
welcome Professor Fleming to his new
role as the Vice Chancellor of York St John
University. His enthusiasm is a great asset
and I am delighted that he has
joined us.”
Front page: (left to right)
the Vice Chancellor, the
Archbishop of York and
Pro Chancellor Robin Hall.
Top: the Archbishop
and Vice Chancellor lead the
drumming.
Centre: the Vice Chancellor
delivers his inaugural speech.
Bottom: the ceremony in
York Minster.
Creating our future: fresh
thinking in the heart of York
In October, Vice Chancellor Professor David Fleming set out the University’s
vision for its long-term future and how those ambitions would be achieved.
Understanding our current profile is
essential in identifying York St John’s
strengths, gaps, positioning and options
for the future. It is also key to appreciate
the environment in which we are
operating. The economy is transforming
both nationally and globally and
technology is having a significant impact on
the way in which we communicate, study
and work. Within this context there are new
policy makers who will influence our future
direction and their views and actions are
being shaped by a number of
key debates.
Building a new vision
We have a strong mission but we need to
rethink our offer as a University and create
a new vision for the future. This vision rests
on three pivotal themes:
1 Exceptional learning and teaching
2 Exceptional student experience
3 Exceptional graduates.
Key work streams
The University has identified a number
of key areas for the implementation of
accelerated change. These include:
1 Student Experience
2 International Development
3 Partnerships & Civic Engagement
4 Employability & Enterprise
5 Learning, Teaching & Research
Enhancement
6 Academic Portfolio Management
Each work area will be led by a member
of the Senior Leadership Team with
opportunities for all staff to get involved
and shape change.
Please refer to the
Creating our future booklet
distributed at the staff
forums in October for more
information. If staff have any
questions about the new
vision for the University they
should speak to their manager
in the first instance.
talk
CONTENTS
02 News
08 Research news
08 Widening participation
09 Graduation 2010
10 Focus on… Development Office
& SPARK scholarships
12 Opinion: Vanessa Simmons
on widening participation
13 In the spotlight
14 The view from the
Students’ Union
15 Announcements
16 Noticeboard
02
03

NEWS
VC joins board of
Science City York
Vice Chancellor Professor David Fleming
has joined the Board of Directors at
Science City York.
The move formalises the close links
forged over many years between
the University and Science City York.
Professor Fleming will work alongside
Richard Gregory, Chair of the Science
City York Board, and company directors
Professor Nicola Spence, Science
City York Chief Executive; Professor
Brian Cantor, Vice Chancellor of the
University of York; Kersten England,
Chief Executive, City of York Council;
David Dickson, Chair of accountancy
firm Garbutt & Elliott Ltd; and Simon Hill,
Director of Business Development at
Yorkshire Forward.
Richard Gregory said, “The timing for our
new partnership with York St John could
not be better, building upon the strong
support and joint working to date, and
strengthening Science City York’s reach,
range and integrated ‘city’ approach.”
Professor Spence added, “David’s
extended involvement in Science City
York brings additional skills, vision and
leadership to an already exceptional
top-level team and helps ensure a more
inclusive approach to supporting the
city’s economic, social and cultural
ambitions.”
Professor David Fleming with
Professor Nicola Spence
Strengthening the
local economy
A launch party for the new
cohort of creative and digital
start-up businesses based in the
Phoenix Centre took place on
1 September at Bar Lane
Studios. The two-year-old
initiative is already proving to
be a success, with all of the 12
pioneering ventures from 2009
still in business, with some in
new premises in the city.
“The scheme is going well,” said Simon
Newton, Head of Regional Partnership
Strategy at York St John, “and our
involvement definitely has many important
benefits for the University. The businesses
like being based in a central location in
the city – and at the heart of the campus.
We are learning how to add value to their
experience through mentoring, contact
with academics, placements, internships
and projects.
“The whole enterprise agenda and
employability are becoming more and
more important. Having the start-ups
on campus shows our students what is
achievable, and the focus on the creative
and digital sectors plays to one of York
St John’s strengths. We are becoming
increasingly seen as an economic generator
for the city, with business people and the
City Council now viewing our potential
role in a different light.”
The present funding for the initiative
comes to an end in June 2011 and
discussions are ongoing about what form it
will take in the future.
The refurbished Phoenix Building
The Vice Chancellor’s appointment to the
board of Science City York, the lead for the
Phoenix Centre initiative, brings the two
organisations closer together and reflects
the importance of York St John to the
creative and digital sectors in the city.
