Impact Report Impact Report

CREATING VOLUNTEERING ENTERTAINING INNOVATING

COMPETING

IMAGINING REPRESENTING NETWORKING

EDUCATING INFLUENCING CONNECTING IMPACTIMPACT REPORTREPORT 20162016 TRAVELLING

EXPERIENCING SUPPORTING

CAMPAIGNING

INSPIRING CELEBRATING ADVENTURING LEARNING COLLABORATING FROM THE PRESIDENT 2016 IMPACT

• Continuing the planning and implementation of a College Engagement Implementation of the system fell to the 2016/17 Full-Time Officer team, Plan, to ensure the colleges remain the heart and soul of what makes and although there have been challenges we’re pleased with the progress Lancaster unique we’ve made in leading this cultural change within the union. • Creating change within the Academic Rep system to create a more inclusive environment and allow non-elected students to still have a Our new systems are designed to ensure that ideas from any and all voice on academic matters students are considered equally. The officer team has had to show great adaptability in the midst of all They’re driven by an interactive Ideas platform on our new website, which this change but as we enter the second half of our time in office we will went live in the summer as part of our digital transformation project. continue to tackle the changes head on and stay true to the manifesto Submitted ideas are either handled by elected officers, passed on to pledges which we were elected on. We are excited to continue with the relevant third parties where appropriate, or handed over to our members rest of our year and believe the following terms will be where students for a decision if deemed to be potentially divisive. It’s only early days but will truly see progress in the delivery of our portfolios. we’ve already seen a lot of engagement from our members, with some fantastic, innovative and in some cases unexpected ideas coming in! We pride ourselves on being an officer team who want to listen to our membership - we want to supply our members with information to allow It’s already created a big change in the way Full-Time Officers work, them to voice their opinions and help us find a way forward on behalf of putting much more onus on making student ideas a reality and taking on Lancaster students. a key ‘influencer’ role at times of student votes. It’s been a year of change for all of us, a rollercoaster of a year filled with As we contemplate the challenges that 2017 will bring it’s clearer than highs and lows, happiness and disbelief. Not only have new mechanisms been created through the democratic ever to me that this union is at its best when we work together in the restructure but the makeup of executives and other committees have also interests of education and this place that we love. And our students’ union has been no exception in feeling the effects of the been altered. Scrutiny panels have been created to hold the Full Time monumental force which was 2016. Officers accountable. The appointments system for our Student Trustees has also altered, with the aim of ensuring posts are given to those with The union itself has undergone substantial governance change, driven by the strongest aptitude for the role. our members. Following the theme of change, the Government’s proposed Higher Rhiannon Llystyn Jones - President 2016/17 We’ve fundamentally redesigned our digital systems to make it easier for Education and Research Bill has meant each Full Time Officer has had students to interact with their union and access the services they need to to contribute in some form to help oppose and shape the bill. That has enjoy a great university experience. included attending a Free Education march in London, organising an HE Bill Panel featuring the President of the NUS, writing letters to Members of The Higher Education and Research Bill is on the horizon, heralding big Parliament and the House of Lords, meeting with influential people such changes in the university sector landscape. as Lord Roger Liddle or handing out leaflets to our members to explain the changes the bill will cause and how it will affect students. We’ve done all The prospect of Brexit is creating significant uncertainty not only for we can to mitigate the damage the bill will cause to students and we will students but also for the entire country. continue to fight and lobby for amendments to the bill.

Although we didn’t know it at the time, the start of 2016 marked the Some of our other highlights have been: beginning of perhaps the biggest changes this union has ever known. • A successful RentSmart campaign, to advise students on renting and supply them with tips to minimise their chances of entering a contract My predecessor, Will Hedley, and his officer team led the union into a they will regret comprehensive Democratic Review which was completed in the early part • The start of a yearlong project to look into the impact of extra-curricular of the year. activity on grades, retention, and general wellbeing • A collaborative campaign with the university called ‘We are Lancaster’ Based on the student feedback that was gathered a new system was to celebrate, promote and enhance the university community’s designed with the aim of putting student voice in the centre of everything international outlook 2016 FTO Team (rear-left to front-right) we do, empowering our members and giving them the power to vote on • Continued negotiations with the university on accommodation and issues which affect all Lancaster students. exploring the idea of bundling options to offer extra benefits from living Nick Dearman - VP Education Rachel Hughes - VP Campaigns & Communications on campus Dave Whitlock - VP Welfare & Community The plans were put to an all-student vote and more than 75% voted yes, • The successful implementation of the new democratic structures Jack Walker - VP Activities which meant the new systems would be adopted and its implementation • Inviting the President of the NUS to meet with the Jewish Society to Sophie Tarif - VP Union Development would shortly follow. open a dialogue following accusations of anti-Semitism Rhiannon Llystyn Jones - President STUDENT VOICE 2016 IMPACT

