POSITIVE IMPACTFOR 2012

NORTHUMBRIA STUDENTS’ UNION

OUR MISSION “To have a positive impact on the lives of all our students”

MESSAGE FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR

Students’ Unions are at the heart of the University community. They provide a welcoming and safe environment with opportunities for cultural enrichment and personal development for all. Most important, the very best Unions excel in representing the interests of their members and work constructively with their University to enhance the quality of the student experience. Northumbria Students’ Union is all these things and more.

Northumbria is an excellent University for teaching, research and knowledge transfer. I know that a student’s fi rst priority is to fulfi l their academic potential. But in a competitive job market extra-curricular activities help students stand out from the crowd and the Union is a primary channel through which Northumbria students can enhance their employment prospects, through the numerous opportunities for personal development that the Union provides. I commend the outstanding work of all Union volunteers and the positive impact they have on the University but also the wider community in Newcastle and beyond.

The Union has run highly effective campaigns in the past year engaging many thousands of students. As a University we listen carefully to what our students are saying and we will continue to work in partnership with the Union on issues raised in the future.

I congratulate the Union on a year of tremendous achievement. I look forward to working closely with you over the coming year.

Professor Andrew Wathey FRHistS FRSA FSAVice-Chancellor and Chief ExecutiveNorthumbria University

OUR VALUESDEMOCRATIC * INCLUSIVE * ETHICALINNOVATION * QUALITY * PARTNERSHIP

This year we got a Silver Award in the Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative...

Our Positive Impact for 2012 3

4 Delivering for You

6 Winning For Students

8 Getting Involved

10 Wellbeing & Community

11 Welcoming You

12 Connecting With You

13 Quality Services & Entertainment

14 Sustaining A Brighter Future

15 Looking Ahead - Our Big Ideas

CONTENTS

Hello Northumbria!

What a year it has been! I hope you’ve had an amazing time and we have certainly achieved a lot together. This year we got a Silver Award in the Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative, an award scheme run by the National Union of Students and we were listed as one of The Sunday Times top 100 Best Not-for-profi t Companies! Both of these are fantastic and are a refl ection of the hard work put in by everyone, from Sabbs to staff to volunteers! I am so proud of our Students’ Union and I hope you are too.

We’ve really had an impact on students again this year. We successfully campaigned for a bigger library and got an extra 144 spaces to help you study. We’ve set up NU:LETS our Students’ Union run letting agency, to provide you with a letting agency you can trust and drive up standards throughout Newcastle. We secured bigger bursaries for new students, meaning non-repayable cash bursaries of up to £4,000 per year!

It’s been busy but we’ve defi nitely been making a difference!

I hope you are as proud of these successes as I am and enjoy the report!

Jo RhodesPresident 2011 - 2013

Our Positive Impact for 20124

Northumbria Students’ Union is dedicated to having a positive impact upon the lives of all our students. In 2012 we have delivered fi rst class, award winning activities, opportunities, advice, representation, services and entertainment to students ensuring that you get the best education possible whilst having fun and enhancing your job prospects. We have been highly recognised and commended for our excellence:

Getting to be

such a part

of the positive

impact that the

Union has

Jamie Thompson, Chair of Student Council

DELIVERING FOR

STUDENTS

NATIONAL AWARDS

GOLD Green Impact

People & Environment Achievement Community Award

Best Bar None 2 SILVER plus 1 BRONZE Club & Bar Award

SHORTLISTED NATIONAL STUDENT AWARDSPeople & Environment Achievement Awards, Responsible Travel - No Car Superstar

25THBest Not for Profi t Company

16 Media Awards

NU:TVNaSTA

Our Positive Impact for 2012 5

Record breaking turnout

4,669VOTESIN ELECTIONS

LAUNCHED new letting agency

A RECORD

14students stood for NUS conference elections

£100,000 invested into better facilities

INCREASED funding for membershipservices by

19%

£1.3 MILLION commercial income

SERVED

681,000 beverages

1.3 MILLION hits on SU websites

representing one of the campuses with such a large variety of students

Jackson Douglas, Coach Lane Students’ Rep

6

WINNING FOR

STUDENTSIn 2012 we achieved amazing things for students. Our representation systems are some of the best in the country. This year we’ve listened to more students than ever before, working to get your voice heard within the University and the wider community, delivering positive changes for students. Our Sabbatical Offi cers and all representatives have worked hard for student rights, improving the quality of education at Northumbria.