The Phoenix Building itself has undergone
a refurbishment in the last few months. It
now also houses Higher York, Aimhigher
and the Development Office as well as
Simon, who commented, “We now have
a great environment in which to mix and
discuss ideas. This spontaneity is already
happening and we are seeing the potential
for further collaborations.”
Olympic
champion visits
York St John
Jonathan Edwards CBE, Deputy Chair of
the Nations and Regions Group of the
London Organising Committee of the
Olympic and Paralympic Games, took
part in an inspirational day on
22 September to promote and support
sport and business in the region. The
event was designed to challenge
attitudes to disability and explore how
having a disability can be overcome in
business, sport and culture. Jonathan,
who has held the world record for the
triple jump since 1995, was joined at
the event by the Chairman of Paralympic
GB, Tim Reddish OBE.
The theme of disability in business was
highlighted in a conference at York St
John Business School, with presentations
from Deloitte, Job Centre Plus and Alan
Rayment, Coach and Ambassador for
Triathlon England Disabled Athletes.
Jonathan and Tim took part in a Q&A
session with delegates, and then met
York St John staff and students to sample
taster sessions of disability sports,
including boccia, wheelchair basketball
and goalball. Performances were also
put on by Out of Character, the theatre
company developed out of courses held
for mental health service users, and a
workshop was delivered by Hands and
Voices Choir, the first singing and
signing choir.
(left to right) Alan Rayment, Vice Chancellor
Professor David Fleming, Jonathan Edwards
CBE and Tim Reddish OBE
Professor Sebastian Kim
Expert advice
for Archbishop of
Canterbury
An invitation from Lambeth Palace
resulted in Professor Sebastian Kim, Chair
in Theology and Public Life, advising the
Archbishop of Canterbury on the issue of
Hindu conversion to Christianity in India.
The meeting was arranged prior to a visit
by the Archbishop to India in October 2010
where he planned to host an interfaith
dialogue with Hindu leaders.
Professor Kim is an acknowledged expert
in the field of conversion studies and has
written various articles and a book, In
Search of Identity: Debates on Religious
Conversion in India (OUP, 2003), which is
widely regarded as a ‘landmark in studies
on conversion’. He commented, “The
struggle between Hindus and Christians on
the issue of conversion is undoubtedly due
to the socio-political problems of the Indian
context but, more foundationally, it is also
due to different theological searches for the
meaning of life and the way to achieve it.”
Partnership
building in
Tanzania
St John’s University, Tanzania (SJUT) has
gratefully received and reconditioned
many PCs donated by York St John in
recent years. In turn, colleagues at
SJUT have been active in their response
to this developing relationship. In
February, eight second-year students
and Dr Jacqui Akhurst, from Psychology,
travelled to Tanzania for the students’
three-week community-based work
placement. In May-June, York St John
students funded themselves to visit the
capital city, Dodoma. They stayed in
the guesthouses at SJUT, and worked in
a nearby school as teacher assistants,
undertaking a variety of activities to
support individual and small groups of
learners. They also worked on the SJUT
campus, marking standardised tests and
helping in the library. The local students’
union arranged outings to visit projects
concerned with those affected by HIV/
Aids and a psychiatric unit.
Plans are underway to host a group of
SJUT Science Society students at York. In
addition, since so much learning at SJUT
is text-based, the students who visited
Tanzania are keen to collect text books.
Please respond to the appeal launched
on the staff homepage if you have any
books (and especially encyclopaedias) to
contribute.
New home for the computers from York St John.
04
05

NEWS
York St John Teaching Fellowship scheme
The purpose of the Teaching Fellowship scheme is to reward and
recognise the work of individual staff members for their contribution to the
enhancement of teaching and/or supporting student learning and for
their contribution to meeting the learning and teaching goals of the
faculty/department and University.
Applications are invited from
staff who feel they meet the
criteria for a teaching fellowship.
Teaching Fellows are expected
to play a central role in their
faculty/department in
on-going learning and teaching
enhancement and innovation
work.
Please go to www.yorksj.ac.uk/
teachingfellowships to download
an application form. The next
deadline is 10 January 2011.
New Teaching Fellows
introduce themselves
Amanda Smith, British Sign
Language (BSL) Lecturer
I was born deaf. I first learned sign
language when I was 13 and it is my first
language with English being my second.
