0393 Impact Report 1819 Final

0393 Impact Report v2.indd 1 22/01/2020 14:21:24

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5 7

Contents

Welcome & Our Core Values

Advice & Representation

Events

Societies


9 13 15 16 17

Student Voice

Student Change

Well At Wolves

Year in Numbers

Financial Statement


Welcome!

2018 – 2019 was a

year of significant

change but

together, we rose to

the challenge and

are looking forward

to continuing much of

the same during 2019

– 2020.

Ayo Falana

On behalf of everyone at the University of Wolverhampton

Students’ Union, hello and welcome to our Impact Report for

2018 – 2019. This report highlights the commendable work that

our entire team have completed over the year.

It is fair to say that 2018 – 2019 was a year of significant change

but together, we rose to the challenge and are looking forward

to continuing much of the same during 2019 – 2020. We have

worked tirelessly to ensure that our services continue to meet the

evolving needs of students regardless of these times of change.

In doing so we have been able to engage with more students

and start to further our understanding of the needs of the

different demographics of the members that we represent.

We continue to enjoy a very effective partnership with the

University, whilst ensuring we remain their critical friend. This has

proven particularly beneficial with the work being undertaken

around enhancing, hearing and acting upon the student voice

and experience both within the University as well as the SU and is

reflected amongst other work respectively.

On behalf of this year’s team, I would like to thank former

Community Officer, Jade Francis for her contributions and going

forward eagerly anticipate the work and campaigns that myself

and the Officer team – Aida, Esther and Nabil – look to put into

practice. I have no doubt we’ll have plenty of great work to

reflect upon again this time next year.

Ayo Falana, Union Affairs Officer

1


Our Core Aims

To enhance the student voice across the university.

Students will have strong representation and

a voice about their University experience

through us and we will act on that knowlege.

To maximise the Student Experience for all students.

Students will develop new skills and discover

new experiences through their active

engagement with the SU.

To promote and support students’ success.

We will provide opportunities to enhance

students’ academic and University experience

for future life chances.

2


Advice & Representation

Advice and Representation 2018/19

Students have accessed our services from all five campuses this year – City (77%), Walsall

(21%), Telford (1%), Burton (0.5%) - plus Other partner colleges and TNE (0.5%) with incoming

issues spread across the academic year.

Academic issues comprised the majority of all advice work in ARC during 2018-19, with

queries regarding appeals, progression and extenuating circumstances being most

prevalent.

Tuition Fee debt issues made up the main bulk of finance related enquiries this year, with the

complexity of issues that come with students from non-traditional backgrounds - previous

study, residency etc – continues to require more time-intensive casework, with advisers being

involved with not only appealing Student Finance England (SFE) decisions but having to

negotiate with University Finance, where cases have been taking many months to resolve.

With the introduction of the SU Food Bank this academic year, we have inevitably seen an

increase in Health and Wellbeing referrals into the service, as a result.

3

Next 12 Months

• Reviewing the way we deliver our Get a Head Start Sessions for the coming year, with a view to

reducing barriers to engagement by additionally offering an online streamed versions of the

sessions via Facebook live.

• Continue to further remove barriers to make it easier for students to engage with and send

enquiries to ARC via QR Code added to all literature that links straight to the online enquiry form.

• Working in collaboration with University Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW), alongside the SU’s

Well@Wolves provision, continuing to define the departments role in delivery “non-specialist

wellbeing promotion activities for all students” to hopefully lead to a much better “menu of

choice” for students seeking support ensuring the delivery of activities suitable for all students not

just those requiring specialist intervention through SSW.


(ARC)

ARC In Figures

Case Study

1, 296

enquiries and cases through

ARC in person, by telephone

and online (emails ) during

academic year 2018/19

Kerry De-Lahay- a student with the Institute of

Health – was helped with an appeal against

withdrawal from her course, which was

subsequently upheld.