The big story of 2016 is our meet once a term to consider transition to a new approach to ideas deemed by the Executive to IN DEPTH bringing students to the heart of have potential to divide opinion our decision-making. among the membership. So far, one jury has taken place, with IDEAS SUBMITTED The first Student Jury In the summer of 2016 more ideas around sustainability and 3535 than 1,300 of our members the union’s political stance being We held our first Student Jury in Michaelmas Term 2016, where participated in an all-student vote explored. We are yet to hold a two student-submitted ideas were considered. that resulted in the adoption of our ‘preferendum’ - an all-student new Constitution. vote on options arising from Jury members were provided with evidence packs that included student suggestions. key information from union officers and staff, and submissions The Constitution included from the general union membership. sweeping governance changes A new Scrutiny Panel was created designed to put more influence to monitor progress by officers Jurors were asked to think about the merits of each idea, how it in the hands of our members at against union policy and their might best work or how it could support the maximum number of grassroots level, making it easier manifestos and priority projects. students. They are empowered to make minor changes to ideas for students to have their ideas Its findings will be published to 17 16 17 or approve or reject - Executive is required to carry out the Jury’s LOCAL considered and implemented. our members and discussed at UNION UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY decision. If consensus cannot be reached by jury members, the General Meetings. The panel is new constitution requires an all-student vote. Following approval at due to meet for the first time in referendum, the 2016/17 Full- early 2017. This term, the Jury discussed two ideas, and decided on the Time Officer team took office with following: the task of implementing the new The union’s move to the NUS democratic framework. Digital website platform has 700 • A student submitted an idea to encourage the union to do more been key to engaging members for the environment, including to ban paper coffee cups and to The Constitution created a new and encouraging submission WEBSITE increase the price for plastic bags in our Central supermarket. Executive Committee, comprising of student ideas. At the time of VOTES The Jury decided not to ban coffee cups but to make it easier and Full-Time Officers and a selection writing 35 student ideas have more appealing for students to use reusable ‘keep cups’, such of other elected students including been submitted during the first as discounts and a deposit scheme. They also decided not to college presidents and liberation term of using the new system. increase the price of plastic carrier bags, but to set up recycling officers. Executive is responsible The system allows students to up- ON STUDENT IDEAS or plastic-bag-swap points. The jury said the union should also for overseeing implementation of and down-vote ideas submitted by run more recycling awareness campaigns and work with the agreed student ideas and policy, fellow students - information that university to provide more recycling points around campus. and working with third parties is made available to Executive to such as university departments support decisions. • A student submitted an idea to restrict our political campaigning to introduce ideas and changes to just higher education and cost of living issues. In the evidence suggested by our members. More info : pack, the original proposer clarified that they only wanted the www.lusu.co.uk/make-change union to focus on these issues, and the Jury received information Student Juries - demographically 17% / 2,878 about the legal restrictions the union already has, for example representative groups of to not support political parties. They decided to reject the idea. randomly-selected students - Michaelmas Term college elections voter turnout STUDENT VOICE 2016 IMPACT

Democracy remains at the heart but during 2016 the union has of the way we work. Although our gathered a particularly detailed Undergraduate College Voter Turn Out (Week 8) IN DEPTH new Constitution places more insight into the views of our emphasis on consultation and students. consensus, our elected student Average 26.00% officers play the lead role in Our democratic review survey leading debate and implementing at the start of the year received Grizedale 34.40% policy. more than 1,900 responses and Lonsdale 33.90% was used to inform our approach Interest in contesting college to restructuring our democratic Furness 27.00% officer positions remains high, processes. Bowland 25.30% consistent with research findings that students feel a stronger It also gave us valuable feedback County 23.80% connection to familiar and more that our members are generally Fylde 23.60% localised aspects of the union. A in favour of consensus-based total of 167 students contested decision-making and feel the Pendle 21.10% PG Board and JCR positions union should focus on issues Cartmel 20.40% this year, with an average specifically facing Lancaster undergraduate college turnout of students. 26%. Michaelmas Term elections, including Part-Time Officer, NUS Feedback gathered earlier in Delegate and University Council the year told us members felt Michaelmas Term PART-TIME OFFICER elections voter turnout* Rep positions attracted 20,090 the union hard to understand BEN’S TRUSTEE EXPERIENCE votes from 2,878 individual voters. and difficult to get involved in. As a result we worked to find 971 Disabled Students’ Officer Student Trustee Ben Kay has developed new skills and helped The abolition of Cross-Campus ways of explaining our services shape the work of the union in his role. Ben, a third year Software Officer positions and their more simply, and initial feedback Engineering student, is also Station Manager of LA1:TV. replacement with LGBTQ+, from new starters in 2016 is 776 BME Students Officer Women’s+, Black, International, encouraging in terms of their level He says: “I first became interested in being a Student Trustee at Disabled and Mature Students’ of understanding of what we do. the end of my first year when I found out that the role existed. I Part-Time Officers has given Meanwhile 69% of new students 914 Women’s+ had no idea what the role was, but the way it was being described greater weight to the views of said the union made a positive sounded interesting, so in the following year I did some digging liberation and minority groups. contribution to Welcome Week. and realised how important it is to the union. As a Student Trustee We’ve also introduced a new 843 LGBTQ I have gained a real sense for all the great things the union does Equality, Diversity and Inclusion The union holds regular ‘Carousel’ and the importance of good governance, which is a term I barely Policy that will champion focus group events designed to understood seven or eight months ago but now realise is vital to improvements in these areas for give us chance to gather views on 845 International businesses around the world. It’s a really rewarding position that years to come. our work from randomly-selected has given me a say in how the union is run and operated. I would groups of students. Two events advise anyone to do it – it’s worth every second you put into the Under the new Constitution have taken place in 2016, with 682 Mature role.” the role of Student Trustee is around 100 students taking part. * SELF-DEFINING ELECTORATES now appointed via a selection The sessions have given us the process rather than election opportunity to gather feedback (a change made in response to on diverse aspects of our work, student feedback). We received 11 including academic experience, applications for the role this year, campaigns, extra-curricular the highest number of applicants activities, communications and we have ever had for this position. cost of living.

