The Bucks Student: Edition 109

and Papped is back! Sabbatical updates all round

missed it, January gifted us with the return of Big Bertha. (Brandon Tester’s fabulous drag alter ego...) And we have all of you to thank for making that - and seeing Charlotte in full special effects make up - possible with the fundraising efforts from Movember. So a big thanks to everyone and hopefully we’ll find more opportunities to tease Bertha out of hiding during the year of 2023.

Have you done anything fabulous, spectacular, or excellent so far in 2023?

Well we’d love to hear about anything you might like to share, and we’d also love to share it in the newspaper too!

So if you’re interested in anything to do with the newspaper - be it designing it, writing it, managing it or just creating the sudokus, drop an email to editor@ thebucksstudent.com or any of the Sabbs and we’ll take it from there.

For all advertising and media enquiries please contact the Students’ Union Communications and Marketing department.

Simon McDowellsimon.mcdowell@bnu.ac.uk

Oli Gunsonoli.gunson@bnu.ac.uk

Nellie Hughesnellie.hughes@bnu.ac.uk Articles in

By Charlotte Leighton-Woods

AnPresidential update of

proportions...

I was able to spend Freshers’ week meeting new students, helping with move ins, working (And a bit of partying!) at events, driving the SHHH Bus to get students

home safely and so much more.

After talks with the University, the ‘Big Bucks Meal Deal’ was launched, which saw a drop in the prices of our campus catering as well as us being able to provide 3 free meals per week for our students, which I have spent a lot of time helping to hand out, giving me the chance to connect with students and see the impact of such a great scheme.

After further talks and negotiations with the University, I was able to secure a pay rise for all student staff to a minimum of £10.90 p/h, which was a huge win for the Union and our students.

Myself and other members of the Union attended meetings with Thames Valley Police around spiking and our safety measures during night time events. These concluded in TVP informing us that we have the safest venue in town with the least reported incidents, which is something we are very proud of.

Before Christmas I was very busy with meetings wrapping up the end of the calendar year. I attended Council, where I presented a paper to the board discussing the successes we had achieved such as the roll out of the free meals, the increased budget of the hardship fund and discussed the positive impact of The Big Deal. Which they were very happy with.

The final part of my paper challenged the university on the inadequacy of their counselling services as well as their lack of academic support for students suffering in the cost of living crisis, which prompted the university to contact the counselling services and open discussions about how much funding they need including to update their databases, and prompted a wider discussion about staff needing better training on how to signpost students.

The need for academic support in the wake of the Cost of Living Crisis was taken to the University Senate, where it was agreed that financial hardship is now an accepted reason for applying for an extension or mitigating circumstances. However, in the UK with lots of workers strikes planned, which can be detrimental to students needing access to campus to complete assignments, I will be pushing for even further help for students with assignments such as blanket deadline extensions.

I also completed my Movember challenge, where I came into the office with a full SFX Makeup for the entire day, I got a lot of funny looks!

Additionally, I set the plans in motion to create a 24hr accessible ‘Safe Space’ in the reception of Windsor House for students to access when they’re feeling vulnerable and need a warm, safe place to go to whenever they need it. This should be open soon!

Looking ahead into term 2, I have lots of big university meetings to prepare for as well as campaigns around hidden disabilities and inclusivity, which I’m really excited to share with you soon.

Thank you for a fabulous first term, and on to the next!

My first term as your President has been incredibly challenging but so rewarding.

By Jess Bradbury

What’s a VPAB?!

Semester 1 has come to end and what a semester it’s been! From beach cleaning to fixtures, from fundraising to event hosting – semester 1 really did it all!

September saw the return of our yearly Free Freshers’ Fortnight, with Love Island stars to movie nights. It was a jam-packed two weeks and really set us off with a bang for what the rest of the semester had in store for us.

October saw the start of Weekly Wednesday Wins for our sports teams! Although every week we did see some losses and games being called off due to the weather, spirits were never dampened and now it’s full steam ahead in preparation for our annual varsity fixture against our rivals Roehampton University! Our societies and Sports 4 Fun activities have had a very successful first semester with participation numbers sky rocketing we found ourselves having to find bigger spaces for some of our societies!

November was huge month for me… Alongside our Movember Ambassador, Ratu, I ran numerous events to raise money and awareness for Movember which is the UK’s biggest men’s mental and physical health charity. I had so much fun working with Ratu and this charity is one that means a lot to me so to be able to raise over £1,300 is incredible and something I am quite proud of! However, with all this money being raised it meant that the sabbatical team had to complete some milestone challenges; Emily had to have shaving foam to the face, I had my make up done by Ratu, Charlotte came in to work with SFX make-up on and Brandon dressed up as his drag alter-ego, Big Bertha! I want to take a moment to thank everyone who got involved and donated, this month wouldn’t have been a success without you!

December was a challenging month for myself, after lots of self-reflection on how I was doing in the role of VPSI I decided to re-start the conversation of changing the structure and title of the role. After getting the go ahead from Students’ Union Senior Management I began re-writing the role and thinking of a new title! I took the proposals to Union Council and Trustee Board and received full support for the changes. So as you will see during elections week that the role of Vice President Student Involvement does not exist but instead in its place is Vice President Achievement and Belonging. The role of VPAB takes more of a focus on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Sustainability work the Students’ Union does. However, the role will still work with the sports clubs and societies as well as helping to provide volunteering opportunities and employability skill sessions.

