I am now 14 months into being Sport Officer, more terrifyingly 2 months into my second term and the time seems to have disappeared in an instant. It’s been a manic few weeks in the office, lots to do, and a few more fires to put out than I would have liked, but overall it has been positive. Have a read of this latest blog post to get an idea of what I have been up to and find out a little more about a few areas of my work.

Here’s a flavour of what I have been up to:

• Two-week handover with the new team
• Started planning for a coach development scheme
• Worked on making Varsity bigger and better than ever
• Started organising a committee training conference
• Decided the Top Ten (Including putting the 3G pitch back on there!)
• Reviewed the TriCCS local league set up from last year and worked out some improvements
• Attended 4 (very hot) graduation ceremonies
• Sorted out all of the Facility booking and financial allocations for clubs
• Met with Bath City Football Club and Bath Rugby to sort out some deals for students
• Been on a 4-day BUCS conference where I was elected as the BUCS Student Director (Sport Officer for Sport Officers, yay!)
• Input into a sexual harassment campaign that the University and Students Union will be running next year
• Attended Lead and Change NUS Conference
• Had a review of the BUCS Working group for next year with some great positive outcomes for students
• Planned a Talent ID/Transfer day for the start of next semester
• Hired a new rowing coach
• Moved Offices
• Confirmed a new permanent staff position in the SU working on Recreational Sport
• Had a holiday
• Done a lot of photo shoots with the new team (yes, including that one on Memeversity of Bath)

Spreadsheets Spreadsheets Spreadsheets

Summer time for the Sports Officer unfortunately, inevitably means staring for inordinate amounts of time at a lot of spreadsheets, more specifically, budgets and facilities. Although that may sound a bit dull I’m pleased to say that it has all been worth it. This year we have managed to add nearly 30 hours of sessions to sports clubs allocations which is great news and this means that there will be even more to get involved with this year. I also successfully bid to the SU management team to provide more money overall to clubs meaning that club budgets should all feel a little larger for 2017-18

Why are we waiting…

It’s been 8 years (I think) since the 3G pitch question was first brought up by the Students Union (I say ‘I think’ because I wasn’t actually here which means it must have been ages ago!) Well this year I am reigniting this campaign, first step has been done, it will officially be on The SU Top Ten next year which brings it back in front of senior management. Next stages will be collecting all of the data that we have to make sure that we have the data to back up the benefits we all know it would bring. Lastly, I need your help! This will not happen without student support, look out for opportunities to engage over the next year and show that we really need this.

It’s all change in the SU

Some of you will have seen the rebrand of the SU, well that’s not the only change that’s happened. I’m pleased to say that you will no longer be able to find me on Level 2 of the SU, you now have to take the stairs to level 3 and the old Advice and Representation Centre. I hope that this isn’t too arduous of a journey, what you will find after the epic ascent is a new office, where the Sport and Societies staff have teamed up with volunteering to make one big super team! The plan is that this means we will be able to better cross collaborate and make life easier for you guys. (Also I have a stress ball office chair which is sick!)

BUCS Conference

This one is a little bit self-indulgent but bear with it. Every year BUCS organises a conference at which all universities gather to talk all things sport and activity related. It’s always a great week but this year was particularly special for me as I stood for and won the election for BUCS Student Director. It’s similar to being Sport Officer at Bath but is elected by the Sport Officers from across the country. I thought I was done with elections but apparently not! The reason that I mention is that I will be representing student across the country when it comes to all things BUCS and that means Bath students too. If at any point this year you have an opinion about BUCS that you want to be brought up with them, please let me know as I have a direct line.

Anyway, that’s enough about me, I hope you’ve all been having a great summer, have sufficiently chilled out and are ready to get back to Bath and make this the best year of sport we have ever had!

See you all soon!