We’re always working hard to More info : understand the needs of our www.lusu.co.uk/elections membership and gather feedback on the quality of our work, ACADEMIC 2016 IMPACT

We’re committed to keeping our students cope with the challenges members’ academic and welfare brought by study. As part of our IN DEPTH interests at the centre of what we Exam Essentials campaign we do. A number of new initiatives gave revising students 2,000 80% have been launched in 2016 to exam-permitted transparent give students a better learner pencil cases with wellbeing tips, experience. free fruit and water and also ran more than 100 hours of ‘study Each year we work with academic break’ activities including chill reps to ensure our members are zones, swing ball, sport activities, able to send suggestions and massages, meditation, and yoga. 355 283 feedback to their departments With deadlines approaching in and faculties. Michaelmas Term, we produced REPS REPS a giant colouring board to give REGISTERED TRAINED The university accepted 11 students chance for a few minutes’ recommendations we made break in the library. FROM OCTOBER 2016 as part of the Student-Written Submission to QAA. Work on As well as helping to enhance delivering these changes is the academic experience, our IMPROVING STUDY SPACES underway, now overseen by a new advisors are there to support Student Academic Representation students when things go wrong. Student feedback provided by us is helping to shape the university Steering Group which met for the Our advisers supported 45 library and other important study spaces. Library, ISS and other first time this month. students through Part 1 & 2 30 services’ staff are now attending our Faculty Forums to allow appeal hearings in September, students to give direct feedback on the improvements that would This year has seen the and we have been working with the help them in their studies. introduction of ‘student-only’ university to improve intercalation extra laptops in the library spaces on the Moodle virtual processes for students who need Student feedback has resulted in investment in ‘More Books’, a learning environment to allow to take time out from their studies. following student feedback scheme allowing students to quickly and easily request more of all students to give feedback We’re eager to continue to the books and resources they need, reinstatement of Silent Study to academic reps privately. For improve the service we offer and zones in the library and extra support was provided at the start of the first time this year Faculty recently co-ordinated with 18 the year to help students navigate the library and learn to use the Reps have been appointed via other unions around the country library catalogue and self-service machines. hustings and elections at Faculty on a survey designed to gain Forums – leading to an increase insight into what students want We’ve also been working with the university to review out-of- in nominations and stronger from their academic experience. term opening times for the library and have begun work on links between departmental and More than 1,100 responses 50+ a joint campaign on considerate working for launch in 2017. faculty representatives. Separate were received from Lancaster STUDENTS ENGAGED IN We recently worked with the university IT department to make research forums for all PGR students, whose views will be NOVEMBER’s TIME TO TALK Adobe Creative Suite software and a suite of training resources students and their reps have also compared with those of another available on computers in the Learning Zone, allowing students been established this year. 16,500 respondents from all over MENTAL WELLBEING SESSIONS to unlock their creativity. the country. Research findings Our academic reps have been are due in January. a regular presence in public spaces of the university. They More info: gathered more than 2,600 pieces www.lusu.co.uk/advice of individual student feedback on academic issues during Michaelmas Term alone – that feedback is now being analysed to inform future initiatives.

We’ve run a number of initiatives during 2016 to help all our ACADEMIC 2016 IMPACT

Helping the membership Throughout the year the union to understand the changes has encouraged academic staff IN DEPTH proposed in the Higher Education to use the lecture recording and Research Bill has been a equipment available in numerous major priority, with a significant spaces on campus. Feedback we amount of work going in to have received from students was understanding and explaining that they find access to recorded 2,023 key aspects of this complex lectures an invaluable resource, legislation to our members. particularly helpful during revision periods. Many university As well as creating an HE Bill departments have started students webpage to explain the key recording lectures in response to points, officers have been taking our feedback. voted the time to meet students in in our January person to discuss the issues and Earlier in the year, students gather feedback on our members’ were given chance to vote on exam referendum concerns. whether they would like to see the introduction of January exams as Behind the scenes, officers have a way of reducing the pressure been involved in lobbying the caused by the traditional summer Government on key parts of the exams season. The referendum Bill. Pressure from students’ did not yield a decisive result, unions around the country but showed more enthusiasm has already resulted in a key for the idea in LUMS and FST, concession from the Government and less enthusiasm in FASS. STUDENTS - Higher Education Minister This information was fed back 316 Marching for free education Jo Johnson has now agreed to to the university, with then- students gained employability skills amend the bill to include student Vice-President (Education) Ben via our Schools Volunteering team Campaigning for free education remains union policy and representation at the Office for Harper asking the university to officers were keen to ensure that Lancaster was represented at Students, the body proposed to explore ways of diversifying its November’s student demo in London. oversee university funding, check assessment portfolio as required teaching quality and support rather than move to a one-size- The NUS organised the demo in its continued fight against tuition social mobility. fits-all January exams scheme. fees and grants cuts as well as to express fears over the impact elements of the Higher Education Bill. NUS said it was the largest We also invited NUS President More info : education demonstration in recent years. Malia Bouattia to take part in a www.lusu.co.uk/HEBill 60% well-attended panel discussion of new starters aware We organised a coach to take marchers to the demo and student on the future of HE. Union of Academic Rep programme media teams were there to cover the event live. officers decided to host the event to give Lancaster students Photo by Michael Mander of SCAN the opportunity to gain further insights into forthcoming changes in education. CAMPAIGNS 2016 IMPACT