As we move into semester 2 I’m looking forward to assisting with the planning of AU dinner and our first away Varsity since 2019, which you can now buy tickets for! RAG Week 2.0, Give it a Go Week 2.0 and Fairtrade Fortnight are all coming up so as always keep an eye on the What’s On Page and our Social Media to see what you can get involved in!

By Brandon Tester

VPEW High Wycombe update from your

Hi everyone, if you didn’t know already my name is Brandon and I am your Vice President Education and Welfare for High Wycombe. I came into this role July 2022 and ever since (also a little bit before) I have been working to make your life better at Bucks, which is aligned with Bucks Students’ Union’s mission.

How have I done this?

You may wonder, the lead up to the first term I delved deeply into the Cost of Living, which at the time was considered a crisis in the wider societal context and still is now. However, the cost of living has always been detrimental, especially for students. My first aim was to create Brandon’s Big Budget Busting Booklet a short step guide on how to manage your finances with tips and tricks and signposting to relevant services. This then lead on to creating a survey asking our members (you) questions on the cost of living and the impacts. Essentially, the cost of living really took a hold of me and many projects and initiatives stemmed from this. Here’s a short list of what term 1, in the context of my cost-of-living campaign, consisted of.

• Monthly Monday Meals – Funded by Helping Hand (Buckinghamshire Council) A project that gave students Free ingredients to create a recipe created by myself. A project tackling food poverty whilst teaching a lifelong skill lesson – cooking.

• Big Bucks Meal Deal – in conjunction with the University, I managed to get students at the High Wycombe campus access to 3x free hot meals a week. This has been the biggest success so far of my sabbatical journey. Not only that, prices were slashed in all our eateries to make it more affordable for students.

• Pushed the University to make a statement on the cost-of-living crisis and them creating a cost-ofliving hub.

• My first ever paper I created was around the cost-of-living crisis and presented this at Senate, a top-level University meeting. This kicked off many strategies that University are trying to put in place.

• Wrote and received a reply from Steve Baker local MP for High Wycombe on the Autumn Budget and if students would be receiving any further help. The answer to be summed up was a no.

What outside of the cost-of-living campaign have I done?

Life as a sabbatical officer in the Education and Welfare role is a life of meetings, making sure the University are held to account on their promises to students. One of the meetings I brought back was the Digital Poverty working group alongside creating a cost-of-living crisis working group where Academics and head of services/ schools came together to hear what I had to say, and where we should be heading in our next step in tackling the crisis. In every meeting I have been in, ranging from academic misconduct panels to Education committees I have been vocal on the issues that students are facing and potential mitigations for future issues that may arise.

Many student wins have happened over the first time, ranging from car parking issues to course adjustments. Seeing students get what they deserve is what makes my role that much better.

Term 1, the first term of being a sabbatical officer has been an amazing, eye opening experience. I’m glad to be able to work alongside a fantastic team and work alongside you, the student.

By Emily Crawshaw

Wins for Uxbridge

Uxbridge campus.

The first was microwaves

Now this might seem small, but back in October once everyone was back on campus, students would all have their lunch at the same time. This meant they would spend their hour break stood in Pulse waiting for the microwave to be free to use leaving them minimal time to eat and have a proper break from academia. I had even watched a handful of students leave the line to buy something from Pulse or head into the town centre as it would be quicker, but with our students struggling with the Cost of Living now this was not acceptable. Along with this, I had also spoken to a handful of students and members of staff and they asked for more. Unfortunately, this was not possible in Pulse due to space, but students suggested the Third Floor where there is a decent size social/study space, so I got on it with the University staff.

As the microwaves were being ordered I received feedback from an Uxbridge Rep that those with Halal food requirements did not feel comfortable with using the same microwaves as everyone else due to cross-contamination so with that, it was made sure that one of the new microwaves was for Halal food only and they are now based on the third floor.

The second win for the campus also took place on the third floor. Students had been coming to the office after being in Park Room letting us know they have sore necks and backs as they have been sat on uncomfortable chairs for three hours without any tables for their writing materials, whether that being a notepad or laptop. This is something that has been for a while and though students had made comments, nothing was yet to be done about it. Because of this, I brought it up with both the Nursing team and members of staff in the University and made it a priority for them to sort. As I expressed the issue there were a few people who pushed back as adding desks or tables to the room reduces the capacity of the room, but it was

overruled as an uncomfortable learning environment is not a productive one. This was then further confirmed in the Nursing Term One Programme Committee Meeting as Park Room was one of the big talking points. Only a few days after this, I received a message from a 3rd Year Children’s Nursing student with a picture of tables in Park Room and a lot of confused yet happy students who made themselves comfortable in their new working space.

I have been informed that there are currently 50 desks placed in the room as a trial but there are more in the cupboard, so if more are needed please just let us know by emailing surepresentation@bnu. ac.uk

Since being in the role of Vice President Education & Welfare (Ux/Ayles) there have been several things that have been brought to my attention which could improve the

By Emily Crawshaw

and Aylesbury

“Since joining in Sept 2020, I have seen many changes especially those that have been voiced by many students. At the start of this year students expressed their concern regarding the Park Room and the seating. It was then also mentioned in our Term One PCM where Emily explained that she was already in talks with the University and Nursing Team around this issue. After a short time of collaboration, the layout of Park Room had changed. Without the students’ voice this is something that could have taken a lot longer so thank you to those who have helped make this change

happen. Thank you to also to the teams who worked together and who are putting in time to

Aylesbury is winning too!

