Time flies by when you are not clock watching. I have been The Students' Union President for two weeks now, and I must say I am incredibly humbled to have the opportunity to represent you during these interesting times.
It has been such a pleasure and honour representing over 30,000 students at UWE Bristol. This time last year, I was presented with this huge task, which no one exactly prepares you for but with guidance, support, determination, passion and a curious mind, I was able to achieve so much.
As my term in office comes to an end this month, here is my last monthly review. I hope you have enjoyed these monthly updates as I shared this journey with you.
A campaign that is very close to my heart as you may know. I have attended and spoken at both the Bristol and Swindon protests, ensuring that my voice and that of our students is heard.
As I enter my final month of being YOUR PRECIOUS PRESIDENT, I would like to use this as an opportunity to thank everyone who has been a part of this journey.
Donnell Asare has written the Poem I Stand and we are honoured to share this with the student community. Donnell Asare is a spoken word poet from South-East London, he is a 3rddlaw student graduating this year from UWE.
Sign petitions, educate yourselves, write to your MP, donate, and help to make sure that the conversation doesn’t stop. In this article, we have some resources that you can utilise.
We are at the point where we can no longer say that The Students’ Union is against racism, it is not enough and we know that.
The Society Awards took place online this year, and I’m so glad that the hard work and achievements of our society members were recognised!
In light of recent reports, The Students’ Union at UWE is reconfirming that we have an absolute zero-tolerance to any form of racism and bullying. As a Union, we are committed to fighting racism, discrimination and prejudice in any form and we will work with UWE Bristol to ensure behaviour of this kind is condemned.
In our work to continue supporting our student body as always, we have been lobbying Bristol’s MPs and landlords regarding student’s early release from their accommodation contract.
We want to help you kick off May with a positive mindset, through our weekly scouring of the internet to find the best positive news stories of the week worth smiling about.
After weeks of hard work and meetings, President, Precious Onyenekwu Tatah and the rest of The Students’ Union’s Presidents Team is delighted to share an update on their campaign to support students who may be struggling to meet the financial demands of accommodation payments, due to the impact of COVID-19.
Today, we’re again bringing you the positive news stories for this week! We’ve got everything from personal Geography lessons with Sir David Attenborough (we know you want in) and adorable therapy dogs, to the elusive secret recipe for IKEA’s meatballs and how to turn lockdown into a second Christmas to keep the positive vibes growing!
We were delighted to bring our week-long celebration of International Women’s Day to The Students’ Union between 9-13 March, for the second year in a row.
Today the government has opened the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) portal, and we have been working within the current HMRC guidelines to ensure that we are supporting staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Step away from the news apps, because we’ve had an internet snoop for you to fish out the positive stories from this week that may have slipped under your radar – to bring you some positive vibes and a much-needed grin.
It can be truly challenging not knowing what to expect during these unprecedented times. However, I want to assure you all that The Students’ Union is doing what we can to ensure that our students are safe and well taken care of.
It’s that time of the week again: we’re on a mission to bring you a big old slice of positivity pie with this week’s positive news stories to smile about! This week, there may even be a couple of stories close to home, as Bristol and Cardiff get a mention for bringing some sunshine to our week…
We know that the recent COVID-19 developments have had a big impact on the UWE Bristol student community, and as a Presidents Team we are working hard to ensure that we are supporting you and voicing your concerns.
We’re on a weekly mission to bring the week’s positive news stories your way. This week, we saw a demand for the cancellation of April Fool’s (not the worst idea) and the Fools that did find their way into our news feeds were a lot more of a wholesome giggle than usual.
In light of the current Covid19 pandemic, The Students’ Union at UWE has taken the difficult decision to furlough a number of our permanent staff.
Your news apps may be inundated with the C word at the moment, but it is important that you are keeping up to date with the large number of positive stories that might not always make it onto your news feed. So, we’ve done the internet digging for you and have found this week’s positive news to bring a big old smile to your face!
We all need some normality right now, and one great way we can continue to ensure some aspects of our lives are ticking along as normal is by supporting local to keep Bristolian businesses going. Keeping this sense of normality going not only will support our mental health at this time, but choose to spend your pennies wisely and you’ll be a lifeline for struggling local businesses. So, we’ve had a dig online and have found some innovative ways you can support the independents at this time.