A great place to make friends and help those that need help

Nick Resnekov, School Rep - Law

HIDDEN FEES CAMPAIGN HAS SAVED

£2 MILLION

OUR VOICE YOUR FUTURE

750STUDENTStook part in our#NorthumbriaFeedMe campaign

IN COSTS TOSTUDENTS

5,000OV

ER

STUDENTSa year benefi ting from enhanced bursaries of up to

£4,000 one of the best levels of support in England

144in the library following the #biggerisabetterlibrary campaign involving

1,237 STUDENTS

NEW SPACES

Our Positive Impact for 2012

7Our Positive Impact for 2012

A place to come for course advice when I thought there was nowhere to go

Lauren Teague, Lay Student Councillor

78%OF PROGRAMMELEADERS

say student Reps have a positive impact on the University

National Demonstration

STUDENTS ATTEND 50

566STUDENTS SUPPORTED

in Academic Advice cases LAY STUDENT COUNCILLORSVOLUNTEERED5

285 HOURS

* EDUCATION POLICY formally recognised improving the quality of Education at Northumbria for ALL students

10,000 volunteered by student representatives to improve the quality of education

HOURS

380COURSE REPSTRAINED

NSU has given me invaluable training for my role which will be a huge benefi t when applying for jobs

Chloe Beale, Special Events Coordinator - Volunteer Northumbria

GETTING INVOLVED

We’re extremely proud of our volunteers and societies. From the Volunteering and Societies Fair during Welcome Week hundreds of new students found that they could make a difference to their community and job prospects by getting involved in our wide range of activities.

2524,633 HOURS

STUDENTS VOLUNTEERED

for Welcome Week giving

having such a positive impact on local, national and international charities

Kathryn Boyd, RAG Week Events Coordinator

SOCIETIES

Our Positive Impact for 20128

Biggest Societies and Activities Fair with

42

VOLUNTEER NORTHUMBRIA

45 PROJECTS INVOLVING

550 VOLUNTEERS

Running a Society has given me confi dence at public speaking

Krishan Mistry, President of Northumbria Hindu Society

Our Positive Impact for 2012 9

£45,000 RAG RAISED OVER

for worthy causes

Environmental Volunteers increase by

65%>454

54 2,210 MEMBERS

SOCIETIES with

Students volunteered

519 HOURS

* Launched a dedicated environmental volunteering programme

WON

2 NATIONAL AWARDS AND GAINED

3 NOMINATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

SUPPORTED

534 students and One Planet Trips

ENHANCED EMPLOYABILITY BY TRAINING

228 VOLUNTEERLEADERS

in the community

The ONLY official and approved student letting agency of Northumbria. We act in the interest of the tenant, finding quality housing by reputable landlords.

No Tenant Fees Student Friendly Competitive Rates Campus Based Quality Accommodation Reputable Landlords Knowledgeable Staff

Opening HoursMonday to Friday 9am - 5pm *Subject to change

we guarantee

NO AGENCY FEES

Hamish Yewdall, Community Rep - Volunteer Northumbria

Allowed me to develop the skills and confi dence needed to

pursue my political interests and represent students

Our Positive Impact for 201210

WELLBEING& COMMUNITY

Making sure you are safe, happy and healthy during your time at Northumbria is important to us. We work with the City Council, NHS services, local police and the Student Support and Wellbeing Service to give you the best advice, support and information possible.

300BALLOONSplaced in student properties at risk of crime

REDUCED STUDENT PROPERTY CRIME BY

50% with campaign

* Listening to feedback launched NU:LETS to improve housing

* Established Welfare Committee ensuring student welfare is high on the agenda

INCREASED dedicated support to

20SURVEYED

10% of students in Halls to improve standards

HALL AND COMMUNITY REPS

* Lobbied to make student properties safer with a proposed total ban on lettings boards

WELCOMING YOU

In September we welcomed thousands of new students from across the world to University life at Northumbria. As well as an amazing entertainment line-up we also made sure that everyone could get involved with volunteering, societies and social trips no matter which campus they were studying at.

11

Sabbatical welcome induction talks given to over

2,100 NEW STUDENTS

2,500WELCOME ENTERTAINMENT PASSES SOLD

HEADLINING ACTS Included DJ Fresh, Tinchy Strider and Reggie Yates

International Welcome Pack sent to

1,100STUDENTS

2,300COACH LANE STUDENTS received a special Coach Lane welcome pack

9,000 students attended Welcome Fairs

OV

ER Welcome Week website had

200,000

HITS

Our Positive Impact for 2012

30,000ATTENDEES AT WELCOME EVENTS

252WELCOME TEAM MEMBERS MOVED IN

3,900 STUDENTS INTO HALLS

CONNECTING WITH YOU

1.3 MILLIONvisits to Students’ Union websites

WWW.

* NEW student friendly website launched

2,342 NEW DOWNLOADS OF SMARTPHONE APP

* Launched monthly dedicated e-newsletter sent to Coach Lane students

* Coach lane steering group established to represent Coach Lane Students needs and interests

19,050

We’re constantly improving the way we communicate with students, looking at new technologies and good old fashioned face to face ways to fi nd out exactly what you think and what you want.

Sabbatical Offi cers talked directly to

OVER

4,000

STUDENTSTO

49%

TWITTERFOLLOWERSINCREASED

3,737

72% OF STUDENTS SATISFIED with the Students’ Union in 2012 National Student Survey

The Offi cial voice of Northumbria Students’ Union

Issue No.26 2012 FREE to a good home

www.mynsu.co.uk/nulife

Your Monthly Students’ Union Magazine Featuring...

