December 2016 Impact

• We once again joined together to create a human red ribbon in the SLZ to raise awareness for World Aids Day.    World AIDS Day is held on the 1^st December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day, held for the first time in 1988.  The Students’ Union is proud to participate in World Aids Day.

• On Monday 5^th December Danielle dressed up in an elephant outfit and with Melissa’s help spoke to students in the SLZ, the reason being to draw attention to ‘The Elephant InThe Room.’ The ‘elephant in the room’ on this occasion was depression.  The elephant and Melissa, gave out leaflets and spoke to students about depression and signposted students to the help and support services available within the University if students felt depressed.  Students were also told about the ‘Don’t drop out, Drop in’ initiative too.  Feedback was that students who previously had little or no understanding of depression, were more aware and knew where to go for help.  The elephant will be making further appearances later in the year focusing on stress, hidden learning disabilities and social anxiety.     

• We held our annual Christmas Jumper, bake sale and tombola day.  We had an amazing abundance of cakes this year and a fantastic assortment of prizes on the tombola.  Students and staff paid £1 to wear their Christmas jumpers and the funds raised from selling cakes and the tombola were given to the Mayor of Bolton for her chosen charities.    

• A number of students from various SU Sports clubs took part in sports trials for the English Universities Northern Squad. Six students from the University of Bolton were successful and will now go onto the National Trials in late February in an attempt to make the English Universities National Squad which will compete in the Home Nations competition in April.  The successful students were: Rachel McNally (Women’s Hockey), Hannah Holloway (Women’s Football), Joanne Case (Women’s Football), Jude Oyibo (Men’s Football), Favour Imade (Men’s Football) and Jude Esan (Men’s Basketball).  Massive congratulations and well done to all of you and good luck for the February trials!

• A student contacted us to thank Janet in the Advice Unit for her ongoing help and advice in helping the student to get an award from the Access to Learning Fund.  The student thanked Janet for her understanding and guidance and said they could not have done it without Janet’s help.