I had the honour of speaking at the event organised by the team at ‘We the Curious’ alongside other key speakers, sharing my experiences and answering questions on how curiosity influences career choices.
Following the advice of the Government, The Students’ Union at UWE has cancelled this year’s Summer Ball.
Out of every challenging time comes a bunch of lovely stories of communities coming together, pets doing hilarious things, stories of recovery and more. The country is coming out in strong, positive community spirit mode and there have been some beautiful stories of support and true human spirit arising. Whilst they may have got lost in your news feeds, we’ve scouted a few out for you.
Self-isolation is no one’s best friend. And we all know the world feels a little uncertain and unsettling at the moment, but in this challenging time ahead there’s many a way we can stay physically and mentally healthy in self-isolation. We’ve got creative and have thought about some awesome things you can use this time for, to ensure your entire well-being is cared for in this period. Let’s do this together! Here are some fun things you can do.
International Day of Happiness is on Friday 20 March. The world might feel like an uncertain and unsettling place right now, but joining in a social media-based celebration like this hashtag holiday can just be the positivity we all need. So, we’ve compiled a list of ten quick things you can do every day from the comfort of your own home to ensure that we can keep grateful, positive and hopeful for the future.
Election Candidate Disqualification Announcement: 6 March 2020
It’s one of those holidays we all leap on - whether of Irish descent or not, we all love celebrating St. Paddy’s Day. Traditionally synonymous with a knees up and a boogie, whilst Bristol has plenty of those kind of events to offer, it’s also the perfect place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in alternative ways. Here’s your lowdown on the best ways to spend the celebration in Bristol.
The New Year started off with a special invitation to British Army’s presentation evening. It was an amazing evening filled with inspiring messages and people.
We are delighted to announce the candidates for The Leadership Race 2020. In this article, you will find the candidates for VP Sports and Health and for our part-time International Officer.
Following an on-going discussion between The Students’ Union and UWE Bristol, regarding the cost of laundry services on campuses, we are pleased to announce the final proposal* for the new academic year 2020-21, which will see a 65% reduction in laundry costs.
We are delighted to announce the candidates for The Leadership Race 2020. In this article, you will find the candidates for VP Community and two of our part-time volunteers, the Men's and Women's Welfare Officer.
The Students' Union Trustee Board have recommended changes to the Constitution for the Student body to vote on.
We are delighted to announce the candidates for The Leadership Race 2020. In this article, you will find the candidates for President and one of our Part-Time volunteers the BME Officer.
Georgina always knew she was gay. She fell in love with her teacher when she was nine and the girl she sat behind in English when she was 14. But living in a small village with a Christian primary school, things weren’t always easy.
To celebrate the diverse UWE Bristol student and staff community, The Students’ Union organised a Food Fair on Tuesday 3 December 2019 in partnership with Bristol Eats (BEATS) and UWE Catering service.
Valentine’s Day is so much more than sickening cards, fluffy hearts and vomit-in-your-mouth sweetness. There are so many ways to go against the grain and actually have a rather wonderful Valentine’s, whoever you want to spend it with, and Bristol’s the best place to cater for every Valentine’s situation.
Picture this: time’s ticking against you, you find yourself at Bristol airport with no money and you’re having to sweet talk an airline into letting you on the first plane out of the UK. No, it isn’t a strangely exhilarating dream, it’s Jailbreak.
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a lovely break over the festive period, well done on completing your exams and all the best in the new term.
We are coming towards the end of term one which means it’s almost Christmas, can you believe it?
Do you have an idea that you think will improve your student experience? Submit an idea through Student Ideas and make a difference during your time at UWE Bristol!
The Year of the Rat begins on Saturday 25 January, with celebrations happening across the city, continuing into February. There’s no better time to get out and about in Bristol, exploring the diverse culture our city celebrates and thrives upon.
At The Students’ Union, we work with around 1000 UWE Bristol Student Representatives to ensure that your voice is heard at every level of UWE Bristol’s Academic Governance Structure. This blog will tell you a little bit more about who they are and what they do for you!
Unite Students challenges a student to a week-long digital detox. Here's what happened...
A report on UWE Bristol’s red meat intake by Curzio Potenza, Sustainability Officer at The Students’ Union at UWE.
