What we did for Students in May 2016

• Mind Your Mate Week

May is an extremely busy and stressful month for students (as you all know!) with exams looming and assignment and dissertation deadlines to meet. 

With this in mind, we held our Mind your Mate Week.  We invited local organisations in over 3 days to host workshops and activities aimed at helping staff and students ‘switch off’ and relieve some of that exam/deadline anxiety.

We did drumming with the African Community Association (ACAB), we held meditation classes and we gave away de-stress kits.  Students and staff had hand, neck, shoulder and Indian head massages, drank some fabulously tasty mocktails and cuddled with chicks, lambs, rabbits and kids (the baby goat kind) who visited us from Smithills Open Farm.   

One student told us it was one of the best things the SU had ever done!  Another told us she was totally stressed out thinking about her exams, but holding and petting the animals had calmed her down and she felt much better.   

• The Voice UK

ITV researchers for The Voice UK visited the University and auditioned students in the Main Lecture Theatre.  We had quite a few talented students get through to the next round, so who knows, maybe the next winner is one of our very own students!   Good luck everyone!  

• Summer Ball

We held the annual Summer Ball at the end of May and once again it was a resounding success.  Held at the Holiday Inn, students, dressed in gorgeous dresses and suits, were greeted with a Bucks Fizz on arrival and went on to enjoy a delicious three course meal.  After the meal guests were entertained by a live band and disco.  Click this link to see some photographs.

• Goodbye CEC's

May was the final month for our fantastic, amazing and inspiring CEC’s (Community Engagement Coordinators).  Caitlin, Michelle, Noshila and Vivienne made a huge impact within the SU and the University.   We are certainly going to miss you guys!  

And with that, we come to the end of another incredible academic year!  We would like to wish all students who graduate this year all the very best for the future, and to all returning students – see you in September to do it all again, but better!