VP Societies and Communication
Hi! My name's Evan Botwood and I’m your VP Societies and Communication.
I'm on the committee of four societies and I’m an active member of the Student Council, which provides me with a deep understanding of societies and The Students Union.
As part of my involvement in societies at UWE Bristol, I’ve organised trips, socials, debates, outreach, cross society events, as well as being on a BUCS team.
Societies have enhanced my university life so much, and I want to ensure that others get the opportunity to enrich their university life too. This can only be done by tackling the challenges that people in societies face, such as lack of funding, attendance, overbearing paperwork and so much more.
I am here to listen to any concerns that you have and to fight for your cause.
Click here to see what I’m working to achieve this year and my progress so far.
VP Societies and Communication's Blog
I've been working hard this month to achieve results for societies and students. Here are some of my highlights!
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!
Throughout the month of November, The Students' Union ran numerous events in support of The Movember Foundation. The campaign saw us raise an incredible £3,800 for The Movember Foundation.
Your VP Societies and Communication, Freddie Gough, is pleased to announce that UWE societies are now able to offer 2 or 3 year memberships to allow them to plan ahead and ensure for a better future for their members.
My year as VP Societies and Communication has been extremely formative and has allowed me to develop in more ways than I can count. From the moment I was elected to my final few weeks in post, I feel every day has been an invaluable opportunity filled with new interactions, exciting challenges and learning.
EVAN's manifesto objectives
Rearrange Societies Conference so that it is facilitated by societies.
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Arranged meeting with Opportunities Manager and Societies team planned for end of September
02 Oct 2019
Met with Opportunites Manager and Societies team at the end of September.
27 Nov 2019
Successfully introduced a 'feedback' section to Societies Conference, whereby every society wrote down ideas and what they wanted to see improved. I have now begun working on this feedback, such as by taking them to Jo Midgley (Vice Chancellor Student Experience) and the Opportunities manager at the Students' Union.
Dedicate time to discuss your issues with me across campuses.
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Have increased pressence at Frenchay and Glendside Campuses.
02 Oct 2019
Regular hours at Frenchay. Attended Glenside and Bower Welcome (Freshers') Fairs as well as inductions across campuses. Spoken to Community Manager and Glenside Campus Coordinator about the best times to go and feasability. Commited to being based at Glenside every Monday morning (9:00-12:00). Spoke to every society at the Frenchay Welcome Fair.
27 Nov 2019
Ensured I'm open and available during the time when we have few/no society coordinators. Including taking on new society training.
Encourage roundtable discussions to share points of view, and encourage a sense of understanding amongst groups.
Status: Updated 02/09/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Met with Coordinating chaplain and NFI Society coordinator to discuss ideas and the feasibility. Started planning for Inter-Faith Week with other Presidents and chaplaincy.
27 Nov 2019
Organised the celebration of 'Inter-Faith week' which included advertising existing Faith society events, a workshop by the Union of Jewish Students and a series of activities on Friday as part of the 'Fun Day Friday' including a yoga/meditation session.
Facilitate forums to reveal issues that many NFI societies face, which can then be tackled.
Status: Updated 02/09/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Met with Coordinating chaplain and NFI Society coordinator to discuss ideas.
27 Nov 2019
Supported NFI societies on an individual basis, and started planning for further feedback.
Arrange more themed SUesdays with more exclusive guests, costume competitions, and decorations.
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Met with The Students' Union Commercial Services Director about Students' Union bar events
02 Oct 2019
Further meets with the Commercial Services Director to plan some of the future SUesdays and enhance them through working with different SU areas including RAG.
27 Nov 2019
Worked with the Hallslife team to arrange Face painting before the Halloween Suesday event.
Provide tea and toast outside the The Students' Union afterwards.
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Conversation with the Fundrasing and Community Coordinator.
02 Oct 2019
Conversation with the Fundrasing and Community Coordinator. This provision will be provided, will review in January
Lobby the University for Committee access to its new 'Mental Wealth' reporting system (Learner Analytics, or StREAM).
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Conversations with The Students' Union CEO, UWE Bristol Healthy University Coordinator.
Create an awareness campaign #YourHealthIsOurHealth amongst societies.
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Discussions with the Fundraising and Community Coordinator and other Presidents, I'm now leading Movember from a societies perspective, and other charity activities.
02 Oct 2019
Leading on charity activities (Sleep out, Abseil, Jailbreak). Held and attended meetings with SU and UWE staff about World Mental Health Day.
Enact sensible deregulation and streamlining of accessing society money.
Status: Updated 27/11/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Oct 2019
Discussions held with the Opportunites Coordinator, Finance Manager, and the IT Manager, and the possibility of a finance app to simplfy and streamline has emerged. Further discussion will need to be had with all the above.
27 Nov 2019
further discussions about the possibility of a finance app to simplfy and streamline has emerged. More discussion will need to be had with all the above.