The year got off to a positive start also worked with the university to when the university announced add a harassment and hate-crime IN DEPTH a review of on-campus rents in reporting facility to the iLancaster response to feedback from the mobile app. 1,300 Full-Time Officer team. In Welcome Week, in response on-campus A restructure of tariffs brought to student feedback, we offered rooms rent for 20% of rooms on campus sexual consent talks to every new below the £100 a week mark in starter. The well-attended events 2016/17. formed part of an institution-wide FOR UNDER approach to embedding consent Meanwhile the Full-Time education. Officer team continued to fight PER WEEK Students and alcohol for fairness and affordability, Following the success of 2015’s criticising then-Chancellor ‘Don’t Rent Yet’ campaign the Alcohol inevitably forms part of student life, but as a union we’ve George Osborne for allowing 2016/17 Full-Time Officer team been working hard to ensure our members enjoy a healthy student maintenance grants to was keen to expand its scope relationship with drink. be scrapped by a parliamentary to offer wider advice to student committee rather than a tenants. The #Rentsmart In the lead-up to Welcome Week 2016 we sent information and parliamentary vote. campaign was created to bring advice to new and returning students to help them understand together both aspects of the sanitary products the short, medium and long-term health impacts of excessive A statement from the team said: union’s campaigning and advice given away in our alcohol. Vice-President (Welfare) Dave Whitlock was on hand “We’re appalled to learn of the work. Although it is too soon at our Sugarhouse nightclub every night of Welcome Week to underhand and undemocratic to assess the #Rentsmart 3,000+ Free Periods hand out glasses of water and give welfare advice to students way that legislation is being campaign’s success, early signs campaign celebrating their arrival at university. pushed through. Rather than are that students have been face a vote by MPs, this massive encouraged to take their time and As well helping our members understand the health impacts change – impacting around half a avoid being rushed into renting of alcohol, we’ve been working to help them to see the social million students – is being quietly this year. Dozens of students have impacts. The union has been liaising with town centre residents rubber-stamped.” taken advantage of our contract- to understand their concerns over behaviour caused by excessive checking drop-in sessions. drinking and have been communicating those concerns to the Students from Lancaster took to membership. We also commissioned our Film Society to make an the streets to stand up against The union also made women’s educational video (pictured above) containing a message that too sexual harassment in February. sport a major focus, with a much alcohol can ruin a good time. The Reclaim the Night march, ‘This Lancs Girl Can’ campaign 1,600 The Sugarhouse has also been playing its part by gaining the organised by Women’s Liberation designed to echo the successful Cross-Campus Officer Laura national campaign. There’s more students attended NUS Best Bar None Silver Award in recognition of its responsible Brown, brought students together information on this campaign in Welcome Week operating practices. In a joint initiative with the university we are to oppose street harassment our Roses section. working towards gaining the NUS Alcohol Impact accreditation and violence against women. consent talks for its wider approach to good practice in this area. Vice-President (Campaigns and Communications) Katie Capstick said: “Reclaim the Night is an iconic event within the women’s liberation movement.”

Spring saw the launch of ‘I Won’t Stand for It’ a campaign that encouraged the entire university community to challenge prejudice wherever they saw it. Hundreds of students signed up to the IWSFI pledge in person and online. We CAMPAIGNS 2016 IMPACT

Although we’ve been told by academics from all over the some of our members that they world and experiencing a mix of IN DEPTH think their union should steer cultures and ideas that creates clear of politics, there are times an educational environment that when national and international goes beyond what can be taught in developments inevitably overlap a classroom or lecture theatre.” with the lives of Lancaster 1,000 students. We are involved in ongoing work with the university to student objections That’s been particularly true keep students informed on the to flats near Sugarhouse of 2016, a year that has seen consequences of Brexit, with tumultuous changes to the events such as the Michaelmas political landscape. Term Q&A panel, involving Vice- President (Welfare & Community) Having come out in favour of Dave Whitlock. remaining in the EU during the summer’s referendum, officers Following up on work in 2015 to issued a statement highlighting encourage students to register of their concerns over the threat to to vote, officers worked with new students brought by Brexit. They the university to make voter said: “Our members live, study registration part of the university starters and work in a community that registration process. From this 69% thrives on diversity and is enriched year, all new students are given said we made a positive contribution to by the fact that we open our doors the option to easily register when to students and staff from all over they complete their online pre- Welcome Week the world.” registration.