I have two grown-up children who are
both hearing. At the age of 16, I went to
Huddersfield College to learn office work
and I was also thinking of becoming a
teacher. The staff at the college told me
that I could not be a teacher because I was
deaf!
When I left college I worked for different
companies in the office, carrying out all
normal office duties apart from answering
the telephone. I always wanted to be a
teacher and I finally went to Wakefield
College in 1999 and gained a City & Guilds
7307 for Education Teachers Stage I and
II. I was so happy that I could finally teach;
since then I have worked at many different
colleges and schools, teaching BSL level 1
and 2. I have also been involved with lots
of training on how to teach BSL. Since I
got the job at York St John in 2004-05, the
classes have grown considerably.
I have recently completed the Postgraduate
Certificate in Academic Practice. I wanted
to do more and after more research, I
finally became a Teaching Fellow. I was
so happy and my family are so proud of
me and my achievements, particularly
considering my deafness. I am continuing
to do more work and so keep your eye
out in the future as I am planning more
workshops to raise deaf awareness for staff
and students. If you see me around the
University, come up and say hello!
(English translation of this article assisted).
Dr Takamitsu Jimura, Lecturer in
Business Management (Tourism)
I have a background in tourism and
cultural heritage management and joined
York St John in August 2008. Before that I
worked as a visiting lecturer in tourism at
the University of Greenwich. My research
interests include cultural and heritage
tourism management, tourism and local
communities, tourism at cultural World
Heritage Sites, and the management and
conservation of cultural World Heritage
Sites. My current teaching is related to
tourism studies, marketing, research
methods and business statistics. I was
awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in
Academic Practice from the University
in 2010 and am a Fellow of the Higher
Education Academy. I also work as the
international students’ tutor for Business
Management and IT programmes.
Susan Orr
celebrates
her National
Teaching
Fellowship
Professor Susan Orr, Deputy
Dean of the Faculty of Arts,
and Jill Armstrong, Director
of Learning Development,
attended an event in London
on 29 September held to
congratulate those who were
awarded National Teaching
Fellowships from the Higher
Education Academy. Professor
Orr was awarded a National
Teaching Fellowship in June for
her contribution to the student
learning experience.
Professor Susan Orr (right) and Jill Armstrong
at the celebration event.
The Vice Chancellor celebrates the
RTS Student Award triumph with a group of
winning Film & TV staff and students.
RTS Awards
Film & Television students
from York St John scooped
two awards at the Yorkshire
Royal Television Society
(RTS) Student Awards, taking
the top spot in two major
categories at an awards
ceremony held at York’s Reel
Cinema on 9 November.
KC Suri, Chairman of Reel Cinemas UK,
presented the fiction award to a team
of third-year students led by Edward
Cooper and Rheya Brigden for their
film entitled The Sword, a dramatic film
about thwarted ambition. Acclaimed
documentary maker Paul Berriff
presented the best factual film award
to a team of second-year students led
by Thomas Hewett and Joe Burrows for
Through the Peephole, a documentary
about the world of burlesque.
Robin Small, Senior Lecturer in Film &
TV Production, said, “It’s a fantastic
honour to win two top awards and a real
endorsement of the quality and strength
of the Film & Television courses. Staff
and students are thrilled about this.”
The two winning films will now be
entered to compete at the national RTS
Student Awards held in London in
May 2011.
Nigerian
delegation on
campus
The Faculty of Education
& Theology welcomed a
party of Nigerian academics
from the Federal College of
Education in Kontagora, led
by their Provost Dr Nathaniel
Odediran, in November.
The party attended master classes
by senior staff at York St John and
received details on pedagogy in Higher
Education from Anita Backhouse, Dr
Mike Calvert and others. The visit was
organised by Katie Simpson, HEIF Coordinator
for the Faculty. The visit may
pave the way towards academic visits
in both directions and lead to another
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic
Practice (PCAP) programme in Africa.
Mike Calvert is contracted to undertake
a range of staff development work
in Kenyan universities from January
onwards – at Strathmore Business
School, Africa Nazarene University and
United States International University –
which takes forward the work of PCAP in
those leading universities.
(left to right) Aisha Y Bukar,
Katie Simpson, Dr Nathaniel Odediran,
the Vice Chancellor, Dr Muhammed Mann
Shaaba, Anita Backhouse, Sabatu Tanko
and Dr Mike Calvert.
