o Alcohol and Drugs: Responsible drinks pricing during Welcome Week aka banter police / Legal Highs Amnesty and liaising with police / Tracking fallout from Carnage and other commercial bar crawls

o Mental Health: Exam Stress Sessions with Student Services / signposting to Student Services during Welcome Week / Casework

o Sexual Health: Chlamydia Screening on campus...even when I don't want them here / Second semester trial of sexual health drop in service on campus / Distribution of condoms and lube on a case-by-case basis / Fundraising on World Aids Day / Occasional presence on campus to promote the GUM Service in town

o Future of the NHS: Newcastle as a GP Commissioning Pilot / Working to keep Drop-In Service by Jurys Inn open / Promoting registering with a GP to students

o HMOs: Research National Agenda / Lobbying Councillors in Newcastle / Opposing Consultation / Responding to Consultation / Following up Decision

o Tenant Vetting: Researching Policy / Identify Allies / Oppose Tenant Vetting Policy / Influence Policy

o Anti Social Behaviour: Rework Council Policy on dealing with ASB / Deal with casework / Track and respond to negative media reports / Local Ward Committees / Track trends and respond where necessary

o Citywide Student Forum: Lobbied for appropriate membership / Got our priorities at the table / Submitted thoughts, research, and evidence to information-finding project by City Council / Lobbied for our priorities to make it on local manifestos

CITY FORUM PRIORITIESo Access to essential healthcare serviceso Licensing Changes: Alcohol Pricing and Responsible Retailing including Bar Crawlso Housing choice (accommodation type/location) and regulation of Letting Agents and Landlordso Transport links including pricing – and potential for evening public transporto Protecting student properties from crime and protection of policing services

LOCAL ELECTIONS

A Local Manifesto was created after decision by Student Council. Unfortunately due to the timing of Local Elections just after a slew of Bank Holidays and just after Spring Break we didn’t receive responses from all appropriate parties and strict laws on Students’ Unions being seen to favour parties meant I couldnt publicise responses from parties. As it was, only one party said they would formally respond, one informally, and I didnt hear from the two others.

Post election the new leaders of the Council (Labour) have made a statement to Northumbria students.

o Not If But When: Increased trend in burglaries / devised idea for joint campaigning / sourced and budgeted materials / joint volunteering between Northumbria and Newcastle / positive press piece in The Chronicle

o Student Liaison: Budget cuts put position under threat / submitted to internal review of role / sent letter to Police and Council to reverse decision / Student Liaison continued for 12 months

o The Lock: Key stakeholder in NUS Campaign / focus group for crime reporting smartphone app / managed to win Northumbria hundreds of pounds worth of crimefighting materials / been part of steering group for national campaign priorities

SHAG WeekPlanning and delivery of SHAG Week on the first planned date (First week of December) was made increasingly difficult by Union priorities, e.g. National Demo, Tuition Fees Vote.

I had ideas for a second around Valentines Day but it was a pretty inconvenient clash with RAG Week and the GUM Service told me they wouldnt put aside the funds it would cost to bring their service onto campus due to budget issues.

I put alternate one day services from Chlamydia Screening and a Second Semester Advice and Basic Screening service in to fill any gaps in the Sexual Health Work. SHAG Week was never a mandate of Council and was not promised in my re-election manifesto.

Diversity WeekThis was previously always ran by the President. At the end of last year after a poor event we decided not to pick this up for 2010/2011.

This wasn’t communicated well and half way through the year I believed I could hold an alternate with each equality rep owning a day. Support was mixed and due to time constraints I didn’t purse this idea.

Equality is my background and I've always felt strongly about it. After a year dealing with a complicated and mostly ineffective “Caucus Group” system I thought it was time for a change. Now I know we don’t all agree with my recruitment of reps and I agree with the new changes to Equality Rep appointment but it was important that we had Equality Reps in from the start to take ownership of their campaigns and I'm glad I did.

I created a simple strategy for creating active reps and whilst it didn’t always work I believe we have laid the foundations for strong equality representation and campaigning in future years. I’m extremely proud of what my reps have achieved when they have put campaign ideas into action.

Whilst my reps have been busy I have continued to holistically champion welfare. Fighting extremist groups in our city (EDL) and at the ballot box (BNP), ensuring an accessible new Students’ Union, beginning to internationalise our Students’ Union, and opening the door to working with faith groups.

I took steps to going further than being a redundant ‘Hate Crime Reporting Centre’ and worked with ARCH on actively fighting Hate Crime and promoted the Hate Crime on Campus Survey that ended up with over 10,000 responses and will give us some great local data on Hate Crime incidence.

I took on a whole organised mess of strategy in 2009 when I started my first term. After a year keeping up with a Community Strategy, E+D Action Plan, and the start of an Internationalisation Strategy I made the choice as we went into this year not to bog down myself, officers, staff, or council with excessive alteration and updates to policy.

It was more important to take 2 years of policy and let it inform my actions that will get stuff done, rather than constantly strategising.

That said, I have adjusted these strategies over the year (Community and E+D) and will be passing my recommendations onto Hannah for her to choose what she wants to take on – rather than obnoxiously mandating her to allsorts. I have also been implementing parts of what would have been in an International Strategy without tying us down to holistic mandates and timescales. What happens with International Strategy and if it becomes a formal mandate is the choice of my successor.

It would be silly for me not to mention my national involvement within NUS as while it hasn’t been part of my role it has took my time in a year I've been elected by Northumbria students.