As the shock result of the EU In the second half of the year, Referendum sank in, officers officers gave evidence at a special BUILDING BRIDGES began to think of ways that hearing designed to gather they could send a message to public feedback on constituency all students that the university changes in the Lancaster region. During Michaelmas term union officers facilitated a meeting remains an accepting, open Controversial plans mean the 163 between members of Lancaster’s Jewish Society and NUS international community. university may no longer be in President Malia Bouattia, a controversial figure who has attracted students visiting accusations of anti-Semitism. All parties were keen to foster the Lancaster city constituency, Lancaster on the The result was We Are Lancaster, and officers spoke against the productive discussions and the feeling from Lancaster’s Jewish a joint campaign with the proposal on behalf of students. summer cultural Society is that the meeting was a good start in rebuilding bridges university created to celebrate, The outcome of the hearing is exchange with the NUS. The Jewish Society now looks forward to following- promote and enhance the expected soon. up on these initial discussions. university’s international outlook. Lancaster University Students’ We also mobilised a huge student Union Vice-President (Campaigns response to an appeal for & Communications) Rachel student objections to proposals Hughes said: “We share the view for accommodation near our that our diverse international Sugarhouse nightclub. community benefits everybody, whether they’re part of the university or part of the wider Lancaster community.

“Our students benefit from a truly global learning experience, mixing with students and SPORT 2016 IMPACT

Lancaster’s athletes secured a taking part. memorable victory over York in IN DEPTH the Roses 2016 tournament. Following our teams’ success in Roses and BUCS in 2015/16 the The win was sealed early on university has provided a Sports £ Sunday afternoon, when a win for Development Fund of £83,500 the canoe slalom squad pushed for 2016/17, allowing competitive Lancaster over the 176 points teams to access regular coaching needed to secure the Carter and funding towards additional James Trophy. competitions. It also provided £83,500 clubs the opportunity to apply to There was heartache for become a Focus Sport. Funding ADDITIONAL investMENT into developing our sports teams Lancaster in the final fixture of for these clubs included intensive the day, when a York drop goal coaching, physiotherapy, strength robbed the Men’s Rugby 1sts of and conditioning and enhanced the win in the final fixture of the support for additional competition. of tournament – but the overall score Successful clubs were Badminton, line of 216.6 to 134.5 underlined Climbing, Fencing, Hockey, competitive Lancaster’s dominance in this Netball and Rugby Union. year’s competition. 402 sport 156,780 Now in its second year, the Sport Roses 2016 was designed Lancaster model has become the over calories to showcase women’s sport norm with BUCS teams with 1,277 BADMINTON PERFORMANCE BOOST via the This Roses Girl Can memberships taken by BUCS Roses burned Our Badminton club set out to be role models not just for future campaign – and Lancaster clubs. The benefits of this were HOURS team members, but for other Lancaster University clubs too. University Students’ Union Vice- seen in the BUCS leagues with Shaking off the ‘defeatist attitude’ the club has said it has in the President (Activities) 2015/16 Lancaster rising from 49th in 2015 past carried with them into Roses, Badminton this year won both Natalie Sutcliffe hailed the to 45th in 2016. A Sports Hardship the women’s and men’s fixtures at the tournament, the men’s ‘Super Saturday’ performance Fund continues to provide support team lifting the trophy for the first time since 2000. Being a focus by Lancaster’s women’s teams. for students who face a financial 525km sport has allowed development of not only the athletes but also Their dominance on Saturday barrier to representing the the culture within the club. Badminton were the highest BUCS built an unassailable 60-point university. covered by Colour Run participants scoring sport in Lancaster, the men’s team taking 1st place in lead, securing the overall win for their league and winning the Conference Cup, the women’s team Lancaster. More info : coming second in their league and getting into the Cup quarter www.lusu.co.uk/sport finals. With inclusivity being a prominent focus in Roses this year, Respect The hard work of the Badminton team can also be seen off the the Rose became a joint venture court; they travelled to Malaysia with LUSU Overseas taking the between Lancaster and York. This first steps to set up a sport partnership with Sunway University campaign introduced a code of EQUIVALENT TO 12 AND A HALF MARATHONS Badminton team. conduct and a pledge which was signed by both the Vice-President (Activities) and Vice-Chancellors from each institution along with 52 of Lancaster’s competing clubs and societies.

This year a fun run was introduced to Roses in the form of a Colour Run. This event was designed to get people active at Roses without the competitive element. The run was a success with 175 people JUST PLAY & COLLEGE SPORT 2016 IMPACT