RECORD BREAKING RECORD BREAKING

ELECTIONSELECTIONS THE OLYMPICS THE OLYMPICS what’s going on and is it worth it?

CAMPUS STYLECAMPUS STYLEwhat you are wearing this season!

GIG Goers, Sport, Societies, RAG and much much more...

35,000 copies of

NU:LIFE distributed and online publication produced for worldwide access.

HIT

S

Our Positive Impact for 201212

QUALITY SERVICES & ENTERTAINMENT

* Responding to student feedback launched a new, varied entertainment program

Key to the student experience at Northumbria is social community networks and events. The Students’ Union aims to provide quality bars, venues and cafes on campus for you and your friends to catch up and kick back. We continue to invest and enhance facilities and venues to meet your needs.

ACTS INCLUDED Ed Sheeran, Ben Howard, Marina and the Diamonds DJ Fresh, Tinchy Strider and Reggie Yates

SOLD

681,000 BEVERAGES AT CITY

STUDENTS ATTENDED WELCOME WEEK

30,000SOLD

79,679 STARBUCKS

GENERATED

£1.3 MILLION in commercial income

* Provided more facilities for societies and volunteer usage

OVER

120,000STUDENTS ATTENDED club and live music events

SERVED

28,000 Coach Lane students coffee

Achieved average

92%

at Coach lane and City campus in mystery shopper

IN CUSTOMER CARE

The new friends I’ve made for life

William Downey, Student Trustee

Our Positive Impact for 2012 13

Managing our money effectively for YOU!

Our Positive Impact for 201214

Governance £7,843

Affi liations Including NUS £40,264

Depreciation £101,579

Cost Of Sales £542,765

Support Costs £586,861

Salaries & Wages £1,250,775

University Grants £907,002

Self-Generated Income £1,628,531

The Students’ Union seeks to manage its costs effi ciently and increase self-generated revenue. The Union has established a trading company NU: LETS providing a house letting service that will be fair to students, drive up standards and generate income for the Union to reinvest in its core activities. With net current assets of £110,531 and down from its peak of £493,007 net current liabilities in 2003 the Union is in a stable position to build for the future. The University’s continuing confi dence in the Students’ Union’s ability to manage its affairs in a prudent manner was rewarded with an increase grant funding of 6.5% to £966k. This increase in funding has allowed the Students’ Union to grow the quality of its representation services and increase the breadth of student activity and personal development opportunities for our members.

SURPLUS OF £5,446

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

SUSTAINING A BRIGHTER FUTURE

6.5%University grant fundingincreased by

£20,000to refurbish Habita

£20,000to enhance our entertainment venues

£15,000to install digital noticeboards

* Created new staff posts to support the student experience including; Academic Case Work, Media and Community Co-ordinators

£25,000to improve the Base and create NU:LETS

INCOME

EXPENDITURE

Mike Potter, Vice President Communications & Democracy (VPCD)

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 2011-2012

We have put more back into the Union to benefi t our members due to the good fi nancial management, additional support and increased funding from the University. This has led to better facilities, enhancing our activities and enabling us to represent students more effectively with better staff support.

Our Positive Impact for 2012 15

In November 2012 we asked over

1,000 students what should be our priorities for the next fi ve years. This is what YOU said our focus should be.

Voice

Representing you is our fi rst priority. Student voice means getting your feedback, knowing your concerns, your involvement in Union decision making and working together to bring about positive change and improvement to your university life.

Employability

The Union’s services, activities and campaigns will help you, whether you are a volunteer, student staff member or neither to develop the skills and experience you need to stand out in the workplace after graduation.

Our Big Ideas will be voted on by all students in March 2013 in the referendum. Meaning we will be an organisation that has a long term plan providing services, activities and representation that meets the needs of members and is in line with WHAT STUDENTS WANT.

Have your say and we will work together for improvement

The Union will do more to help your future job prospects

Community

Community might be your course, the activities you are involved in, where you live, study or socialise. The Union brings students together to help you form lifelong friendships, share interests, for mutual support and to work collectively for the good of all.

Internationalisation

Supporting Northumbria students wherever you are in the world, helping overseas students settle into life in Newcastle and giving UK students routes to go abroad while studying and after graduation.

Building student communities on campus, locally and globally

An international Union for a global student body

Wellbeing

All Northumbria students should enjoy a happy, healthy and personally rewarding time as a valued member of a friendly, supportive, inclusive and mutually respectful university community.

Sustainability

Through effective leadership and management ensure your Students’ Union maintains and develops viable, quality services and activities, with sound ethical decision making, delivering long term fi nancial stability.

We will support you through all aspects of student life

Sustaining the organisation for students for all time

Trustees and Leaders of the Students’ Union 2012Kate Bradshaw • Andrew Cheung • William Downey • Sarah Ellis Samantha Farndale • Iain Harrison • Hannah Horne • Karen Ingram David Inman • Tim Mallender • Harry Marshall • Nicole Pegg • Mike Potter Tim Patchett • William Ralston • Jo Rhodes • Holly Seabrook • Kirstie Wilson

rson

and Leaders of the Students’ Union 2012