At the start of the year, Aylesbury was the quiet campus. Over this first term, I must disagree. Though it holds the smallest number of students out of our three campuses, there is a gentle buzz which is growing. This mainly happens at the students’ lunch break where the second floor gets filled with nurses and midwives. I have managed to pop up there a couple of times where I have been able to chat to these students and engage some of them in our campaigns such as Monthly Monday Meals. Jess, our VPSI also took the Movember raffle up there which was received positively by students.

make the Uxbridge campus an environment which students can learn and fill comfortable in.”

I was also was asked by the Engineering apprentices at the start of my term if there were any activities the Students’ Union could provide the campus. I spoke to our activities team and they gave the campus a table tennis table and equipment to give students a chance to have a break.

This is the first of many developments which will come to the campus so keep your eye out, if there is anything that we can offer you in Aylesbury please do not hesitate to contact us!

Below is a comment from Amy Pile, third year Adult Nursing Rep:

We have re-opened the cost of living survey, scan here to tell us about your experience with the cost of living crisis, so we as a Union know how best to support you.

Help us help you

FESTIVAL 2023

By Jess Hughes

SAVE THE DATE MONDAY 20–FRIDAY 24 MARCH 2023

A week long employability festival providing our members with the skills , confidence and networking opportunities to succeed !

It is never too early to start thinking about your career so whether you are in your first or final year, there will be something to benefit you during this week.

STRIVE Festival will have different opportunities running all week to enhance your employability skills and put you in touch with your potential future employer . There will be skills sessions , online webinars , the opportunity to network and volunteering and paid work opportunities.

Keep an eye on the What’s On page at bucksstudentsunion.org for more information.

By Amy Pile

Nursing and Midwifery

I’m Amy and I’m the School Officer for Nursing and Midwifery but I’m also a Student Rep for my group for the third year running.

Amy Pile School Officer

Over the last two and a half years we have seen many changes that without representation may not have come about. When I first started in September 2020 changing rooms were not available, we had to change in the toilets which was not hygienic at all as you can imagine. Without Reps voicing this concern with the Students’ Union and the University we would still not have them. This is something myself and others are really proud of and we hope it has made an impact on new and future students.

There were many issues with timetabling previously, due to the Representation system we have now been able to improve them somewhat and will continue to improve this with feedback at Programme Committee Meetings from Reps.

The Park room is a big space at Uxbridge campus and unfortunately, we have had uncomfortable chairs with nowhere to put our laptops/notebooks. We are so pleased to hear that desk chairs have been added to the room, a big win for all the Student Reps and students who use The Park Room.

Microwaves were only available at Uxbridge campus on the first floor, through the Student Rep system we reported this, and we now have new ones to replace the old ones on floor 1 and also new ones placed on floor 3.

When I became School Officer in my Second year, I noticed there wasn’t very much regular communication between the University Nursing team and the students to express concerns and positives. We now meet once a month with the Head of Nursing and Midwifery, Paul Maloret and wider Leadership Team within the School to enable Student Reps to raise issues on a regular basis to enable feedback to be acted on quickly.

I don’t know who our group would have turned too without having a Student Rep, I believe being a Student Rep that you can make a big impact and that voicing what we can do makes changes, they may not always be quick but from the experiences I’ve had it’s worth it.

It’s an amazing opportunity and if you sign up, you won’t regret it. It not only benefits others but also yourself with adding leadership to your CV.

If you would like any further information or a chat about Student Representation you can contact the Representation team through emailing surepresentation@bnu.ac.uk

Representation celebration

Rep of the Month

Anybody can submit a nomination for Rep of the Month, from students on the course to course teams and Heads of School by submitting a nomination on the Students’ Union website: bucksstudentsunion.org/yourvoice/ repofthemonth

This month we are thrilled to announce that we have not one but two winners for December’s Rep of the Month. Both of these students stood out at their Programme Committee Meetings and demonstrated fantastic active participation which we greatly encourage as a Students’ Union within these meetings to enhance the student experience. Congratulations to Callum Henry and Davide Berardi for your participation in your PCMs and being this month’s winners.

Callum Henry who took on the role of Co-Chair in his PCM and made sure that their fellow Reps within the PCM had fair opportunity to raise any issues that they are facing on their course and talking to wider student feedback of those who were unable to attend. Callum supported in creating actions and supported making sure that the meeting ran to time.

Secondly, Davide Berardi who was recognised for their contribution for feedback on their course, Level Five Fashion and Textiles. It was noted that Davide had clearly already spent time working with their course team to resolve issues ahead of the PCM to make sure that any immediate feedback that needed resolving did not wait until the Programme Committee Meeting.

Staff Celebration

Staff Celebration is an opportunity for us to celebrate members of staff who have gone above and beyond, inspired their students, and deserve recognition for their work. The criteria for Staff Celebration mirrors the criteria for the three Excellence in Learning and Teaching Awards.

We are pleased to announce that Geeta Lamichhane, Senior Lecturer for the Nursing and Midwifery School as December’s Staff Celebration Winner! Geeta was nominated for the following:

“

I believe Geeta deserves this nomination. Over 3 years Geeta has been a very welcoming presence, she engages with all students and will always try her best to support everyone. She truly values the student’s views, and by chairing the Programme Committee Meetings, she listens, engages, and acts on issues that have been raised. For any questions students ask, she will always try her best to answer or guide them to those who will be able to support and respond to the questions asked. She is very approachable and professional; she is fun to be around making learning and gaining knowledge a little easier. Thank you, Geeta!”