Currently in its third year, the training to enable them to develop Just Play program has engaged skills, confidence and deliver IN DEPTH 3,034 students in 22 different high-quality sessions. sports and across 42 different league teams, 44% higher than College sport has seen a rise its original target. in interest this year creating intense competition for places Just Play has had a significant and helping to further improve 8,848m role in the various Women in Sport college spirit. Across the football, activity across the year, including netball and bar sports leagues MOUNT EVEREST CLIMB Roses, and this has brought about there are more than 870 people a rise in participation in other competing in college sport on a Took 8 and a half hours and a team of 12 climbers on the climbing wall activities from BUCS to college to weekly basis. recreational level sport. The inter-college Carter Shield Participation has grown rapidly competition has had an increase in over the past year which has interest since partnering with Just meant Just Play has had to Play. There was high attendance 3,034 introduce new leagues to its at Carter Shield disability sports recreational sport offering. This such as wheelchair basketball people have engaged in Just Play includes football, netball and and goalball. basketball which have been enough to fill 2016 team GB 8 times over hugely popular, with 395 students Inter-college sporting events such taking part. as Founders, Legends and Patriots are a large part of sport and the Along with its own programs, collegiate system at Lancaster. leagues and supporting college This year we worked closely with sport Just Play has been able to Lonsdale and Bowland colleges to Fencers sharpen up their act support additional events such as ensure Founders was bigger and this year’s Santa Dash. Organised better than ever and as inclusive enough people to put up a A fiery, fast, and explosive sport, fencing keeps both your body in partnership with the university as possible. and brain active. With three different weapons to choose from Running Club, the event had more starting line-up for all 72 - foil, épée, and sabre - fencing is sure to offer something for than 100 participants. More info : everyone. Lancaster’s Fencing Society has benefited from a surge www.lusu.co.uk/justplay UK Football league teams in membership since fencing became a Just Play sport. The club Much of our Just Play activity hosted a tournament with Just Play fencing participants led by is made possible by student 870 Just Play Activator and fencing team member Owen Birch. Two Activators who work on a people playing students in particular took a shine to the sport and started fencing volunteer basis to facilitate the competitively after starting out through Just Play - Siobhan Regan sports on the Just Play program. college leagues became a Fencing Club exec member, while Thomas Cann has This year so far there are 33 with 1 and a half spares become club president. activators, who all receive extra STUDENT GROUPS 2016 IMPACT

This year we have worked hard Eight members travelled to meet to facilitate student groups, students from the media club IN DEPTH enabling them to take full at Lancaster Ghana. They made advantage of the opportunities at contacts with students in Ghana Lancaster and beyond. to share stories across both WORKED BY campuses and this has resulted in STUDENT The Politics Society and History podcasts from Ghana being played Society hosted big name speakers on Bailrigg FM, video diaries MEDIA such as Second World War veteran from the trip being published by COVERING Harry Leslie Smith and Labour members of LA1:TV and articles ROSES 2016 leader Jeremy Corbyn, drawing about the experience at the Ghana in crowds beyond their usual campus being printed in SCAN. memberships. Better contact with student groups has meant we Continuing work overseas three have been able to help publicise students visited the World and facilitate events such as Business Centre for Sustainable this which in turn had increased Development in Chennai, India, membership to the groups and where they interviewed the heads given them experience of running of large corporations and have larger events. since released articles and news more than casts on information gathered Raising awareness and busting there. Members travelled to stress with the help of Graduate London on several occasions 100 SIRI SCOOPS NATIONAL ROLE College, the Guide Dog society including NUS and Amnesty society events HELD were able to hold a Meet the Guide International Student Media Drawing on experience gained with LA1:TV, Siri Hampapur was Dogs day, a free ticketed event Summit which has created great named as one of ten student journalists working for the NUS this which booked up rapidly. contacts for members. Others year. went to Channel 4 to meet with We have also been able to aid some the programme executives and Siri is making two videos a month on the themes of community, last-minute changes to events reporters of Channel 4’s award- sustainability, lifestyle and student perspective. The videos will be such as the annual Christian winning Unreported World foreign NEW distributed via NUS social media channels, putting Lancaster in Union Party by the Pond. Following affairs series and Amnesty the national student spotlight. bad weather the event looked to International’s crisis researchers. SOCIETIES be cancelled but with quick action Siri said: “As soon as I found out about the role at the NUS Media and good communication between Closer to home student media W ITHIN OUR Summit I knew I wanted to go for it because it just sounds like an the Christian Union and our have also got involved in amazing opportunity to get more work experience whilst getting societies support team we were campaigns and opportunities on 29 CURRENT paid for something you love to do!” able to move the event so it could campus. LA1:TV produced the ‘We continue. Are Lancaster’ video with external 182 GROUPS “Being part of LA1:TV meant I had the necessary skills to just go production company, Lanor. SCAN out, film a piece and edit it!” There are always students with have reported more than ever on amazing ideas and interests higher education campaigns, live they want to share and as long blogging from National Demo as these ideas keep coming we and the Higher Education and will help make them a reality, Research Bill panel, and Bailrigg ideas such as Lego Society. The FM ran a twenty four broadcast much loved, classic toy and hobby and fundraised for Children in became a society this year with Need. founder Oscar Thynne taking the lead as ‘master builder’. More info : www.lusu.co.uk/societies Student Media have had an exciting year of seizing new opportunities. STUDENT GROUPS 2016 IMPACT