06 07

Widening participation
Working with Black and Minority
Ethnic (BME) communities
Paramjeet Kaur-Singh is the
BME Project Leader for York St
John, supporting the delivery
of the BME strand of the Access
Agreement.
Working across the Yorkshire region, the
project aims to empower BME communities
and to encourage their participation in
Higher Education. Paramjeet has engaged
BME groups in aspiration-raising activities,
delivered tailor-made short courses to the
predominantly Pakistani community in
Keighley, and established an outreach office
at Sangat Community Centre in the town.
She has set up a Chamekele Sitare group –
meaning Shining Stars in Hindi, Urdu
and Punjabi.
This group enables mature learners to
address their own, and their families,
educational needs. Chamekele Sitare also
works with the wider BME community
to increase networking opportunities for
women.
Paramjeet is currently working on a
good practice guide, building on
her experiences of empowering BME
communities through engaging with
Higher Education Institutions.
If you would like to be involved in the
development of the guide please contact
Paramjeet, E: p.kaur-singh@yorksj.ac.uk
or T: 6924.
Paramjeet Kaur-Singh
Research news: English in China
Graduation 2010
This year’s ceremonies took place on 18 and 19 November, with
over 1,500 graduating students and their friends and families enjoying
the celebrations in York Minster and on campus. The ceremonies
were also notable for being the first attended by Professor David Fleming in
his capacity as Vice Chancellor, and this is the final year of the conferment
of University of Leeds’ degrees.
Dragons’ Den investor amongst
honorary graduates
James Caan, best known as one of the investors in
the successful BBC series Dragons’ Den, was one of
three exceptional individuals to be awarded honorary
degrees by York St John at this year’s graduation
ceremonies. Mr Caan received an Honorary Doctorate
in Business Administration (DBA) in recognition of his
success as an entrepreneur and business leader, and
his generosity in using his experience to advise other
businesses and entrepreneurs, especially those from
ethnic minority backgrounds.
Valerie Taylor OBE received an Honorary Doctorate
in Health Sciences (DHSc) in recognition of her long
and distinguished career and service to the poor and
disabled people of Bangladesh. She set up the Centre
for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed in Dhaka in
1979. Today, the centre is an internationally renowned
training hospital and rehabilitation centre which
regularly welcomes volunteers from overseas, including
occupational therapy students from York St John.
Chris Hall and Rachel
Wicaksono, from the Centre
for Languages and Linguistics
in York St John Business School,
are currently studying the
worldwide use of English as a
lingua franca.
With support from YSJ International,
they recently visited Suzhou University of
Science and Technology (SUST) to start
a new phase of their research.
Working with Liu Shu and Qian Yuan
(English language teachers at SUST and
former students of York St John’s MA
TESOL programme) and Xiaoquing Xu
(Dean of Foreign Languages at SUST),
they employed surveys and interviews
to investigate Chinese English language
teachers’ beliefs about who ‘owns’ the
English language and how it can be
shaped by its users to serve the needs of a
globalised world.
New ways of thinking in applied linguistics
stress how users of second languages are
able to communicate more effectively
than many native speakers in international
scenarios. International collaboration is
needed if the implications of this are to
be worked out both for English language
teachers here in the UK and abroad.
Chris and Rachel also worked with YSJ
International’s Danlu Liu to promote the
University’s programmes in this beautiful
region of China.
They will return to China next August
for the World Congress of the
International Association for Applied
Linguistics in Beijing, where they are
organising a symposium.
Rachel Wicaksono and Chris Hall with
co-researchers and former postgraduate
students Yuan Qian (left)
and Shu Liu (right).
Pictured from the top:
James Caan
Valerie Taylor OBE
Janakiraman Ramachandran
Janakiraman Ramachandran received an Honorary
Doctorate of Education (EdD) in recognition of his
contribution to education and social development
in India. Mr Ramachandran is Chancellor of AMET
University in Chennai. In 1976 he founded the NAESEY
project, which provides free training courses for the
unemployed of South India to help them earn a regular
income and achieve social status. He has been the sole
funder of this organisation which has assisted more
than 0.15 million people.
08 09

FOCUS ON…
The Development
Five years since its launch in 2005, the
SPARK (Securing Potential and Releasing
Knowledge) scholarship programme has gone
from strength to strength.