If you are interested in submitting a staff member for a Staff celebration, you can view the full criteria and submit a nomination at bucksstudentsunion.org/ yourvoice/staffcelebration

NUS National Conference

By Tash Neal

So what is it?

The NUS National Conference is an annual conference hosted by the National Union of Students with the main purpose of electing in new officers every two years, considering the Union’s statements so that each Unions’ funds are being spent appropriately, consider reports made by current National and State officers as well as discussing policy changes to improve the student experience nationally across the United Kingdom.

At Bucks Students’ Union we pay an annual membership fee to the NUS to make sure that we are supported every year when it comes to national campaigns and are able to access support to enable us to create change within the University. You also receive TOTUM cards thanks to the NUS that give you access to hundreds of discounts across the UK.

The Conference

This year we increased the number of student delegates to attend the NUS Conference from four to five students meaning wider student voice and representation can be heard from BNU students.

We spoke to each of the Officers and our Students’ Union President Charlotte Leighton-Woods to find out what they hope to gain from the Conference this year:

Sabrina: “At the NUS conference

I expect to gain more insight on students’ rights and national policies. To be in an environment where I am going to meet new people from all around the country that have the same intentions as me, to focus and discuss issues affecting all students and to come up with solutions to prevent these, whilst promoting and defending the welfare of everyone is something I am thrilled to experience.”

Hamood: “My aim is to provide support to all student groups (Home/EU/International) in this cost of living crisis. What can be done to help the students in these crucial times? What are the possible ways in which the University can make the student stick to the course and not leave the education? Is it because of monetary reasons? What are the Students’ Unions across different Universities in the UK are doing to help resolve this issue?”

V: “I am very curious to see what changed after last year’s conference. I hope to bring back some information to our university of how last year’s issues have been solved, and what issues have been raised this year.”

Amy: “I am looking forward to attending the National Union of Students Conference this year to gather information to see if being involved with the NUS creates positive change that supports all students including those at Buckinghamshire New University.

I would like to discuss and listen to campaigns that matter for all. This will be a new experience for me so I would like to gain as much knowledge as I can so that I can pass this on to students.”

Ellie: “In attending the NUS Conference as a Delegate of BNU, I hope to gain further knowledge of representation in Higher Education while, most importantly, representing all student voices of BNU at the Conference.”

Charlotte: “I look forward to getting a clearer view of NUS as an organisation and what they can offer the students of BNU.”

#BSUElections

It’s that time of year again when we dust off the voting booths and ballot boxes and start preparing for our annual elections. There are so many different leadership positions up for grabs, giving you many opportunities to get involved and make a real change - but with so much on offer it can be a bit confusing to remember your Sabbatical Officers from your Student Trustees. Luckily, we’re on hand to give you all the insight you need into the #BSUElections and remind you why it’s so important to have your say.

What are the elections for?

These elections decide the Union’s four Sabbatical Officers for the next academic year. The Sabbatical Officers are full-time members of Union staff who lead the direction of the Union and help deliver the high-quality student experience we are so passionate about. These four roles offer the opportunity to direct the work of the Students’ Union meaning you can implement changes you want to see.

Additionally, there are many part-time student leadership roles on offer for you to fulfil alongside your studies. These include the Student Trustee elections, a unique opportunity to be part of the team driving the strategic direction of the Union as part of the Trustee Board. These also include the Executive Officer elections, who represent students who have unique experiences alongside being a student including international, mature, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities and more.

Finally, we have Student Reps and the sports and societies committee elections. Student Reps act as the voice for their class or group and help us understand the student experience, including any changes required or highlighting good practice. Sport and society committees lead their club or society and include roles such as Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Why are the elections important?

These elections decide who will be the leaders of your Students’ Union for the next academic year 2023-24, so it’s incredibly important to have your say and vote for who you want to lead on your priorities and activity for the next academic year. During the elections, each candidate will produce a written manifesto that will outline what they would aim to achieve if elected into their chosen position.

Now you get to play judge. Which candidate best represents you and your interests? Who do you think can bring about the most effective change at BNU? This is your opportunity to decide who those people should be, use your vote when voting opens the second week in March so we can act on behalf of students.

Why should I nominate myself?

Do you think you can help make life better for students at BNU? Can you campaign on students’ behalf to make sure their voice is heard? Can you lead your Students’ Union? If the answer is yes, then you should nominate yourself.

To nominate yourself, head to our elections hub and select your chosen role from the menu on the left. From there, log in with your Blackboard details and click ‘Stand in Election’. Follow the steps, add a photo and your manifesto – and you’re ready to go.

Nominations open on Friday 13 January and are open for a few weeks but make sure to nominate yourself before noon on Friday 17 February when they close.

So, what are you waiting for?

Whether you’re intrigued about being a Student Rep, excited about the potential of being an Executive Officer, or swayed by a Sabbatical Officer position, it’s time to put yourself forward to lead your Students’ Union and start writing that manifesto.

If you have any questions or want to find out more about the roles on offer contact surepresentation@ bnu.ac.uk

PAPPED! IN THE VENUE

The Bucks Student

Have an idea for an event, want to arrange a takeover, or feedback for our events team? You can get in contact with the team by dropping an email to; events@bucks.ac.uk

Our Bucks Comedy Club will be making a return this Jan, headlined by Live at the Apollo star, Lost Voice Guy!

