January 2017 Impact

• We held our Mind Your Mate Week at the beginning of January to coincide with exam week and assignment deadlines in January.   We know how tough it is trying to juggle the demands of academic work, jobs, money and relationships, so we encouraged you and your mates to look out for each other.  The CEC’s gave out teabags with inspirational quotes attached so students could have some ‘qualitea’ time out with their mates.  We got flour and balloons and made homemade stress balls with students and staff.  Some of you gave them names and drew faces on them and told us recently you still have them!  We held meditation classes to help relax you and made wonderfully fragrant lavender bags which we gave out for you to put under your pillows to help you sleep.  Research shows that the scent of lavender eases anxiety and insomnia.    Don’t forget though, look out for your mates every day, and they will look out for you!

• Nominations opened for the SU Leadership Race.  Bolton Students' Union is a Union run for students, led by students so every year you elect the students who will run Bolton SU and represent the student voice.   There are 4 available positions in this year's Leadership Race - 1 Student Officer (President), 2 Student Trustees and 1 NUS Delegate.  Nominations close on Friday 10^th February at 12pm.

• Some members of the SU Staff attended a Mental Health First Aid Course.  Staff learned how to identify, understand and help a person who may be developing a mental health problem, (including depression, anxiety and psychosis) with confidence and guide them to the right support.  The Student’s Union recognises the stress that students are under and we want students who are experiencing mental health issues to know that they can come to us for help and support.   

• January saw the Students’ Union hold its first ever Student Jury.   This is a project where Course and School reps were invited to be part of a Jury to decide the policies that the Students’ Union should hold, what things the SU should lobby the University on to improve the student experience, and question Vivienne, the SU President, to make sure that she is properly representing students.   The first Student Jury deliberated the University TIRI weeks and the Teaching Excellence Framework.  The next Student Jury will take place in February.

• The second Sports Activities Day of the academic year took place in January.  Sporting clubs were out in force in the Chancellor’s Mall recruiting new members and reminding students of the benefits of being involved with sport, ie, expanding your friendship circle, keeping fit, developing new skills, taking a break, etc.  New members were recruited and feedback was that everyone enjoyed it.

• The Welcome Back Fair was held at the end of January.  Chancellor’s Mall was filled with companies and local organisations giving out freebies and useful information so students could find out about the best local services available to them and how to get the best student deals.