We know that January can be a dull month. We’ve said goodbye to Christmas, it’s dark and it’s the exam season. We’ve also got the arrival of Blue Monday, which is scientifically proven to be the most depressing day of the year. We really do feel your pain, which is why we’ve put our thinking caps on to give you five ways to help you get through January and your exams!
The last weekend in November was a really exciting weekend for us, as the Representation Team and I organised The Students’ Union third Reps Conference, with sessions delivered by academic staff, non-academic staff and externals.
New Year’s Eve is one of the year’s most anticipated nights; not complete without a fireworks display, a countdown and all the sequins. Whilst these sell-out events are to be guaranteed unforgettable, they’ll also guarantee an unforgettable dent in your bank account. So, therefore, we present to you five alternative options for you to celebrate 2020 with the party of the decade.
Thanks to the support of UWE Bristol students, the local community and staff, The Students’ Union at UWE’s RAG Team has raised £75,000 since the start of September.
Last month, students slept outside on a cold and wet winter night, to raise funds and spread awareness of homelessness in Bristol. The event was organised by Evan, VP Societies and Communication, and The Students’ Union RAG Team.
With Christmas fast approaching, make sure you keep up to date with the opening times of The Students' Union Bar, Shop and Reception on your campus.
If you’re anything like me, you drag your feet so much when doing work or chores that it ends up taking three times as long.
On Thursday 12 December the nation will be heading to the polls for the next General Election, and we are here to make sure that you are election ready!
Now you know us, we are always thinking of ways to reduce our impact on the planet, and Christmas is no exception. The festive season is a time of giving, which we know can mean a lot of excess plastic, paper and dare we say it - unwanted tat that you will not use past 22:00 on Christmas day.
#DearTheSUatUWE, all we need for Christmas is a cracking competition to celebrate the festive season, with the chance for students to win a gift worth £100 just by following our social media accounts… If only it was that easy…
The Students’ Union and UWE Bristol have teamed up with local Bristol charity – The Converging World (TCW), to fulfil an aim of planting a forest area the size of Frenchay - UWE Bristol’s biggest campus.
When your Monday-Friday becomes a rotation of lecture, sleep, repeat and your evenings and weekends are full with flatmate bonding sessions, it can feel like university is all about getting your degree and finding lifelong friends. That’s great, but hold your horses - your time here can be more than that. Here’s how you can find yourself Bear-Grylls-worthy, bucket-list-ticking, once-in-a-lifetime experiences right here at UWE Bristol.
October was a busy and rewarding month at The Students' Union at UWE Bristol. Here are my highlights as your VP for Education!
Some of these you might not know - it's important to not let drinking get in the way of why you're here.
If you are trying to cut down or stop drinking, it’s easy to feel self-conscious. Drinking heavily is so normalised in our society that staying sober on a night out can leave you feeling really out of place, here are some tips to help!
Whether you’re going for a drink after a tough day or determined to ‘drown your sorrows’, we all know that alcohol can be turned to when feeling low. But unfortunately reaching for a drink won’t always have the effect you’re after.
We know that Bristol has one of the best ‘night-out’ cultures in the country, however, it doesn’t have to be all about drinking and nights out.
October brought important campaign after important campaign, and your President was very busy shedding light on topics that need to be brought to the student attention. Check out Precious' monthly review to see exactly what your President was up to in October.
You can now use your credits with our new student printer! Located in Union 1, Frenchay Campus, this is a great resource for all students!
The Students’ Union Presidents team and support staff have been liaising with students in Purbeck Court and the University regarding student concerns about the trial use of the containers for on campus accommodation.
Oh yes, that’s right, you could win £500, just by filling out a survey and telling us your opinion!
See who is running for the Part Time Officer and NUS Delegate positions.
VOTE NOW
Are you money savvy? Don’t worry if not, because UWE Bristol offers a literally award-winning module where you can develop essential money skills and get confident about your finances. Find out more about it in this blog post.
We asked UWE students what they do to look after their mental health, this is what they said….
The new academic year is here and the excitement of a fresh start is in the air. Check out Precious' monthly review to see exactly what your President was up to in September.
Thursday 10 October is World Mental Health Day. Here at The Students' Union, we are running events for students across all campus sites to discuss the importance of self-care, how to manage your mental wellbeing and exactly how to recognise mental health symptoms. Check out this post for more information on campus events and how to support your own mental health.