“I cannot express in words how kind ARC have

been, the only ones that have listened and

been able to empathise in the last several

years. This has been demonstrated in how well

they helped me articulate the appeal letter – I

could not have done this without them. I have

now passed the module too!”

Financial gains for students

themselves, including Dennis

Turner Opportunities Fund awards

generated with ARC’s support,

have amounted to

£40, 380

4


Events & Activities

Events & Activities 2018/19

This year, Events and Activities hosted several events across Wolverhampton, Walsall and Telford

Campuses. To achieve this, we worked in collaboration with Accommodation Services, WLV Gym,

External Relations, Cool It Events and the student community; to run a diverse range of events and

activities that covered the awareness raising campaigns such as LGBTQ+ Awareness Month and “feel

good” events such as karaoke evenings .

We also arranged our annual Freshers Fayres at both Wolverhampton and Walsall. Here, we saw just

over 6,000 members of our University community join us to find out what’s on offer both on campus and

around our wider community.

The SU Bar and Café based within our Walsall Students’ Union continued to be the home for our

Weekly Quiz, which came directly from student feedback on campus. The quiz has continued to grow

from strength to strength, receiving great support and bringing in a large number of students each

week to help create that community feel across the campus and within student accommodations.

Campus has also been brought alive in the evening with many events both solely led by the Students’

Union such as SU Live as well as collaborative efforts with Sports Socials and charity events that have

been devised and led by students on campus.

We have continued partnership working with University colleagues to enhance the campus

experience, adding to our diverse menu of activities on offer to students. These have included

family friendly half-term Fun Days, Christmas celebrations, and an outdoor cinema event.

5

Next 12 Months

• Building upon engagement with sports students working in partnership with the Institute of Sport

• Continuing to grow the Weekly Quiz at Walsall Bar & Café by updating our menus and extending

opening hours

• Grow our student experience offer by working alongside societies and wider

Wolverhampton community groups to deliver events


SU Bar & Cafe

Case Study

Bar & Cafe In

Figures

684

likes on Facebook.

An increase of 90

likes

Caitlin Walker - BA(hons) Drama

Hi my name is Caitlin and I have just finished my 3rd

year at Uni. I have worked at the SU bar and cafe for

2 years and I honestly have enjoyed every moment!

Being able to learn new skills, while also completing

my degree, has been so valuable.

I would recommend working here to any

student as you are able to work around your studies

and you know that your studies will always be your

first priority, unlike other jobs!

Events &

Activities

In Figures

Over

6000

students attended our

2018/19 Freshers’ Fayres

6


Societies

Societies 2018/19

Societies this year have seen an increase in membership with 1,396 society

members across 77 societies ran by 171 committee members. 14 new societies have

been established this year, ranging from academic societies like the Cyber Security

Society, to recreational societies like The Order of the Peaky Blinders Society.

With a focus on enhancing the support provision for societies, they have

successfully organised and held 178 activities and/or events within the SU spaces at

both City and Walsall Campus for students at the University of Wolverhampton, plus all

other activities and stalls held throughout the University spaces

7

Next 12 Months

Support the growth and development of our societies by:

• Encouraging students to get involved.

• Increase the sense of community and belonging on campus, and broaden engagement.

• The introduction of societies’ Give It A Go week looks to provide the opportunity to

strengthen this.

• A new society reward and recognition programme looks to incentivise and add value to

getting involved.


Societies in Figures:

Case Study

14

New societies

made

Sela and Paulina, LGBT+ Society Members

As a society, LGBT+ society has grown each

year and the year of 2018/19 was the best yet!

It is important for us to ensure that we help

create a safe space for those who identify as

LGBT+ as well as being supportive and a fun

society to be a part of.

The Students’ Union were a great support when

it came to hosting our events for LGBT+

History Month and acknowledged our

efforts and passion in holding our UV Rave Party

by awarding us with Society Event of Year at the

SU Awards 2019.