Julie Bagwash and Valentine Nkoyo
10
Office and SPARK
scholarships
Over £50,000 was distributed in 2009-10
to support students from a wide variety of
backgrounds to study academic and professional
programmes across the University. And SPARK
scholars Julie Bagwash and Valentine Nkoyo have
each been named Adult Learner of the Year in
the Yorkshire and the Humber region in the last
two years.
Funds for the SPARK scholarships are administered
by the Development Office, which is now based
in the refurbished Phoenix Building. Brett Arnall,
Development & Alumni Manager, explains,
“SPARK is one of three strands of our work.
The other two concern Belonging – that is, the
student experience at York St John, and Alumni
Relations. I see this as a virtuous circle, with each
element feeding into the other two.”
“We would like to say a big
thank you to all staff who have
supported the SPARK initiative
over the last five years.”
Many of the students who benefit from
SPARK want to give something back to the
University in recognition of the support
they have received. The Development
Office runs a volunteer programme with
15 students now taking part; they are
involved with events’ organisation and
individual and group development projects.
This work experience is proving to be
invaluable on both sides. Included among
the benefits to students are references
from Brett for their contributions, and
he estimates that the voluntary work
undertaken in 2009 is over the value of
£10,000. Last year was the first time that
the Development Office was able to award
international scholarships and many of
these students are heavily involved in the
Office’s work. “They are very keen to get
involved,” explains Brett, “and our projects
benefit greatly from their input and
enthusiasm.”
As well as staff, alumni and governors,
several of the student clubs and societies
are also involved with SPARK fundraising –
students supporting students – and they
contributed over £1,500 in 2009-10.
The highlight of the year was the Student
Variety Show, organised by the Student
Warden team, led by Head Warden Indu
Meddegama, which raised more than
£800. Over 200 students took part in this
showcase of talent and there are already
plans to hold the event again next year.
Indu’s contribution was publicly recognised
when she won the 2010 SPARK Personality
of the Year Award at the Students’ Union
Annual Awards Dinner. The Club/Society
SPARK Award went to The Big Band.
The Development Office benefits greatly
from the continued support and expertise
of John Maw MBE, an alumnus and former
staff member and Honorary Fellow of
York St John. Brett comments, “We have
a fantastic working relationship with
John. He has a real love of this place, and
his enthusiasm is appreciated by today’s
students who hold him in such high regard.
He actively promotes the work of the
Development Office across the campus
as well as through his work with the
Association of the Colleges of Ripon & York
St John. He regularly spends Wednesdays
with us, supporting the student sports’
teams or leading a group around the
Heritage Trail.”
Connecting with alumni and ensuring that
they enjoy a lifelong relationship with the
University is a means of developing new
advocates for York St John throughout
the city, region and further afield. The
Office distributes a regular e-bulletin and
the annual magazine, Alumination, has a
7,000-strong global mailing list.
“We are assessing how alumni can get
more involved with our work on a practical
level,” says Brett, “through mentoring,
volunteering, being advocates for the
University or providing work placements.
We are starting to plan regular reunion
events to bring graduates back to see
what’s happening now and how they can
help today’s students.
“We would like to say a big thank you to
all staff who have supported the SPARK
initiative over the last five years. Your
generosity has made a huge difference,
touching the lives of many students. At
York St John there is a real community
feel to SPARK and it means a lot to us that
colleagues take it upon themselves to
raise funds.”
From 1 January 2011, the Development
Office will become part of Admissions
& Marketing, and its staff members
will be Brett Arnall, Development &
Alumni Manager, and Kate Hutchings,
Development Officer. Brett and Kate
will continue to manage the University’s
alumni relations as well as generate
funds for SPARK.
View the Alumni web pages at
www.yorksj.ac.uk/alumni. Please contact
the team for further information:
T: 6432 or E: alumni@yorksj.ac.uk
Top right: John Maw leads a
group around the Heritage Trail.
Far left: Kate Hutchings and
Brett Arnall
Bottom left: international
scholars with Brett Arnall,
Professor David Maughan Brown
and Kate Hutchings.
10
11

Opinion
Vanessa Simmons, who manages Events &
Projects for the Faculty of Arts, explains her
passion for widening participation.
Vanessa Simmons
In the summer of 2001, I made a big
decision. Despite successfully completing
the Access to Humanities course at York
College, I’d decided there was no way that
I had the academic capacity to study in
Higher Education (HE). I phoned UCAS to
cancel my place but the phone lines were
engaged. I kept trying until finally it seemed
too late to make this decision by phone.