It’s a new year and a new term which can only mean one thing. We’re back and better than ever at the Venue, as we’re gearing up for a 2023 you’ll never forget! Everyone is welcome as we see the return of all your favourite club nights and chilled events. Get ready for the best Frat House and TFIF themes as well as all the free food you can eat. Keep your eyes peeled for a few treats in store as we kick off January with a bang!

For all our music lovers, the Live Sessions Showcase will be raising the roof with the best tunes from our talented BNU students. Chilled and relaxed, come and perform yourself or enjoy the vibes in the crowd. No experience is required, just bring your passion and your person.

Or maybe you prefer a laugh over a cheer. Our Bucks Comedy Club will be making a return this January, headlined by Britain’s Got Talent winner, and Live at the Apollo star, Lost Voice Guy! Join us for a night of fun that will surely tickle your funny bones. The best way to kick back after any academic stress.

We know how much you love Frat House, that why we’ll be teaming up with RAG on Wednesday 1 February to bring you an extra special takeover with RAG does Sports Day! Get your eggs and spoons at the ready as we’ll be racing, raising and partying the night away. The best bit? It’s all for a good cause and completely FREE thanks to The Big Deal!

There may be some of you who remember our Relax with Rusty sessions from last term, which provided a friendly, alcohol-free space for you to unwind after a long day. You spoke, we heard, and now the choice is down to you. Keep your eyes out on our socials for a Relax with Rusty Choose – Day special, where you can decide exactly what you want to see from our chilled events.

To see everything we’ve got planned to end 2022 with a bang, head on over to our What’s On page at bucksstudentsunion.org/whatson

If you’ve got friends or family you want to include in the fun, all our public tickets can be found via our Eventbrite: eventbrite.co.uk/o/bucks-studentsunion-15628737679

It’s TIME FOR YOU TO...

It’s time for you to...

GIVE IT A GO

GIVE IT A GO

Beginning Monday 13 February and ending Friday 17 February, we are running our 2nd Give it a Go week of the year.

Back in October, we engaged close to 700 individual students in a variety of volunteering opportunities, recreational activities, sport and societies at both Uxbridge and High Wycombe campuses.

Give it a Go is a jam-packed week full of fun activities provided all for free courtesy of the big deal. If you are on a new year fitness hype or just want to try something new, there is no better way to do this than Give it a Go!

Sport

Buckinghamshire New University compete across the country in the British Universities Colleges Sport (BUCS) competition and with fixtures being played on Wednesdays and Sundays it is not too late to get involved

We have a full schedule of fixtures for Wednesday with 7 home games for you to show your support as they build up towards Varsity

During Give it a Go all training sessions are open to all, so make sure to check out the timetable and head down to the training sessions you are interested in. There are also social media groups for all sports clubs that can be found on their minisites on the SU website.

Sport for Fun

Our Sport for Fun programme continues, so if you just want to go along and have a laugh with friends whilst enjoying some sport, then this is the perfect opportunity to do so. With a range of sports such as Basketball, Badminton, Volleyball and Football, there is something for everyone. Don’t be nervous to attend, our ambassadors will ensure you are involved and get the most out of these sessions.

We are also running some trips throughout the week including Go Karting, Archery, Bowling and ending with a Climbing trip and Rollermania All trips require a £5 deposit which will be refunded once you attend.

Societies

Societies are one of the best ways to enhance your university experience. They are a great way to have a varied social life and meet like-minded people. At Bucks, we currently have 27 active societies, including Chess, DJ, Anime and Cosplay, Women’s rugby and even a Toast Appreciation society For a full list visit bucksstudentsunion. org/activities/socs, where you will be able to contact any society you are interested in. The majority of these societies will be holding sessions during Give it a Go week, so why not give something different a go!

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to get involved, meet new people and enhance your CV. Throughout give it a go there are several volunteering opportunities to get involved with including micro volunteering events such as dog toy making, planting strawberries and decorating tote bags to sell for our RAG charities.

The highlight of give it a go for volunteering is a trip to the Horse Trust, the world’s oldest Equine charity, where you will be supporting the charity upkeeping their facility and interacting with ex-military police and rescue horses. A must for horse lovers.

If you are interested in getting involved in any of these opportunities, visit bucksstudentsunion.org/whatson

By Jess Bradbury

Varsity is an event that is held once a year giving our teams the opportunity to compete against their counterparts from another institution. The University that wins the most points during this event will be crowned the winner and given the Roebuck Cup to display until we next meet. Our Varsity opponents are Roehampton University and we have been competing against them every year since 2013.

Each University takes turns in hosting, with the event in 2023 being hosted by Roehampton it makes it the first away Varsity since 2019. The event, usually held over a week, culminates in a day where supporters from Roehampton and Bucks watch the bulk of the fixtures being played with the last fixture finishing at 10:00 pm. Then the day finishes at the Students’ Union Bar where both Universities’ staff, players and supporters come together to watch the cup ceremony.

Last year we managed to retain the cup through a draw so this year it’s more important than ever that Bucks bring home a win!

Wednesday 29th March 2023 is the date to keep free… If you wish to play or spectate don’t delay purchasing your tickets! The £15 ticket includes transport to and from Roehampton, a food voucher, a t-shirt and entry to the awards ceremony and night out afterwards!

It really isn’t a day to miss even if you’re not part of a club, get involved and join in with the famous Bucks spirit!

By Tegan Arnott, Maya Jones

RAG

Week is back for more

Last term we had our first Raise and Give (RAG) week and it was a huge success. This term we’re bringing it back and our second RAG week is running from Monday 30 JanuaryFriday 3 February with so many things for you guys to get involved with. We’re raising money for your two RAG charities, Buckinghamshire Mind & Hearing Dogs For Deaf People.