We are looking forward to building on our

success in 19/20 and have no doubt the SU with

support us in growing our society to help

enhance the student experience for all.

1396

members within

a total of

77 societies

178

society

activities or

events held

8


Student Voice

Student Student Voice Voice 2018/19 2018/19

In

In

18/19

18/19

we

we

supported

supported

a network

network

of

of

672

672

course

course

reps

reps

across

across

the

the

university;

university;

listening

listening

and

and

acting

acting

on

on

the

the

valuable

valuable

feedback

feedback

they

they

provide.

provide.

An

An

online

online

training

training

module

module

was

was

also

also

introduced

introduced

at

at

the

the

start

start

of

of

the

the

year

year

to

to

allow

allow

more

more

accessibility

accessibility

to

to

training

training

for

for students,

which

students, which

has

has

saw

saw

a position

a position

increase

increase

in

in

the

the

number

number

of

of

reps

reps

changed

changed

this

this

year.

year.

We

We

also

also

piloted

piloted

School

School

Reps

Reps

in

in

Semester

Semester

two

two

in

in

10

10

Schools

Schools

across

across

the

the

institution;

institution;

School

School

Reps

Reps

are

are

paid

paid

staff

staff

here

here

at

at

the

the

Students’

Students’

Union,

Union,

they

they

act

act

as

as

the

the

link

link

between

between

staff

staff

and

and

Course

Course

Reps,

Reps,

closing

closing

the

the

communication

communication

loop,

loop,

representing

representing

students

students

in

in

key

key

committee

committee

meetings

meetings

and

and

play

play

a key

key

role

role

in

in

faculty

faculty

council.

council.

Next Next 12 12 Months Months

• Make Make

Academic

Academic

Representation

Representation

more

more

robust,

robust,

offering

offering

more

more

opportunities

opportunities

for

for

students

students

to

to

engage

engage

and

and

develop

develop

skills

skills

from

from

the

the

role

role

of

of

Course

Course

or

or

School

School

Rep.

Rep.

• The The

online

online

provision

provision

will

will

be

be

more

more

extensive,

extensive,

helping

helping

to

to

support

support

students

students

with

with

online

online

resources

resources

and

and

increased

increased

accessibility

accessibility

of

of

resources.

resources.

• A reward

reward

and

and

recognition

recognition

system,

system,

resulting

resulting

in

in

a Student

Student

Voice

Voice

Award,

Award,

achieved

achieved

at

at

the

the

end

end

of

of

the

the

year,

year,

will

will

be

be

supplied

supplied

to

to

all

all

students

students

who

who

take

take

part

part

in

in

the

the

rep

rep

system.

system.

This

This

will

will

add

add

value

value

and

and

recognition

recognition

for

for

the

the

contributions

contributions

they

they

make

make

throughout

throughout

the

the

Academic

Academic

Year.

Year.

9


Case Study

Case Study

Student Voice in in Figures:

Aurora

Aurora

Evans

Evans

-

-

BA(hons)

BA(hons)

SENDIS

SENDIS

For the first year of my study I was unaware of the services

For the first year of my study I was unaware of the services

the SU offers, since becoming a member I have realised

the SU offers, since becoming member I have realised

that there are loads of services to help Students with their

that there are loads of services the SU offers to help

academic and personal wellbeing; which I have taken

Students with their academic and personal wellbeing;

advantage of. The SU places an emphasis on student

which I have taken advantage of. The SU places an

wellness, which can be seen through their activities, and I

emphasis on student wellness, which can be seen through

feel that without these services I would not be as confident

their activities, and I feel that without these services I would

as a person or on my course.

not be as confident as a person or on my course.

672

Course Reps

Course Reps

across the

across the

university

university

The SU has given me opportunity to take part in new things

The SU has given me opportunity to take part in new things

and meet new people, which has helped me feel more

and meet new people, which has helped me feel more

included into University life and this has had a positive

included into University life and this has had positive

influence on my experience, wellbeing and studies.

influence on my experience, wellbeing and studies.