So I arrived at York St John University,
overwhelmed with anxiety and certain
of failure.
How could a person like me, a young carer
with almost no GCSE results, possibly think
that I could pass a degree? However, here I
am, involved in widening participation – a
cause that I feel so passionate about. I did
pass my degree: in 2004 I obtained a First
Class honours degree in English Literature
and proceeded to pass a Masters degree in
Literature with merit. I have these degrees
because academic staff believed that I
could succeed and their belief encouraged
me to believe in myself.
I’m now fortunate to be in a position
where I can share my passion for widening
participation through arts-related activities
in my role managing projects and events.
As part of the Faculty of Arts widening
participation strategy, we offer prospective
students the opportunity to take part in
specially designed workshops so that they
can ‘taste’ a subject. Working closely with
academic staff, the focus of these events
is primarily on having a ‘real’ student
experience. Each workshop is planned
within a short half-day programme where
the ‘student’ is also taken on a campus tour
and will eat and drink alongside York St
John students.
I think it’s important to remember that
when we talk about these target groups
having no prior experience of HE, this
doesn’t just mean that university is an item
absent from a CV. Many of the students
we work with have never set foot on a
university campus. One of these students,
in her late 60s, who came in for an English
Literature taster in 2006, invited me to
her graduation last November where she
reminded me of the importance of those
first steps.
From tasters to summer schools, from
mature students to school leavers, the
opportunity to spend time as a university
student has proved largely beneficial –
sometimes professionally, where students
have proceeded on to university courses,
and often personally.
This year, we worked with a group of young
students who were resitting their GCSEs.
We learnt, from school staff, that one of
these students had been excluded from
school recently for inappropriate behaviour.
At the end of the visit, his head teacher
commented that he was “unrecognisable”
from the student he had worked with
previously.
I believe the success of these tasters is that
the Faculty of Arts does not just consider
widening participation as policy through
which we transform HE to meet the everchanging
needs of a diverse student body.
We talk to students and plan activities
based on the transforming power of HE on
an individual, which I know from personal
experience can be life-changing.
Their belief
encouraged me
to believe in
myself.
In the spotlight
Jo Piddington, Opportunities
Coordinator, Students’ Union
Describe your role
I started at York St John in August 2009
and my job has developed considerably
from then. I basically had to start
from scratch. My role concerns the
encouragement of volunteering amongst
the student body – making sure they
are aware of the advantages of getting
involved, helping them find suitable
placements, liaising with local organisations
about their volunteering opportunities,
and supporting student-led projects. I also
provide training for our volunteers and we
organise CRB checks if needed.
How did you start?
I did an analysis of the programmes
offered by the University and what sort
of volunteering opportunities might be
relevant to particular subjects – such as
working in schools for trainee teachers.
I also made contact with local organisations
and we now have 64 that we work with
in the city, including Mind, Age Concern
and Visit York. We’ve had a very positive
response. Our three student Community
Coordinators are in regular contact with
the local wards and part of their remit is to
build relationships and spread the message
that the Students’ Union is keen to work
with local communities.
Is your background in
volunteering?
I was actually a sabbatical officer at Leeds
Metropolitan University for two years,
focusing on Welfare and Equality, and
Democracy and Communications. I then
spent a year travelling and working at a
housing charity. I’ve found it very easy to
slot into the culture of the Union here and
my experience at Leeds Met has been
vey useful.
What was the attraction
of York St John?
I liked the fact that it is small compared to
bigger city universities. Everyone is really
positive and friendly. When I saw the job
description for this role I thought it could
have been written for me!
How do you encourage
students to consider
volunteering?
The most important way is to make
them realise that volunteering can help
their personal development. Including
volunteering on your CV helps you stand
out. We have a stall at the Freshers’ Fair and
I’ve been speaking to students in lectures,
starting with the Business School, about
what they can get out of it. Departmental
secretaries have been really helpful in
making sure information is available as well.
I share an office with colleagues in Career
Development and there is an obvious
overlap there. And obviously we have
details about volunteering in the Union.
Do you do any
volunteering yourself?
Yes, I volunteer for Marie Curie Cancer
Care in Leeds and I also help with a
young person in care. I also find time
for swimming, cooking and baking, and
meeting up with friends.
