Activities Officer Blog

It’s crazy to think that it’s now almost October already. I look back and the first of July, the day I started this crazy, unpredictable and incredible role, seems so far away and yet it’s gone by in the blink of an eye. And whilst I thought summer was very busy, little did I know how mad the beginning of the year was going to be.

In reflection, there are a lot of things that have gone on throughout this summer that I’d like you to know.

• The officer team drafted the Top 10 priority campaigns for the upcoming year, and I am so proud to say that we have are also going to lobby the university to “commit to radical action in its university strategy to combat the climate crisis”. With the Our University, Our Future strategy consultations kicked off by Ian White, our Vice-Chancellor, we will work with students and student groups to ensure that radical commitments are made. We don’t have much time left, we can’t waste a single second.

• We took massive steps to rebuild our relationship with the Arts Team in the Edge. As soon as I started the role, I ensured the SU Activities Team and the Edge Team met up on a regular basis to discuss any issues arising, as well as making headway for more strategic conversations about the future of student provision in the building.

• Show Ticketing was of course a massive headache for our committees last year. I pledged in my manifesto to smoothly return the ticketing system to the Edge, where the process can be administered more effectively and with less of a hassle to you, the committees dealing with this on the ground. I am so proud to say that this has happened. For Edge shows organised by societies, the SU will no longer be in charge of the ticketing system.

• With this provision, the Edge has begun to re-advertise student shows on its web platform, and we made provisions with their Finance Team to ensure a smooth financial transaction of funds between the Edge and the SU’s accounts.

• When distributing budgets to societies, I decided to set aside £1,300 for a Societies Start-Up Fund. Often, new societies find themselves struggling right from the beginning as they cannot apply for funds until the beginning of the following financial year. With this provision, each newly affiliated society will receive £100 directly into their account to kick-start their activities.

• In terms of environmental initiatives:
  • We laid down the main plans for a large-scale end of year swap shop, to be held at the Edge in the new foyer space. The vision of this will include further coffee discounts if you bring your own cup, some chill music, any thoughts? Let me know!
  • Talks with the department of Estates regarding the water fountains are happening again, in the hope of a concrete installation plan coming out soon.
  • In the bid to reduce the number of leaflets pamphlets put out by the SU, we are investigating along with the university at how we can increase our outreach to students, staff and visitors via digital advertising on our campus.
  • An SU environmental group has assembled over the summer and started drafting its environmental policy – this is still at the beginning stages, and of course I’d love any input from students!
  • I’ve started working on the sustainability of Fresh and Fresh Express, and particularly ensuring that the promise made last year to include a Reverse Vending Machine in Fresh is kept.

• I’ve worked over summer to re-vamp the General Meetings, ensuring that they work for you and are truly an engaging and informational way for you to improve your society. More details about this will be floated at the first Societies General Meeting in October.

• A plan and a timeline to overhaul the committee handover process and documentation has been created, and it’s going to have your contributions at the very centre. Watch out for more updates about this!

• Another big project that is about to kick off now is re-looking at the way we accredit and reward our volunteers. Once again, your voice will be vital and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts about this.

Sooooooo, this was my summer. Of course, I didn’t live in front of my office screens, only talking about the SU and completely deleting my personal life. I had a good bit of fun as well. Still, having been in Bath for 99% of my summer, with my family in Italy and most of my friends at home around the UK, I am so grateful that I could forge a real and meaningful bond with the rest of the officer team. Having colleagues that you can truly call your friends is something I wish on every single one of you, especially if you’re going to step up to such a hectic role with so many responsibilities.

Then you all came back, and if my excitement for this role was already at 100% (which it was), on Saturday of arrivals weekend it absolutely went through the roof. I can’t stop highlighting, in the midst of Freshers’ Week, how proud I was of every single one of the committees I work with during Groups Day. Despite the rain, despite the wind, despite that being there means you have to be on your feet for hours on end, you were there, eager to meet new people and to find new members of your societies, media groups, volunteering teams, and diversity and support groups. It fills me with joy to see the lengths you have gone already to improve the experience of fellow students at this university. Sometimes we forget that university would simply not be the same if it weren’t for that extra-curricular activities that allow people to have fun in such a high-stress environment. Your role is massively important in this place, do not ever forget that.

And as Freshers’ Week draws to a close and you start heading back to your lectures, just know that I can’t wait to see what comes next. If this week is proof of anything, it is that this year is going to be incredible.

Stay awesome,

Franci,

Your Activities Officer.