It’s going to be a great week with a Six Nations Sweepstake, which will be happening throughout the week. We’re asking for a suggested donation of £3 to take part. There will be prizes for the winners of the sweepstake. There will also be a raffle happening for £1 per ticket or £5 for a strip.

After the huge success of our handcuff challenge last term, on Tuesday 31 January we’ll be assigning more pairs to get tied to eachother, complete challenges, and do their best to raise some money. Catch them all over the university campus and around our local town.

Wednesday can only mean one thing, FRAT. It’s the return of our RAG Takeover. It’s going to be a Sports day themed takeover and we’ll be bringing in guest speakers from our two chosen charities, Buckinghamshire Mind & Hearing Dogs For Deaf People. If you couldn’t make it to our last takeover, then you can expect lots of games, shouting, quizzes, great costumes, and so much more. We’ll also have our amazing drink deals again throughout the night. We’re asking for a suggested donation of £4 upon entry, prefereably as cash.

We can’t wait for our second RAG week to get started and we hope you’re all excited.

Musical Theatre’s Busking for RAG fundraiser is back! Expect to see them on the concourse, in Beats, and all over the uni campus singing lovely songs to kick off the week. If you do see them, pop in a donation and find out more about the two charities and their society.

FREE ACTIVITIES

It’s all happening at Bucks Students’ Union... we’re getting back in the swing of things after starting 2023.

Some exciting Recreational Activities and Additional Skills coming up are...

Bowling Night

Wednesday 25 January

We have two ‘spare’ lanes booked for you to come along and ‘strike’ a pose. Reserve your FREE place by visiting the What’s On page.

Escape rooms

Thursday 9 February

Flex your brain muscles and puzzle solving skills with a trip to the High Wycombe Escape Rooms!

By Jess Hughes

Pets as Therapy visits

Thursday 2 (High Wycombe) Thursday 16 (Uxbridge) February

Need some stress relief after exams or even just a tough week? Come meet Thea the Golden Retriever at High Wycombe and Betty the spaniel at Uxbridge for play and cuddles!

You can book onto any activity through our website so be sure to keep an eye out on the Bucks Students’ Union ‘What’s On’ page – don’t miss out by not reserving your place early on!

If you need any support to enhance your academic experience, pop into one of the Students’ Union offices and we will be more than happy to help wherever we can.

Or maybe you have something different in mind? If you have an activity or skills session that you would like to take part in, please do not hesitate to get in touch! We love hearing your ideas and providing opportunities that you want! Contact us at surecactivities@bnu.ac.uk or pop in and see us in one of the Student’s Union offices!

We look forward to seeing you all on as many activities as possible this term!

On a ‘role’ with representation

family member or close friend when they consider a role model; they may also think of someone who has influenced them; one example of this might be a teacher from their schooldays. So why is representation tied to role modelling?

worries, you must believe that person will not only listen to you, but also act. This action need not always result in the results you want right away, as this is not always possible; instead, it can be judged by the person’s actions, such as whether they escalated the situation, offered support, or spoke out on your behalf and that of others. People who trust you are more likely to feel heard and able to look up to you.

Being yourself is very essential, and I don’t believe anyone should alter for anyone else. However, how you act affects whether people feel comfortable approaching you; it has to do with evaluating the situation you are in. Role models conduct themselves in a moral and honest way. Most individuals have regard for confident people. Good role models show a healthy respect for their accomplishments. They may acknowledge their own skills and successes without coming off as arrogant. A good role model should also be prepared to acknowledge mistakes.

want to win their approval. Respect for one another fosters a fair and productive environment for all parties.

If you are considering becoming a representative, even if you may not think of yourself as a role model, others may, which makes for the ideal mix. Over time, becoming a role model can help you develop your confidence and talents.

In my three years at university, I have liked advocating for others. I have also noticed an improvement in my confidence, which will help me with any Future responsibilities. If you are interested in learning more about representation, I highly suggest contacting surepresentation@bnu.ac.uk

Author: Ellie Lee

fun environment to be involved with all things Musical Theatre! From performances and masterclasses to fundraising and socials, being a part of Bucks MT creates an experience to make new friends and enjoy the extracurricular opportunities that support the university journey

Musical Theatre

Partaking in a University Society creates an opportunity to be a part of something much more than an extracurricular activity; it means that you will always have a support network behind you for your student experience that continues even after your time in the society.

Student’s Union pro fun environment to be involved with all things Musical The masterclasses to fundraising and socials, being a part of B

Being involved in the branching opportunities that come with societies create beneficial skills opportunities such as volunteering both in the university setting and externally such as Theatre Shed and One Can Trust Training & Development in personal skills such as leadership & confidence. As well as performance skills and opportunities in a variety of settings.

By Ellie Lee

What does it mean to be a part of Bucks MT?

in a University Society creates an opportunity to

Our Bucks Societies and Clubs support each other whether this be a takeover, performance, sporting match, fundraising or varsity and much more allowing you to be a part of a wider student activities community. The opportunities for collaboration & support are endless.

extracurricular activity; it means that you will alwa for your student experience that continues even after your

Being a part of a society activity in the Students’ Union provides our members with an inclusive, fun environment to be involved with all things Musical Theatre! From performances and masterclasses to fundraising and socials, being a part of Bucks MT creates an experience to make new friends and enjoy the extracurricular opportunities that support the university journey.

