Where's Wally For Activities

'YUSU Officer Elections 60 Second Manifestos : Brian 'Wally' Terry for Student Activities Officer' produced by York Student Television [http://ystv.co.uk/] released under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.

1. Refreshers Fair

Implement a refreshers fair to allow students to engage with student groups.
Fairs allow for enthusiastic members of student groups to introduce to their peers new and exciting hobbies they never knew they loved before. Student groups themselves provide an important break from study and offer an opportunity for people to become more well-rounded. The fairs also give a unique opportunity for student groups to advertise what they love and gain new members in the process.
It’s all too easy to be caught ill, tired or busy for the first freshers fair, meaning students miss a valuable opportunity to engage with student groups. Of course, we can join later in the year, but it can be intimidating entering a new group for many reasons. It’s hard trying a new activity when you haven’t even had a brief talk about it with a friendly face. Give it a Go does a valuable job of encouraging students to try new things, but a refreshers fair would only increase students’ engagement levels with student groups. It would provide an opportunity for students to spot the society for them that they might have otherwise missed until the next fair taking place in September.

2. Skill-Based Courses

Introduce new skill-based courses for students.
A university degree is a professional qualification which I recognise many people are here for. Despite the enjoyment that many people derive from societies, some people may not want to be involved in them. I think there’s a real opportunity to expand the YUSU Develops programme as well as other skill-based courses already provided by the university. Many introductory courses in programming, research and business are offered by the library along with Careers and Placements but the ability to access intermediate and advanced courses are very limited along with certain key skill courses.
By working with various university groups including student groups, the library and departments, I would look to introduce and promote more advanced courses solidifying people’s skills in talents outside their degree. Ideas include offering intermediate programming classes, more business- related programmes and increasing awareness of courses like British Sign Language. This will directly benefit students by raising not only their employability but also their general skill sets, provide an alternative way to get involved whilst at university and make new friends for a lifetime.

3. Activities Access Grants

Support and expand the Activities Access Grants for students who need it most.
Currently society membership fees are waived up to a value of £20 for first year students coming from a household with an income less than £35,000 per year. However, a maximum of only 75 students can claim the grant. I want to develop this by increasing funding to allow for even more students to be able to apply for it.
Additionally, I would look to support existing plans for this to be expanded to students on the Disabled Students' Allowance. I believe anyone on the DSA deserves the opportunity to throw themselves fully into societies at York without hinderance.

4. Free Societies

Foster an environment for free societies to be created and maintained.
Student finances are rightfully an important topic to a lot of people at this university, but this shouldn’t affect students’ ability to join in with activities. Pressure on societies to charge membership fees should be relaxed where possible as zero-cost activities and societies with alternative sources of funding needn’t be pushed into putting a pay wall behind their activities. Free societies give a valuable opportunity for students with tight budgets to still socialise and engage with the community.
Publicity for free societies can and should be increased. YUSU and colleges can help advertise these, allowing for more students to become aware of opportunities available to them around university as well as YUSU looking to provide some basic funding for these societies.

5. Raising and Giving Events

Push RAG to organise more local events.
Raising and Giving offer fantastic opportunities for students to develop skills and raise money for charities they believe in. It’s clear that RAG is an important part of YUSU’s operations and makes a positive impact on not only the charities it raises money for but the students that engage with it.
However, there should be an increased focused on local projects, like SASH, York Mind and SNAPPY to name a few. Overseas volunteering and charity events provide a once in a life time opportunity for students and they should be maintained for the future, but more local projects should also be encouraged. I would work with the RAG officer to push for more ways to raise money on campus for charities. This opens up opportunities for people still looking to help and increases the total amount of volunteering opportunities available.

6. Free Speech

Continue to support free speech on campus.
Free speech remains a major point of concern for a lot of students coming into and being at university. It’s important to be exposed to a variety of opinions whilst at university and indeed makes the experience richer for many. I’m delighted at the stance the current Activities Officer took towards free speech and want to make clear that I will continue to preserve free speech on campus.