2016 has brought significant Societies and Sports Committees, changes in the way we work with putting members at the heart of IN DEPTH student groups. deciding funding requests and steering operational aspects of Following the introduction of facilitating our student groups. the Unioncloud digital system and online memberships we Student engagement levels are at are better able to see how an all-time high. This has meant many students engage in club more collaboration between and society activity and better groups, such as Debating Union CLUB & SOCIETY understand our groups. So far hosting a joint event with Harry 7,969 memberships have been Potter Society for a ‘Ban Wizards MEMBERSHIPS registered. from making the Unbreakable Vow’ debate. For the first time ever we were able to hold a digital fresher’s Student successes this year have fair. This included an afternoon included Mackenzie Tse from of Twitter-based activity using Debating Union earning first the hashtag #JustJoin which was place in the team event and 4th in designed to highlight the ability the singles of the Baillie Gifford to quickly and easily join groups Oxford Women’s Open, while anytime anywhere. This event Polefitness Society’s Charlotte encouraged student groups to Tait was the winner of the £30k advertise themselves via social instructor category in the Miss media, showcasing the activity Pole Dance UK Semi Pro finals in they run, times they meet and Bognor Regis. OF GROUP FUNDING what they offer to members. Students were able engage with The process of applying for LEADING THE DEBATE these groups to ask questions and funding for societies has been Debating Union, who became famous on campus last year for join online. made easier this year with their weekly Monday night debate, have this year gone the extra £30,000 being awarded to groups, PEOPLE mile, from chairing the HE and Research Bill panel to reinstating A few changes were also made to support their initiatives and the Inter-college Debating Championships. to the physical Fresher’s Fair ideas. 4,474 ATTENDED held on the Thursday of Welcome The society also took on the topic of the year and hosted an EU Week. This year student groups FRESHERS’ FAIR PT. 1 Referendum panel at Lancaster Town Hall (pictured). The debate were split into colour-coded featured Natalie Bennett (Leader of the Green Party), Kate zones based on their activity, Welcome! Green MP (Labour Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities), giving each room an identity and Cllr Charlie Edwards (Conservative Councillor Bare Ward) and making it easier for students to Jonathan Arnott MEP (UKIP General Secretary). find the type of activity they were interested in. Sports teams set up display areas in Lancaster Square and encouraged students to have a go while waiting. Digital help points were also set up around the fair staffed by our Unioncloud support team.

Beyond digital we are now able to support our groups with a staff team dedicated to helping societies. VP (Activities) 2016/17 Jack Walker introduced new COMMUNITY 2016 IMPACT

Our multi-faceted approach to Council for International Student building community spirit inside Affairs and the National Union of IN DEPTH and outside the university has Students. continued to break new ground in 2016. Working with the activities team, Overseas supported the African We continue to lead the way in Caribbean Society to organise promoting sustainable living, a successful networking event 3 working with the university on and helped arrange for the Black the Green Lancaster partnership. Liberation Flag on campus. Significant investments have been made at our on-campus Eco Hub Our Schools Volunteering team students to enable even more activity. Other has offered a huge range of developments include a weekly activities for local schoolchildren travelled THE WORLD veg market and the creation of a – strengthening links with new student staff team leading the community and giving our with our support on developing and promoting students valuable classroom initiatives to promote behaviour experience. change. The annual Exodus project had its busiest year ever, Projects have covered diverse STUDENTS preventing 46 tonnes of unwanted topics such as creative arts, sport, THE HEAT IS ON items going to landfill. We once citizenship and the environment. participated again secured gold, the top award In December more than 400 in schools Our Innovation Team supported three teams of students to create possible, in the NUS Green Impact local schoolchildren visited the their own food business start-ups, based in the on-campus cafe Awards. Ecohub orchard and planted at 361volunteering The Deli. least one tree each – a project As well as organising summer run in partnership with Green The Deli Takeover featured members of the Korean Society, the trips to partner institutions Lancaster. Culture Society and an independent team of students, who were abroad, our Overseas team has set the challenge as part of Global Enterprise Week. led a series of extra projects Our Community Volunteering designed to build stronger links work has continued to evolve. The The projects were designed to help students develop new skills between Lancaster and our move to Unioncloud has made and put knowledge they had already gained to practical use. All friends overseas. We sent a it easier than ever for students events were profitable and full to capacity, with more than 250 student media team to Accra to to sign up and we’ve changed customers served during the three-night run. help students develop new skills our way of working to make this in creating and producing content area more student-led than ever The successful venture formed part of a wide-range of Innovation and launched a PlayStation link before by recruiting student co- projects running throughout the year, with further activity allowing students from both ordinators. including the launch of an online group for student innovators, campuses to connect and play active641 volunteers recruited creation of collaborative Ideas Labs and Start-Up Labs and online, in a project sponsored We trained more than 220 hosting of Start-Up Weekend events. by Santander Universities. Eight Dementia Friends, who delivered during the last year college presidents travelled to sessions in local care homes China to build relationships with to support people living with new university partner Beijing dementia conditions. The team Jiaotong University in China. also worked with 180 students, delivering academic modules as The Overseas team also leads part of their degree studies. The World at Lancaster, a project that celebrates the diverse More info : international community at www.lusu.co.uk/opportunities Lancaster. As a result we were named ‘Most Internationalised Students’ Union’ by the UK STUDENT SERVICES 2016 IMPACT

