University of the West of England Students’ Union

Vice President Community and Welfare

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Contents1. Welcome

2. What does a Students’ Union do?

3. Role Description

4. Person Specification

5. Key Election Dates

Available to download

UWESU Constitution: www.uwesu.org/constitutionUWESU Annual Accounts: www.uwesu.org/student_voice/financial_reports Nomination Form: www.uwesu.org/voteCandidate Information: www.uwesu.org/voteOrganisation structure: www.uwesu.org/structure

Additional Information: www.uwesu.org and www.uwe.ac.ukBoth these websites will give you up to date information on the activities and services at the Union and University

If you require any other specific information, please contact Nerys Neath on nerys.neath@uwe.ac.uk

Thank you for showing an interest in standing for the postition of Vice-President Community and Welfare. Being a President is a unique opportunity to represent the diverse views of our 30,000 students and work on projects to improve the experience of students who study here at UWE. If elected you will be responsible as part of the Board of Trustees of the Union for making decisions around the finances and structure of UWE Students’ Union, an organisation which has around 90 staff and a turnover of £4 million.

The new constitution means that the new roles are more focused, with clearer remits and a more transparent reporting structure. We now need people who can take the new constitution forward into reality and bring new ideas into the Students’ Union. This pack will give you more information about the Students’ Union, the specifics of the role and details of how the election process works.

UWEUWE has approximately 30,000 students based around the south west region mainly studying at 5 campuses in and around Bristol. The largest campus is based at Frenchay, there are two campuses in Fishponds, Glenside and St Matthias; Bower Ashton in south Bristol and Hartpury College in Gloucestershire. In addition, UWE also has students studying as distance learners in Federation colleges across the South West and abroad as placement students.

Who runs the Students’ Union?Each year UWESU democratically elects 5 full time Presidents and 9 part time volunteer Officers who make up the Executive Committee of the Union who lead the organisation and act as representatives of the student body.

The full time Presidents also act as part of the Trustee Board. The trustees are responsible for ensuring the organisation is well governed and setting the strategic vision.

The elected executive are supported by a dedicated and professional staff team. The senior management team, led by the General Manager, is responsible for managing the organisation.1. W

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RepresentationUWESU has over 900 Student Reps who sit on a wide range of University committees to ensure that the student voice and views are expressed at all levels. The University positively engages with the representation department to gain student feedback and support the student rep system. Training and support is offered to all student representatives from course reps to Union officers.

CampaignsUWESU students campaign on important issues that have an effect of the student experience such as government funding, teaching and learning experience through to social facilities. All campaigns are student led and funding can be received through the campaigns budget.

Advice & JobShopThe Union runs a free independent advice service for students across all campuses, offering confidential professional, specialist support in a variety of issues such as academic, housing and employment. The JobShop seeks out suitable part time employment opportunities for students whilst studying at UWE.

Student ActivitiesBeing active in one of nearly 90 sports and societies or involved in volunteering and fundraising is a major part of the students’ experience. Basically, student activities are all about the cool stuff! We provide access to a wide range of student led activities & the opportunity to develop interests, skills and abilities along the way. We are here to facilitate the optimum sporting and non-sporting experience, irrespective of ability, whether that is performing at the highest level in international and national teams, developing coaching and leadership skills, participating in sports and activities purely for recreational enjoyment, fundraising for a chosen charity or volunteering within UWE and\or the wider community.

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Trading ServicesUWESU operates 5 bars, 4 retail shops, print shop and an online shop across the various campuses. Revenue generated by the commercial activities are used to help fund the other student services that UWESU provides.

Student Letting UWE Students’ Union’s lettings is a free service for students, which deals with private landlord accommodation and is designed to ease the process and steer students around the potential pitfalls of what is often their second largest expense. Working with Bristol and South Gloucester City Councils, we ensure a high standard of student accommodation through the use of their accreditation schemes.

Media and CommunicationsUWESU Communications and Student Media encompasses the student newspaper; Western Eye, the Hub Radio station, the UWESU website (www.uwesu.org), the SU’s use of social media (Facebook,Twitter etc) as well as traditional publicity methods such as poster sites on campus. The Societies and Communications Vice President will work closely with the SU staff and students involved in marketing & communications to help make sure that UWESU is increasingly successful in engaging with our members and other stakeholders.

NurseryThe Students’ Union operates a nursery on Frenchay Campus providing high quality childcare and education for the children of students, university employees and the local community. Children can attend the nursery on a full or part time basis. Our aim is to provide a warm, caring environment that will offer a variety of learning opportunities for babies and young children. Priority is given to students and staff of UWE.

