Date Passed: 1st April
Speaker: Thomas Renhard
1. That for the last three academic years we have had student groups known as Networks, comprised of cultural groups, faith based groups, identity based groups and equality/campaign based student groups.
2. Those campaign-based/identity-based Networks have been growing in size and membership, the most notable of these being the Mental Health Campaign and OutUWE.
3. That this academic year Networks became free to join, seeing member of Networks more than double and engagement increase.
4. That the student-led Networks do not currently have a fixed space to be advertised like Sports and Societies do.
5. Networks provided feedback about the decision to roll over memberships that was positive and called for this to continue for future years, making joining a Network an easier task.
6. For the first time, an Awards night celebrating Network achievements will be taking place.
Breaking down barriers to participation research has been carried out by NUS.
1. That increasing access to student-led Networks by making them free has broken down crucial barriers to participation and increased the profile of the Students’ Union as a more inclusive environment.
2. Those campaign-based/identity-based Networks have been making a difference to the lives of students through strong campaigns raising awareness and initiating change aiming to benefit the student body as a whole.
3. More can be done to increase the profile of student-led Networks in forthcoming academic years.
4. It is essential that the visibility of Networks is increased.
5. It is essential to acknowledge student feedback provided at the Community and Welfare Committee and continue to roll over student memberships each year.
6. Celebrating the achievements of our student groups and recognising their successes will aid engagement.
7. Breaking down barriers to participation must continue to be a focus of this Students’ Union
1. To continue to increase the profile of our student-led Networks.
2. To continue to support the growth of all Network groups
3. To support the increased profile of identity-based and campaign-based Networks to initiate change and respect their autonomy on the issues they represent.
4. To lobby the University for funding to keep Networks free to join and ensure they are able to carry out their activities.
5. To provide fixed board space in a prominent location (e.g. by the cash points in the undercroft on Frenchay Campus) to ensure Networks can enjoy a similar level of exposure to that of Sports and Societies.
6. To continue to roll over Network memberships and not make students have to re-join each year.
7. To introduce a lifetime membership option for Networks so a student can join once in a hassle-free approach to getting involved in Community-based Networks, regardless of the length of their course of study.
8. To explore this lifetime membership option for other student groups where appropriate.
9. To introduce a clickable option for students that want to learn more about a Network but not necessarily join to help with quoracy at Network AGMs.
10. To develop media and communications training for Networks that helps to increase the profile of Networks and other student groups at the union.
11. To continue to provide a Networks Awards night that celebrates inclusivity and promotes the fantastic work that our diverse student community at UWE does.
12. To continue to use the Breaking down barriers to participation research to improve engagement and diversity in student-led groups.