Whenever I have needed advice I have been able to go

Whenever I have needed advice I have been able to go

to the SU and speak to someone who has offered

to the SU and speak to someone who has offered

practical and supportive guidance, which has enabled

practical and supportive guidance, which has enabled

me to continue with my studies in times of crisis and when

me to continue with my studies in times of crisis and when

I have had additional support needs. Not only that, the SU

I have had additional support needs. Not only that, the SU

are academic representation so when I have had issues

are academic representation so when I have had issues

or concerns with my courses I have been able to speak to

or concerns with my courses I have been able to speak to

someone who has acted in my best interests on my behalf,

someone who has acted in my best interests on my behalf,

which has been of great benefit and comfort to me. I

which has been of great benefit and comfort to me. I

cannot thank the SU and its staff enough for the support

cannot thank the SU and its staff enough for the support

I have received, the friends that I have made along the

I have received, the friends that I have made along the

way and how they have enabled me to succeed with my

way and how they have enabled me to succeed with my

studies.

studies.

10

schools piloted the

schools piloted the

School Rep scheme

School Rep scheme

10 10


Student Change

Student Change and Democracy 2018/19

All students are given the opportunity to participate in the Student Change and

Democracy aspects of the Union. This is done in a number of ways which include

electing the Sabbatical Officers, through participation with our General Meeting and

via the online democracy tool, Create Change.

For the year of 18/19, Student Change has seen 284 ideas submitted to the Create

Change platform. This is the biggest win for the platform as it boasts the most ideas

put forward in any first-year implementation of an ideas system in the sector.

1.780 unique voters participated in either an idea, or an election since August 2018.

72 candidates participated across 2 rounds of elections in October and March, with

7.72% (1,228) voting in the Sabbatical Officer elections.

The year of 18/19 also saw the hosting of a General Meeting in which students voted

on the implementation of proposed governing structure changes to the Students’

Union.

Next 12 Months

• Working on embedding digital democracy more widely and expanding the kinds

of topics that the SU consult students on through the website, linking in with digital

democracy objective

• Increase the awareness of Create Change as a platform for students to see a rise

in the depth of student engagement to encompass all campuses

11


Student Change in Figures:

72

candidates took

part in two elections

rounds

1780

students

engaged with

Create Change

ideas

248

ideas submitted to

Create Change

12


v

Well@Wolves 2018/19

Well@Wolves in Figures:

Well@Wolves ran a total of 142 activities and events this

academic year which were attended 1,462 times and saw

1,606 students access W@W external organiations support drop in

sessions.

• The W@W online hub of self-help resources was accessed over

10,700 times this academic year

• We trained 56 course reps, Res Life assistants and halls

wardens on the Student Mind’s Look After Your Mate training

programme

• Our Well@Wolves cooking workshops were featured on BBC

Radio 4’s cooking programme in October 2018

• W@W collaborated with WLV sports to develop initiatives

including Telford and Walsall Mindfulness trails, the colour run

and the physical activity wellbeing referral which enabled

students to access the sports facilities for 6 free sessions during a

2 week period.

Next 12 Months

• To continue to deliver a range of wellbeing

activities bespoke to each campus based on

student feedback

• Develop the befrienders programme to provide

peer support at the Well@Wolves activities and

events

• To continue to collaborate with WLV sports

department on wellbeing events including the

santa run, trips to Dudley Zoo and the

Movember campaign.