Partaking in a University Society creates an opportunity to be a part of something much more than an extracurricular activity; it means that you will always have a support network behind you for your student experience that continues even after your time in the society.

Being involved in the branching opportunities that come with societies create beneficial skills opportunities such as volunteering both in the university setting and externally such as Theatre Shed and One Can Trust. Training & Development in personal skills such as leadership & confidence. As well as performance skills and opportunities in a variety of settings.

Our Bucks Societies and Clubs support each other whether this be a takeover, performance, sporting match, fundraising or Varsity and much more allowing you to be a part of a wider student activities community. The opportunities for collaboration & support are endless.

Being involved in the branching opportunities that come w opportunities such as volunteering both in the university s Shed and One Can Trust. Training & Development in pers confidence As well as performance skills and opportunitie

“Since joining Bucks MT my confidence has grown massively as well as providing an outlet of fun whilst at university The support from the society and the SU across my time at university has been a highlight of my student experience, with getting to share opportunities and musical memories with friends that will last beyond university! Joining a society or club is definitely something I would recommend to any student!”

Our Bucks heth sporting ma allo student act labo

“Since joining Bucks MT my confidence has grown massively as well as providing an outlet of fun whilst at university. The support from the society and the SU across my time at university has been a highlight of my student experience, with getting to share opportunities and musical memories with friends that will last beyond university! Joining a society or club is definitely something I would recommend to any student!”

“Since joini assiv fun whilst a and t has been a ettin memories w Join something

“We’re one of a kind, no category!”

- Six the Musical

What it means to be a part of Bucks MT

“We’re one of a kind, no category!” - Six the Musical

Being a part of a society activity in the

make new friends and enjoy the extracurricular opportunit

Partaking

than an

KB: It’s been few years since you graduated. How are you feeling right now?

MK: Still fighting.

KB: Tell us about yourself? When did you realise you want to be a nurse? What are you doing right now? And what’s unique in your current workplace?

A story of a nurse

With all that is happening in NHS like last year Bucks Nursing Society are showing an appreciation to those who graduated and being carrying work in NHS with passion and enthusiasm despite challenges. Here, our treasurer, Karolina Bielinska (KB) interviews incredible Miranda Kasumovic (MK), BNU graduate who studied Adult Nursing alongside September 2015 cohort, now a junior sister in an acute Trust. A charismatic Croatian nurse, known for her sense of humour and ‘heart of gold’ shared with us her experiences and thoughts on nursing.

MK: I am a mixture of very straightforward culture living in a very diplomatic country. That straightforwardness is a big part of me. I always had an attraction towards health caring side. I came to UK, and I was working as HCA. As I was progressing, I realised that HCA role was not enough for me. My wish was to learn, and my manager suggested to study nursing. Since then, I did not stop until I got it.

At the moment I am band 6 in high dependency unit. I am in love with the unit. Being band 6 showed me a new challenges in nursing.

What is unique in my current workplace? Do I have to answer? Me ha-ha, don’t you know that? Patients and staff come and go, but I am hardest to leave. Then comes my team.

KB: How was your nursing journey so far?

MK: I have been taught to challenge, not to be afraid, to be frank and honest and to be always an advocate to my patients. To prioritise them. Working in HDU, having poorly patients, dying, saying some heartbreak, working though COVID – that made my journey. It broke me and re-evaluated me. It taught me that life should not be taken for granted and how much, not only me but any nurse, can light up someone experience by giving a good care.

KB: How do you cope with the pressure?

MK: I do few things when I am overwhelmed physically or emotionally. I drive in the woods. If police, see me driving like that will think all sorts. Or I cardiovert myself with comedies and happy songs.

Miranda Kasumovic A nurse with a heart of gold

KB: When do you feel the most fulfilled at work?

MK: As much as I know I gave my best is enough, but unexpected card or feedback from patient completes me. It’s a reconfirmation of the good deed I did. Nothing can top that.

KB: Can you share with us your most rewarding nursing memory? (Without giving out the sensitive information).

MK: The most memorable moment was when my matron called me two hours after I finished my night shift. When I answered I thought I did something wrong, but she asked me if I would like to be interviewed by BBC.

Many memories made me humble, but when I was in BBC named an NHS hero during COVID pandemic, and the moment I heard my patient voice for the first time since his discharge, calling me ‘his life hero’ and that I was there for him. That moment I felt the humblest. That moment I realised I impacted forever his experience.

And those moments when people thank you with the smile for the care over someone they just lost. It makes you!

KB: What’s your best quality at work?

MK: I truly still love my job. That’s my best quality. I believe in what I do as a nurse, I do in the best interest of my patient and the unit.

KB: What do you do for your well-being?

MC: Increasing my diabetes and risk of cardiovascular disease with sweets and energy drinks? Can we do commercials? hah

KB: The thing you learned about nursing/ as a nurse that helps you also in everyday life?

MK: The nurses are the closes to God as they see the first and the last breath and being a nurse reminds me how precious is life. It humbles you. It teaches not to take anything for granted and look also after yourself.

KB: Outside of nursing what is the most real for you?

MK: July – time for holiday. The day I arrive back home, and my mother prepares tons of food. First thing I do though, after greeting everyone, I jump in the sea and stay in there for hours. It feels safe. All worries I had at work; was I good enough are left behind. I go home and I know it’s time for me. I deflate and I am selfish.

Bucks Nursing society

By Karolina Bielinska

Having the privilege to interview Miranda is truly amazing and her story really highlights the beauty of the Nursing profession. As a nurse we advocate for patients, show compassion and ensure that they receive the best care. And that despite Miranda’s challenges, she truly still loves her job. Simply admirable!