Jo Piddington
What are your greatest
challenges?
I’m focusing on our conversion rate, from
students who say they are interested to
those who then sign up and get involved.
Once they do, they are incredibly
dedicated. Last year we had 488 students
who expressed an interest, and 217 who
actually did some volunteering. I would
love it to be 10 per cent of the student
body that gets involved. I’m starting
to work on applying for Investment in
Volunteers status, the UK quality standard.
I think this will be really important in
focusing our work on changing attitudes
to volunteering.
How can departments
get involved?
I’m always very interested to hear from
any colleagues who know of possible
volunteering opportunities that might
be attractive to their students. Anyone
interested should get in touch with me,
E: j.piddington@yorksj.ac.uk, T: 6360.
12
13

The view from the
Students’ Union
A contingent of over 75 York
St John students took part in
the National Debt Day march
organised by the National Union
of Students on 10 November
in London.
They travelled down to the capital with
representatives from the University of York.
“This was the first time I’d taken part in
a peaceful protest like this,” says Leigh
Hankinson, Union President, “but I thought
it was an important opportunity for us to
get our views across as the event attracted
a lot of media coverage – unfortunately,
not all of it for the right reasons.”
Leigh has been engaging students in
discussions about what the government
cuts could mean for them, the Union and
the University. “We’ve been using different
methods such as the weekly Soap Box
events to make people aware that funding
cuts can affect all aspects of student life.
It’s sparked a lot of people’s emotions.
The majority of courses at York St John
are arts based and that’s where the cuts
could make a big impact. We are working
alongside the University to plan ahead and
this is obviously going to be an important
feature of our work this year.”
Freshers’ Fortnight proved to be very
popular at the beginning of term.
12
Leigh Hankinson in his role as Mace
Bearer during the Vice Chancellor’s
inauguration ceremony.
For the first time the Fresher’s Fair took
place in a marquee in the quad and turned
into a big event with more people than
ever getting involved. “Our students
absolutely love the new open space
created in front of the Students’ Union
building,” says Leigh. “We are already
starting to get a feel of what it will look
like in the summer with people sitting out
there. We’ve also noticed that the Union
is attracting more of our mature and
international students to use the facilities,
including the new computer points. We
are getting more of a feeling of a diverse
community inside the building.”
The Union is making sure that students
are considerate towards their neighbours
when they return to their accommodation
late at night.
A Good Community Guide has been
distributed and the Community
Coordinators (students who take on this
role) are making regular contact with the
wards that contain student residences.
The Night Marshals’ scheme is working well
in cooperation with North Yorkshire Police.
The number of complaints about noise has
considerably reduced this year.
Many students turned up to watch the
inauguration of the Vice Chancellor on
2 November as the procession made its
way through the city centre. Leigh was
the Mace Bearer: “It was a fabulous event.
the Chamber Choir and the Gospel Choir
and our music students made fantastic
contributions to the ceremony. It was great
to see the VC and the Archbishop taking
part in the African drumming.”
A view of the redeveloped area outside
the Students’ Union.
“We are getting more
of a feeling of a diverse
community inside
the Union.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Student
Ambassadors
The Schools & Colleges
Liaison team have recently
recruited and trained over
30 additional Student
Ambassadors, bringing the
total number of ambassadors
working to promote York St
John to over 60.
The new recruits are representative
of the University’s student population
across all faculties and include a number
of international and mature students.
All ambassadors have to attend a full
day of training: they are shown how
to give a campus tour, take part in
aspiration-raising workshops, and learn
more about the range of activities and
opportunities available through the
Students’ Union. They also benefit from
a session on working with visitors with
disabilities and care leavers. The new
ambassadors will start their first shifts for
the Marketing Office over the coming
weeks. They will be working during
Interview Days, and will also be giving
tours of the campus and assisting with
on-site University taster days for regional
schools and colleges.
The University’s Student Ambassadors
York Cares’ volunteer teams were
challenged to a ‘Ground Force’
transformation event at the York
Environment Centre and St Nicholas Fields
in October. The volunteers, including newly
recruited members from York St John,
created steps, planted an orchard and built
picnic tables. Martell Linsdell, Widening
Participation Co-ordinator, said, “We had
to deal with sticky mud, lashing rain, heavy
equipment, cutting timber and digging in
the steps but the determination and sense
of pride at seeing your small part in the
transformation of the site was immense.”