142

Well@Wolves

activities through

2018/19

1606

Students accessed

Well@Wolves organised

external support drop-ins

Well@Wolves online

hub was accessed

10,700

times in 2018/19

13


Case Study

Lucy Hutton - 1 st year LLB Law

Ana Rodrigues - MSc Forensic Science

Luke Stynes - BSc Computer Science

Simon Barker - BSc Computer Science

Anina Hoffmann - ERASMUS

Laura Shaw - BSc Forensic Science

We came to Well@Wolves for the friendly atmosphere and the creative activities that allow use to escape from the normal

University life. While creating many different things, Well@Wolves staff listen to our problems and gave amazing advice and

pointed us in the direction to get further help and support.

Well@Wolves encouraged us to be more social and helped us to further our communication and listening skills, and in turn

allowed us to escape our comfort zones. The activities allow us to experience new things and try things we wouldn’t usually.

Enabling us to try new hobbies such as running and baking, as well as to try new foods and experience new lifestyles that have

changed our own lifestyles for example more of us are cooking healthier food and tried vegetarianism and veganism. Some of

us have even continued this long term.

Case Study

Skye Orchard - 2 nd year Animal Behaviour & Wildlife

Conservation

Doggy De-stress:

There’s something very relaxing about sitting with a dog and

having them in uni, especially around periods of high-stress

levels is really helpful, as I have a tendency to get very

stressed very quickly.

Having the dogs in has really helped me throughout the

year, as I have my own dogs at home, but with a 2.5 hour

journey to see them, I miss them a lot while I’m in uni. Doggy

De-stress is the perfect opportunity to sit and just chill with

the dogs, and even get covered in fur, which I am very used

to, so it feels like being home.

Arts and Crafts:

It can be easy to get lost in amongst all the stress

surrounding you at uni, and it can feel quite suffocating at

times, especially around exam period. Sitting down with

something crafty, whether that be sewing, drawing or just

making things in general, is a good way to take yourself

away from the stress and get lost in your imagination

instead. Doing the craft with Well@Wolves has helped me as

it has allowed me to escape into a space of endless

possibilities, even if it’s just for a few hours.

14


The Year in Numbers

15

60,607

WEBSITE USERS IN 2018/19

6,210

FACEBOOK LIKES

5,615

TWITTER FOLLOWERS

1,292INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS

59% satisfaction in NSS survey which is

3% above the sector average

1,357 responses to surveys conducted by

the Students’ Union in 2018/19


Financial Statement

Financial Statement 2018/19

Throughout the year our services have continued to be supported by part time staff,

made up of employed students, of which we paid a total of £50, 675 for 5,807 hours of

work. As a Students’ Union providing our students with the opportunity to earn

money and enhance their employability skills is something that we pride ourselves in

doing, which is why we are pleased to see the increase in expenditure and hours

compared to 17/18.

Campaigns were a focus for our Officers, who spent £2,321 during the year focusing on

key and topical themes such as period poverty, LGBTQ+ History Month and Black History

Month with an aim to work to reduce the BAME attainment gap, highlight inequalities

and promote the need for equality.

To help work towards improving our students’ health and wellness, we spent £4, 105 on

our Well @ Wolves agenda

The sense of community on campus is vastly important to help with student retention, and

our societies help strengthen this aspect of the University experience. This year Societies

income generated £8,572 and using their reserves they spent £8,973. The SU also support

activities undertaken by societies via the Society Development Fund with a further spend

of £3, 819.

We supported students though our Employment Support Fund by distributing £5, 074 to

them.

Our total income this year was £1,082,632, with 73.4 % of the Students’ Union’s total

income coming from the University Block Grant. 7.8 % of the total income was Trading

Activity Income.

The Students’ Union total expenditure for 18/19 was £1,102,295.

16


City Campus

Ambika Paul Building

Wulfruna Street

Wolverhampton

WV1 1LY

Walsall Campus

WS Building

Gorway Road

Walsall

WS1 3BD

Tel: 01902 322021

Fax: 01902 322020

Email: hello@wolvesunion.org

Website: www.wolvesunion.org

Booklet designed by

LSWillustration (student

staff member 2018/19)

LSWillustration.com


0393 Impact Report 1819 Final

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