Being elected onto the NUS Welfare Zone and NEC in October meant that I was at the heart of national decision making. My role in the Welfare Zone meant I was privy to lots of national research and policy that meant I could much more effectively work on issues like the “new NHS” in Newcastle and issues around crime and policing on campus. It also helped me to politically map relationships in Newcastle and understood the biggest issues around the HE policy changes we have faced this year.

I was originally a candidate for NUS VP Welfare but dropped out. It was a tough experience and was a strain on my role at Northumbria and for that I apologise. I still believe I carried out my mandates to a good quality and used the luxury of not running re-election at Northumbria to be able to get my head down in the office and ensure my successor would start in the strongest position possible.

1.Fight for a bursary scheme that is based on student financial need rather than what course you study, alongside opposing any rise in tuition fees, work I've already been tackling this year. Fees went up but not without a fight. Our bursary scheme will now be more based on financial need rather than school of study. I pushed for strong support packages throughout the fee discussions.

2. Continue building a healthier Habita. After introducing a jacket potato range this year, I now want options other than pizza available in Habita after 3pm and at weekends. This was a tasty solution. We’ve now seen jacket potatoes , paninis, burgers, and pasta all become accessible food options beyond the usual hours. Healthier options and supporting late library visitors who don’t want to journey off campus

3. We are moving the Advice and Representation Centre (ARC) to the ground floor of the new building, and I want to introduce non-academic advice services e.g. finance, housing, etc. so we are seen as more of a service to students and not just a building! The Uni vetoed any funding for extra services we suggested due to the ones they already provide at student services. As a result I’ve instead trained myself up more to deliver on casework and improved promotion of Student Services that are available to students. I’ve also been more reachable at Coach Lane. Tuesday Afternoons baby!

4. I have recruited more equality reps this year than the Students’ Union ever has done before. Now I will turn our reps into active student leaders by appointing them in the third term of this academic year, offering local and national training opportunities this summer and giving them the tools to recruit their own volunteers and plan their campaigns from the start of Welcome Week. All reps were appointed early in Semester 1 at the latest, they were all offered training and conferences that were available to them, and I implemented my plan to get Reps thinking of priority campaigns right from the start of the year

5. Continue the fight to keep our students in Jesmond, building on this years successes and funding our own reps, moving away from council funding so we can challenge anti-student council proposals more effectively and create campaigns and activities in the local communities. Delivered. Now self funded we have changed the scheme so it can truly deliver for students next year and all year I’ve been making positive change and setting up for the future

6. Create campaign networks on relevant topics (e.g. sexual health, mental health, safe drinking) allowing students to lead on campaigns they are passionate about, growing from this years successful SHAG Week and Vote For Students campaigns. This did not happen. Between original sabb team ‘campaign team’ plans not coming to fruition and the responsive nature of the whole of the first semester due to the fees fight, an opportunity to develop and implement this never occurred. Its my biggest regret of my time in office

7. Campaign against the university increasing prices on ageing halls, and making sure new halls of residence don‘t bankrupt students! We wont let students suffer for University funding cuts! I have already started campaigning on the condition of Coach Lane Halls - and I will continue this into next year! A large number of Coach Lane Halls will now be closed from Summer and inspected on their quality and condition. Halls costs are always an issue and we have successfully pushed down price increases so the majority are no more than 2, 3, or 4% The exception is Manor Bank which has increased 10% after changing hands to the private company Unite.

8. This year I have worked with House Hustler to provide more services for students inside our building, and now I will create opportunities for students to name-and-shame bad letting agents, and have an accreditation system for any landlords we promote at the SU. House Hustler agreed to these measures and did implement their accreditation scheme which was good, if not great. Name-and-shame didn’t really take off through House Hustler and I’ve voiced my concerns with their service which will hopefully be taken into account with future commercial decisions made around housing and accomodation.

9. This year I created the first e-newsletter committed to Welfare & Student Rights. Next year I will create a dedicated publication giving students the real life stories they need from the places they live and the people who live around them, working with the VP Communications & Involvement. This didn’t happen and a big fault of mine is to communicate my campaigns. I have made most communications through e-newsletters and social networking which isn’t the most effective means. I encourage next year for time to be taken looking at how best to communicate welfare messages.

10. This year I have spent time at Coach Lane finding out the REAL issues. If elected I will demand the university reviews all aspects of the Coach Lane Bus service and include views of Coach Lane students in this process. I sat in on discussions around Coach Lane Bus provision as it was increased and times altered around Welcome Week and the start of the academic year, involving the opinions I have researched from CLC students. Over the year I have kept an ear out and talked with students to track any trends occurring and always reported recurring themes to relevant University staff for discussion

I was only the second VP Welfare and Equality and in my two years I've tried to make the role of the VP to not be patronising or unapproachable to students.

I’ve wanted to make sure that Equality isn’t a side project of the role but an integral part of it like it should be.

I have tried to get the balance right of strategy and ensuring we have strong policy within the university and the community without forgetting how important it is to campaign with students so they are aware of important health choices and their rights.

The role doesn't have a huge profile in the Union or a luxury of staff support, and beyond on the jokes I'm proud to have taken advantage of the resource and support NUS offers and worked closely with it in the last two years

I’m unashamedly political. I haven't always been and don't judge those who aren't but I'm proud of the political relationships I have managed to obtain and the benefits it has to the organisation.

Finally I like to think I've always been welcoming to anyone who wants to get involved in our Students’ Union