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Term of Office: Full Time for 1 year and 1 week commencing last week in June.

Team: Sabbatical Team and Students’ Union Executive Committee

Accountable to: Student Members through: Student Council, General Meetings, Community and Welfare Committee and Referendum, also accountable to the Board of Trustees

Purpose of the Role:• Toensurethatstudentsareregularlyengagedwithandthattheirviewsare represented to the university• ToactasthemainpointofcontactfortheUniversityformattersrelatingto the collective welfare experiences of students • Todevelopunionpolicyintheareasofequalityandwelfare• Toleadandsupportcommunityandwelfarecampaigns• TochampionEqualityandDiversitythroughouttheStudents’Union

General President Responsibility:• EnsuresthatUWEstudentsarerepresentedateveryleveltotheUniversity, locally and nationally.• ToregularlyobtainfeedbackfromstudentstoensurethattheStudents’ Union meets the need of the main stakeholder, the students.• ToworkcollectivelyaspartoftheExecutiveteam• UpholdtheStudents’UnionConstitutionandPolicies• UpholdthecorevaluesoftheStudents’Union• Toactivelyencouragestudentstobeinvolvedwiththedemocraticand election processes of the Students’ Union• TosupporttheAGM,OpenDays,Freshers’andofficialUnionevents• ProvideawrittenreporttoeachStudentCouncil,respectivecommitteeandAGM• Keepuptodatewithcurrentnationalstudentissues• Toattendthesummertrainingprogramme• Toworktowardsaneffectivehandoverperiodandtoproduceahandoverpack.

Main Responsibilities/activities of the Role:• EnsuringthestudentexperienceisheardwithregardtoUniversity developments in welfare and community provision• Todevelop,supportandpromotestudentcommunitiesandnetworkswithin the university• Todevelop,supportandpromotetheHallsRepssystem• Tosupportanddevelopstudentcommunityvolunteeringactivities• ToworkcloselywiththeEqualityandDiversityUnittoensuretheviewsof the equality strand students are considered

Further Responsibilities:• MemberoftheUWESUBoardofTrustees

Finance: • Budgetholder:Toensureexpenditureiswithinbudgetinareaofresponsibility

Main Relationship and Contacts:• ViceChancellor• DeputyViceChancellorResources,PlanningandInfrastructure• AssistantVice-Chancellor:Partnerships,Diversity&CivicEngagement• UWESUSeniorManagementTeam• UWESURepresentationDepartment• UWESUAdviceCentre• UWEEqualityandDiversityUnit• UWEStudentServices• UWECommunityLiaison• UWEGlobalStudentSupport• UWEVolunteeringTeam• StudentAccommodationProviders(internalandexternal)

Internal Committee Membership:• UWESUBoardofTrustees• UnionExecutiveCommittee• StudentCouncil• CommunityandWelfareCommittee(chair)• HallsRepCommittee• FinanceandGeneralPurposes• StaffingCommittee• AppointmentsCommittee• NurseryBoard(JointCommittee)• Volunteering(JointCommittee)• LocalResidents’Meetings

University Committee Membership:• EqualityandDiversitySteeringGroup• EqualityandDiversityForum• AccesstoLearningFundAppeals

Vice President Community and Welfare

Abilities, Skills and Knowledge• Abilitytocommunicatewithawiderangeofpeople• Abilitytoworkinateam• Abilitytomotivateselfandothers• KnowledgeoftheneedsandexpectationsofstudentsinHigherEducation• Computerliterate-MicrosoftOffice,Word,Excel

Experience• Experienceofmanagingownworkload• Experienceofliaising/networkingwitharangeofpeople

Personal Characteristics and Behaviours• Apersuasiveandcredibleambassadorfortheorganisation• Enjoysworkingwithadiverserangeofpeople• Selfmotivated,enthusiasticandwellorganised• Acommitmenttoanorganisationthatpromotesequalityanddiversity• Willingnesstolearnandacommitmenttoselfdevelopment• Flexibleapproachtoworking

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Results will be announced on the evening of Friday 11th March. Further details will be available at candidates briefing.

If you require any other specific information, please contact Nerys Neath on nerys.neath@uwe.ac.uk5.

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Nominations Open: Monday 31st January

Nominations Close: Thursday 24th February at 1pm

Candidates Briefing: Thursday 24th February 5:30pm 3D06

Voting Week: Monday 7th March at 10am until Friday 11th March at 3pm