Activities Officer Blog

Hello all,

What a year it's been! I remember the day I got elected as your Activities Officer and being so so excited to see what would happen and what we could do together. The year has been like nothing and everything I'd expected in the best possible way.

I just want to take the time to thank every single one of you for everything you've done. This year has been unlike any other as we faced so many challenges coming out of covid-19. During covid-19, societies & volunteering groups resilience was put to the test. Coming out of it, you stepped up to take on committee roles and bring back the student experience to campus! Bringing back the student life to campus after years of online activity was no easy feat especially since a lot of knowledge had been lost but you took the challenge and smashed it.

Together we have created a legacy for years to come and created many new events, built up a fountain of knowledge, and created new ways of support and more!

Here are a few of my highlights

• Artsity - Together we created the first arts and creativity festival at the University. This was on my manifesto when I ran for Officer and I'm really proud to have been able to do it. Storm Eunice put a sudden start to the event but I'm really of what was achieved. We were able to put on workshops from different societies throughout the day which ended in an amazing Open Mic night.
   
• Bringing back societies & volunteering groups after covid-19. This was a massive part of my work throughout the year and one which was year long. Groups had essentially lost a years worth of knowledge and I supported groups in that journey of re-learning. I helped make sure that all the right resources were available and that we were being as clear as we could when communicating about it.
   
• Adopting Ecosia as the default search engine browser on all library computers. This had been an active campaign since 2017. In a joint effort with People & Planet we managed to successfully write a paper to CSSU to convince the University this was the right decision. It was adopted as the default search engine browser just before the start of Semester 2. A massive thank you to People & Planet as collaborating made the process so much more fun!
   
• Together we developed the arts inclusivity guidance. Through conversations with students, it felt evident to both of us that there was a need for a guidance which would help guide not only art societies but all societies in how they can make their shows as inclusive as possible. After a few months at work and getting feedback from stakeholders, I'm really proud that this will be available to all societies and guide societies in how they can be more inclusive.
   
• Launched the Sustainability Award. We launched a pilot of the sustainability award for the first time this year. The award is designed to encourage and recognize groups who are being
   
• Volunteering moved under the Activities Officer remit for the first time. I spent the better half of the year understanding what that meant and listening to volunteering groups to see what support they wanted. We held volunteering chairs meetings, volunteering committee meetings and quite a few funtastic volunteering socials with the Activities Executive! 
   
• Relaunched the Arts Forum!  We relaunched Arts Forum which is a place for the art societies to discuss on art societies specific issues and share ideas! Back after popular demand, we discussed the edge, arts, artsity and more! Whilst for now these have been limited on a pilot to art societies, this should hopefully lead to the creation of other society specific forums! 
   
• Created the South Asian Society Agreement. This is an agreement that will enable each society to collaborate with each other without stepping on each other's toes and working together even more! This was an exciting development and can't wait to see what happens! 
   
• Lobbied the University on their updated investment policy around sustainability and divestment. This year one of our top 10 focused around sustainability and the investment policy which was a really important matter, especially given that the policy was being renewed for the first time in 5 years. The updated policy is due to be finalized hopefully over the summer. Our demands also included that the investment policy included a plan as to how this was going to help their commitments to the Climate Action Framework. 

I have had the time of my life this year and I am leaving full of joy and happy memories. A massive thank you goes to the Activities Executive Committee who throughout the year brought to me so much joy and lifted my spirits up when it needed to be. The Activities Executive committee has been one of my highlights of this year and I am so proud of all that you have achieved! I hope you've all had as much as I have because it's been a pretty fabby ride! 

A massive thank you goes to Elizabeth, Meg, Jacob, Sid, and Annie, the 2021/22 Officer Team. One of us recently said, "Why does it looks like we spend all our time together. Oh wait, we do.". Couldn't have imagined doing this with any other team and I can't wait to see you all smash it in what you do next! 

Finally, a massive thank you to everyone students and staff! Whether it was just a quick passing-by conversation or us having an in-depth conversation about possible uses of the Edge, I have loved every minute of it. I have learned so much from everyone and I am so grateful for it. 

I now leave you in the most capable hands of Viktor, your Activities Officer for 2022/23! I know he will absolutely smash the role and I'm so so excited to see what he does!