Constant dialogue with societies and students for feedback about real concerns, and decision making.
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Oct 2019
Maintained an active social media presence on Twitter and Facebook, publishing updates on FB. Committed to writing and uploading a monthly blog to The SU website, as well as prioritising emails from societies and meeting with them face-to-face.
27 Nov 2019
Supported societies with the day-to-day running of their society, due to both Society Coordinator roles being absent.
Ensure new committees have sufficient training.
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Poll put out to society committee members to see what they want training in. Meeting with Society Coordinators to arrange a refresher training and facilitate these needs.
02 Oct 2019
Advertised training through email and personal direction to new committees. Held society refresher training, with time afterwards for people to ask questions to myself and the Society Coordinators. Held feedback discussion session with the Society Coordinators about the session. Looking into singular committee training meetings for any future new committees.
Commit to leading and pushing sustainability at The Students' Union.
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Commited to being SU Sustainability Lead alongside Precious (President). Attending sustainbility training with the Community Manager and NUS Sustainability.
02 Oct 2019
Active promotion of sustainable practise via Welcome rep inductions, programme inductions and social media. Promoting 'Green Fest' and sustainable societies using the SU Instagram.
27 Nov 2019
Committed to attending the UWE Bristol Sustainability board, meeting with the Sustainability Officer and liasing with the Assistant Vice-Chancellor of Sustainability and Environment. Working on an optional commitee role: 'Sustainability Officer'.
01 July 2019
Represented the student voice at the Sustainability Board, worked with the Sustainability Officer on 'Divestment', actively promoted sustainability via The Students' Union channels, including supporting World Tree day and putting on vegan discounts on World Climate Strike Day. Also worked on various schemes to make the University and Students' Union more sustainable, including the use of balloons.
Embed sustainable practise into societies.
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Talked with The SU Student Sustainability Engagement Coordinator, as well as The SU Community Manager and the Opportunities Manager about implementing a 'Sustainability Officer' as a committee role.
02 Oct 2019
Discussed the democratic process with the Representation Manager. Arranged a meeting with the Opportunites Manager and societies team at the beginning of October to discuss the Societies Conference, where this role will be launched. Speaker forms have also been published online, with additional forms going up in the future to reduce paper and ease the process.
27 Nov 2019
Explained and promoted the Greener Futures Accreditation, and sustainability, to all new societies, and promoted sustainability via The Students' Union channels. The Sustainability Officer role was launched, but due to some issues, this will be relaunched when it comes to February committee elections.
Fix Next of Kin issue when buying society memberships.
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Attended multiple meetings with the IT Manager, Opportunties Manager and Societies Coordinator, to find the right solution to solve this problem, which prevented people from buying society memberships. Worked with Marketing to produce NOK details.
02 Oct 2019
The solution was implemented with NOK details being input when buying memberships, and some minor issues flattened out. Received feedback from Opportunities team that they now receive far less queries concerning NOK details. Societies have also provided feedback regarding the ease of purchasing a membership.
27 Nov 2019
Increased membership of societies since last year.
Streamline processes for Glenside and City Campus societies.
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Communicating with Glenside Societies through Glenside Welcome fair and other events.
02 Oct 2019
Meeting had with the SU Glenside and Bower Ashton Coordinators, and the Academic and Special Interest Societies Coordinator. Discussed the best solution to ensure the relavant UWE Bristol and SU processes were followed.
27 Nov 2019
Held further discussions with the Campus Coordinators about the process. A City Campus society meeting has occurred, and I have received feedback from this to action further.
Easier to put in regular amounts to society accounts (standing orders etc.).
Status: Updated 02/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
02 Sept 2019
Talked through this with the SU Finance Manager.Ddiscussions needed with getting the communication out to students.
27 Nov 2019
Communicated with students about how to do this, on a case-by-case basis.
Mental Health Awareness campaign for societies.
Status: Updated 27/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
01 Sept 2019
Held discussions with the Fundraising and Community Coordinator and other Presidents, which resulted in looking at Movember from a societies perspective, and leading other charity activities.
01 Oct 2019
Leading on charity activities (Sleep out, Abseil, Jailbreak). Held and attended meetings with The Students' Union and UWE staff about World Mental Health Day. Have also committed to various activities on the day to promote mental wellbeing.
27 Nov 2019
Actively promoted Movember through the Students' Union social media channels, as well as encouraging the University to do the same.
Enact sensible deregulation and streamlining of accessing society money.
Status: Updated 27/10/2019
01 July 2019
Created Manifesto
01 Sept 2019
Discussions held with the Opportunities Coordinator, Finance Manager, and the IT Manager, and the possibility of a finance app to simplify and streamline has emerged.
27 Nov 2019
Decided not to pursue the idea of a finance app, primarily due to the expense associated with it, which would impact on other areas of society support. I've been working with the Students' Union Finance Manager on an excel budget spreadsheet that should help societies with their finances.
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