The next campaign for York Cares is the
Biggest Christmas Party in Town, happening
each lunchtime from 6-10 December.
Can you be part of the York St John team
to brighten up an elderly person’s day by
chatting to them over a mince pie, singing
carols or playing games?
The past few years have seen a dramatic
increase in the number of concerts
organised by the Music Department;
Head of Programme David Lancaster has
headed an initiative to present them to a
wider audience through the publication
of a Concert Series booklet, available from
Reception or the Arts Reception desk.
Lunchtime Concerts take place weekly
during term, from 12.30-1.00pm in the
Chapel. They are quite informal occasions
featuring two or three different ensembles
or soloists each week. Admission is free but
come early to get a good seat!
York Cares: making steps
to increase access
Music concert series
There is also the York Cares Christmas
Collection; volunteers are needed to
collect and deliver gifts to local homeless
hostels. This is an opportunity to make a
real difference to someone’s experience
at Christmas. Please contact Martell if you
would like to get involved,
E: m.linsdell@yorksj.ac.uk, T: 6258.
www.yorkcares.co.uk/events/2010/12/
york_cares_christmas_campaign
Martell Linsdell (front right) with members
of the ‘Ground Force’ team.
Reverb is a group of music students
promoting rock gigs in Temple Hall,
featuring home grown bands alongside
those from outside the University.
Music has ranged from a ‘Kings of Leon’
cover band from Sheffield to Pantheon,
a heavy metal band from York. The next
Reverb event will take place on
9 December. Evening Concerts take place
monthly in the Chapel and are more
formal occasions.
Details of all concerts are on the website
www.yorksj.ac.uk/concerts
15

NOTICE BOARD
Events
For a comprehensive list of all events
including the Town & Gown lecture series,
Ebor lectures and one-off lectures and
readings please go to www.yorksj.ac.uk/
events
Focus on…
Music concert series
Forthcoming concerts include the Concert
Band, St Margaret’s Singers and the African
Drummers (14 December). In the New
Year, we are looking forward to welcoming
Honorary Fellow Professor Wolfgang
Mastnak who will play two Mozart Concerti
with the YSJU Orchestra (19 March) and
the Hands and Voices Choir will return to
share a concert with the Gospel Choir and
Big Band on 6 April. Visit www.yorksj.ac.uk/
concerts for full details.
Christmas Carol
Service
Wednesday 15 December, 7.00pm
York St John University Chapel
The annual Christmas Carol Service
will once again feature performances
from York St John University students
and be followed by Christmas
refreshments. To book your ticket please
use the online booking system at
www.yorksj.ac.uk/events
Staff development
Full details of all staff development courses
and events can be found on the Staff
Infohub. If you wish to book a place, please
contact Staff Development on T: 6571 or
E: staffdevelopment@yorksj.ac.uk
Welcome to the following
new members of staff
Jane Cronin-Davis
Senior Lecturer, Health & Life Sciences
Stuart Gilliland
Lecturer, YSJ Business School
Carissa King
YSJ International Administrator,
YSJ International
Peter Leckenby
Cleaner, Facilities
Francesca Sharpe
Student Advisor, Learning Development,
Student Advice
Susan Smith
Cleaner, Facilities
Aaron Thomas
Faculty Technician, Health & Life Sciences
David Wells
Cleaner, Facilities
Mike Wray
Disability Services Manager, Learning
Development, Disability Services
We would like to thank the
following staff for their valuable
service to York St John and to
wish them all the best for their
future endeavours
Greg Cooper
Interim Timetable Officer, Learning
Development
Tony Duroe
Assistant Health & Safety Officer, Facilities
Christine Hailstone
Cleaner, Facilities
Anne Parkin
Admin Assistant, Learning Development
Fred Robin
Cleaner, Facilities
Graham St John
Weekend Learning Centre Assistant,
Learning Development
Alison Thompson
Admissions Officer, Admissions & Marketing
Tony Wall
Head of Flexible Learning Provision,
Learning Development
Karen Whitby
Student Advisor, Learning Development
Contact Yorktalk
Any comments, news or stories for the Spring 2011 issue?
Please contact Amy Hey in the Marketing Office on T: 6466 or
E: a.hey@yorksj.ac.uk with your suggestions by Friday 21 January.
This magazine is also available online and in other formats. Please contact
the Marketing Office on T: 6960 or E: marketing@yorksj.ac.uk