This week, NHS England has launched a brand new advert campaign to encourage more men to become nurses... And your Glenside Campus Officer helped to make it happen!
The Late Night Do It Right campaign is designed to make sure that everyone's having fun and safe nights out. Let's take a moment to look at the success of the campaign over Freshers 2019!
There is a common misconception that actually going out is the best part of a night out, when it turns out that ‘pres’ are definitely the best part. Here's the science to the perfect pre-drinks!
Here are eight essential go-to wonder cures (or near enough) when experiencing that dreaded hangover. Please remember to always drink responsibly- but let's be honest, that hangover happens to all of us from time to time.
This post is for the bargain hunter- or those who are just trying to make that student loan stretch a bit further... Read on for our comprehensive tips list for saving those handy pennies (or more) on a night out!
UWE Bristol Sport and The Students' Union at UWE are committed to helping you maintain a healthy lifestyle. The MOVE programme is a fantastic way of getting active, regardless of your level of experience or ability. This blog post discusses some super important reasons why exercise really benefits both your physical and mental wellbeing.
It's easy to reduce your carbon footprint by adopting simple, eco-friendly habits throughout your time at UWE Bristol. Whether you've got the willpower to go vegan, want to save on your electricity bills or have been following Greta's important activism, you can do your bit when it comes to helping the planet!
Moving to university and meeting your housemates is an exciting new chapter in your life, but we know that it is also a big step. We've put together some tips, that will help you get to know your housemates in no time.
The month kicked off with some good news from RAG. For the first time, the UWE RAG team raised £91,818 for local and international charities.
With a Welcome calendar packed full of events, buying a wristband could be one of the best investments that you will make. If you're still deciding whether if it's worth it, we've put together just a few of the reasons why you should get one.
I've been working hard this month to achieve results for societies and students. Here are some of my highlights!
We kicked off the month of August with more inductions across various departments including Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI), UWE Bristol Grand Challenge, the International College, UWE Speak Up and UWE’s Strategic Communication Team.
If you’re struggling to decide on what to bring with you, check out our list of what to pack.
Starting university is a new chapter in your life, that will be full of new opportunities. Although it is an exciting time, we know that it can also be overwhelming and full of information and decisions. Our Presidents are on hand to pass on their wisdom and give you some top tips for starting UWE Bristol.
Do you want to kick off the new academic year by getting involved with a new exercise class? What if we told you that we have a programme that will not only get those endorphins pumping, but will also give you the chance to socialise and get involved with a range of new and fun activities.
On Saturday 13 July we glittered up, got our Pride on and celebrated our LGBT+ community! We are delighted to share some of our highlights from Pride 2019.
Do you want to learn more about managing your personal finance? Do money problems affect your studies? If yes, do you know what support is available?
Today’s the day! As you all receive your A-Level results we’re sending you lots of positive vibes. If you’re joining us in September, we’re sure you’re getting excited for our much anticipated Welcome Week.
The Students’ Union at UWE and UWE Bristol are offering an opportunity for students to gain skills in project management, communications and leadership by volunteering as an Alcohol Impact auditor.
Hi! Here are a few highlights from my first month as your VP Societies and Communication. It’s been a great first month and I can’t wait to see what next month brings!
My first month as The Students' Union VP Education has come to an end! It's been a busy month and I'm delighted to share an update of what I have been up to!
It is already the end of my first month as The Students’ Union President.
On Wednesday 31 July The National Student Fundraising Awards took place at the University of Birmingham, as part of the wider National Student Fundraising Conference.
Earlier this year, we invited all UWE Bristol students to take part in our annual Alcohol Impact survey. The survey is run by The National Union of Students and aims to explore students’ behaviour towards and attitudes to alcohol use.
Statement concerning VP Education investigation
The National Student Survey (NSS) results have been published, and we are delighted to confirm that UWE Bristol has been ranked 11th out of all UK universities for overall student satisfaction and 7th out of all universities in England.
After a year of campaigns, hard work and many achievements, we are saying goodbye to our 2018/2019 Presidents. The team have worked to represent the views of the UWE Bristol student community to all levels of the University. Each President has made their mark during their time, and we are delighted to share a selection of this year’s successes.
Hey HallsLife! Your VP Societies and Communication Freddie, and HallsLife Coordinator Chelsea have released a podcast all about the Movember campaign, and we’d love for you to have a listen.