2016 got off to a challenging start all of its households. The packs for our commercial teams in the contain a clockwork torch, an IN DEPTH aftermath of Storm Desmond, analogue landline phone (in case which flooded parts of Lancaster of a major power cut) and a basic and caused a three-day blackout first aid kit. Students’ union Vice- in the city. President Welfare Dave Whitlock said: “When Storm Desmond Sugarhouse was badly hit by flood hit, homes in the city were left waters and the team faced the without power for up to three mammoth task of cleaning and days. With winter approaching, drying the building, removing we’re put emergency packs in damaged stock and getting all of our homes to ensure our repair works completed in time tenants are as prepared as they to welcome students back to can be if something goes wrong.” Properties already university at the start of Lent transferred to term. The Living team has been working hard during 2016 to improve the fibre broadband The club was open on schedule service offered to students. Fibre and celebrated with the Christmas broadband has now been installed party that was cancelled as the in the majority of our properties storm approached. Thanks to the to help students in their studies efforts of the team, Sugarhouse and smart energy meters have was one of the first businesses been put in every property to keep 167 New life for Central in the affected part of the city costs down and cut energy waste. to reopen, ensuring that this Quality of housing has continued smart There have been some big changes in our retail operation with the valuable student social space to be improved. meters decision to close our shop in Edward Roberts Court and embark continued to serve our members. on a major refurbishment of our Central convenience store in The club has gone on to have a More info : installed order to concentrate all our efforts on one outlet. successful 2016, with excellent www.lusu.co.uk/services attendance levels and a financial Central reopened late in the summer vacation, with a completely performance that has exceeded new look and offering a range of new products and services. The budget – there’s a real sense that shop now offers wider ranges of healthy and fresh produce as the club’s management team is well as hot snacks for students in need of breakfast or lunch meeting the expectations of our on the move, and a new improved coffee service. Eco-friendly members. low-energy fridges have been installed. Popular stationery lines previously sold at the former shop are now to found in Our student lettings agency, LUSU Central alongside everyday grocery essentials. New hardware Living, ended 2015 checking on the 11,325 for contactless and ApplePay transactions has been installed to welfare of blackout-hit tenants, create an efficient customer experience, and testing is under way and as winter 2016 approached visits to Sugarhouse of a new loyalty system for introduction in the 2017. sent special emergency packs to in welcome week STUDENT SERVICES 2016 IMPACT

We work to one big vision: and was a huge hit in March, Inspiring and Supporting you to attracting 1,000 students. IN DEPTH Love Lancaster. Summer’s Grad Ball, again held And we don’t just do that by at Blackpool Tower, was a big VALID providing services that help our success with ticket sales up on the PURPLE members get a great degree and previous year. This success was 7,200+ gain employability skills. down to the consultation work we CARDS I N did with members to learn more CIRCULATION Some of the things we do are about the acts they wanted to see designed to help bring university perform. Our headliner, rapper to life and make sure our Fuse ODG, was a popular choice members have the best student with students and the event experience possible. received excellent feedback from guests. Chris MADE HIS MARK We know cost of living is a major issue for today’s students, and our Roses Fest - a performing arts We’re at our best when students lead the way in making the Purple card scheme continues spectacular run alongside our union do things that are bigger and better. This year we had to to help our members make the annual sporting clash with say goodbye to a student who has made a huge contribution to the most of their money. Although University of York - was a new union during his time with us. Purple card sales have reduced event created following feedback in line with national trends, we’re from students that arts should Chris Osborn came to Lancaster for his undergraduate degree still able to offer students the be celebrated as part of the and liked it so much he stayed for eight years, completing his chance to make huge savings on tournament. The festival involved history PhD in 2016. everything from everyday items to hundreds of performers at luxury treats. numerous campus venues as Alongside his outstanding academic achievements, the union student groups and societies GRAD BALL TICKETS SOLD gave Chris the opportunity to get involved in a huge number of This year the Purple team has organised everything from DJ projects – taking a lead role in our student TV station and the partnered with Manchester sets to dance performances. music society, organising shows, launching annual events like United to offer cut price match 000 the student ‘Strictly’ contest, and amassing a huge amount tickets - the club even brought And our Overseas team launched of technical knowledge on light and sound. The union made it the FA Cup to campus during new events to introduce possible for Chris to indulge his passions and he helped the union Welcome Week. We’ve also been international students to British to reach new heights of professionalism and ambition – the sort able to source loads of great culture, including the well- of partnership that makes the union what it is. prizes and giveaways, making attended Great British Tea WEBSITE VIEWS USERS more than 1,000 Purple people Party on St George’s Day and a Winner of the Sir Christian Bonington Outstanding Achievement happy. Our weekly Farmers’ special event to mark the 400th Award in 2012 and Outstanding Student of the Year Award in Market continues to be a big draw anniversary of Shakespeare’s 1,870 2016, Chris used the skills he developed with us to land a job at for students and has provided death. 49,000 new Facebook with outside broadcast specialists Arena TV – but his legacy lives a platform for enterprising student success story reads likes on at Lancaster. students to launch their own businesses.

Also new for 2016 was the Purple Student Shopping Event, run in partnership with Lancaster Business Improvement District and the Healthy High Street group to build links between students and the city with a night offering dozens of great offers in the run- up to Christmas. Purple’s Big Night Out had a Star Wars theme 7,200+

This is just a snapshot of the last year at Lancaster University Students’ Union, working towards our overall vision of :