If there is any type of allied health professionals who would lie to see interviewed or have any suggestions for material you would like to see, then please get in touch at: bucksnursingsociety@ gmail.com

Bucks Nursing Society

From myself and the rest of the team at BNS, Thank you, as always, for your continued support for our society!

- Karolina Bielinska

Bucks Nursing Society would like to encourage all nursing, midwifery, nursing associate, paramedic and allied health professionals’ students to look into an incredible opportunity to participate in Florence Nightingale ICS student councils programmes for South East Region!

By Patrick Fillingham, Cheska Rivera

BNU Swimming

Swimming is a fun and engaging sports club, that welcomes anyone.

Anyone from different courses who knows how to swim can join either recreational or competitive swim. Recreational is tailored for people who wants to have fun, relaxed swim, and socialise with friends. Competitive training is for people who wants to do more structured and improve their swim. They have the chance to compete with other swim teams from different universities. Every session, there is a designated swim coach to help, support and teach techniques to each member. They are encouraged to be confident and enjoy at the same time.

Both swim teams train in Wycombe Leisure Centre every Tuesday. It is free to join, and it is a state of the art modern facility.

“My experience with the swimming society was actually my first introduction into the various societies of the university and it arguably has been my best so far; the people of the club, both those who run and those who attend have been friendly, welcoming and sociable which is the biggest reason I always keep coming back”

“Happy to have joined swimming, fun to go outside of the university for the social and fitness benefits. Been a while since I went swimming so its been valuable to work on my endurance and technique, whilst getting key feedback from more experienced swimmers for my own progression”

“The swimming club is pretty fun as it allowed me to be athletic and also meet people that became my friends. The water polo event that took place was interesting and new as I never participated in”

It’s an enjoyable social experience with a variety of students from BNU

It’s a fun and rewarding journey for me, made lots of friends. Every week there’s always laughter and joy during each session, takes the stress off from studies.

Bucks Tabletop & Gaming society (BTAG)

By William Deeley

Bucks Tabletop & Gaming society (BTAG)

Bucks Tabletop & Gaming Society (BTAG) is focused on giving people a place to meet people, hang out and share in similar interests.

We host 3 sessions a week, including Console games, where we play different party and local games such as Super Smash Brothers, and Mario kart; Tabletop, where we play board and card games, and is a great place for people to hang out and meet new people in a Quiet and Chill Environment; and Dungeons & Dragons, where we encourage everyone, old and new, to give the game a go. We also run occasional Variety weekend sessions, where play a host a different game each week for people to join. We also have a Minecraft server for anyone to join.

Last year, we also took part in several Esports Tournaments with Nuel, for games like Valorant and League of Legends. This year, we split our Esports section off into its own dedicated society with its own committee and funding, who have been equally active in tournaments and trips.

We were one of the most populated societies, with 100 active members, and 140 registered members, and hosted some of the most popular Student Union events, including the Mario kart tournaments. We have also hosted several of our own events, including the Global Game Jam where we made our own games in 48 hours; and the 24-hour Game-A-Thon, a fundraising and charity event where we took over the Venue for a Marathon Lan and Games event.

Last year we were nominated for both society of the year and committee member of the year and were one of 5 societies accredited and listed as outstanding. This year we have hit the ground running, with over 100 registered members already, 70+ active members, and over 400 logged volunteer hours, we are well on our way to being accredited again.

This year we have hit the ground running, with over 100 registered members already!

Musicians society

By Eleya Austin, Con Macadam

Musicians Society

Welcome to the Musicians Society newspaper article.

A few boring bits first:

Our sessions alternate between Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 7pm – 9pm.

We have a WhatsApp group chat where you can talk or ask questions about the society.

You don’t need to be a music genius to join us, as long as you have a passion for music, we want you on board!

Our society is looking to run a couple of events, including a charity ball; the time and date is currently undecided, but it will be a Bridgeton-style ball with formal clothing, a music-themed bingo and more classical music. The night will then split into a more modern ball that’s less formal. There will be a small suggested fee to get in and the choice to pay for a bingo card. If anyone is interested in helping organise the event, please get in touch with us on any of our socials or by email. We will have many positions available, from assisting with the planning and organising, to running the music, and volunteering opportunities throughout the night.

We will be offering two workshops for you to get involved in almost every week. We want our society to be a place of fun but also a place where you learn new instruments and skills, such as drums, guitar, and piano. We also have workshops on songwriting, recording skills, and vocal harmonies. Two workshops are held at once, but you are more than welcome to dip in and out of each one. We recommend that you bring your own instruments to each session (depending on the plan that week); however, we do have a few spare instruments to aid you in your learning. Each workshop is planned and run by either a committee member or a society member, so if you have a musical talent to wish to share with like-minded people, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Something our society is working on is a small EP with a group of performances from our society members. Tickets will be available at the end of the school year, with all money going to charity.

If you want to get involved with recordings, helping to record or with the editing after, please get in contact with the information below. We’re hoping to have a range of things from music that’s been made digitally to beginner recordings and from people who are more experienced with performing, covering a wide range of genres.

We will be running an end-ofyear showcase as a society to fundraise for the society, as well as providing a way for people to see what kind of things we have learnt and done over the course of the year. The showcase will feature a range of talents from digital music to live band performances and stage beginners to seasoned performers. It will be a relaxed night for people to come and have fun as performers, crew members, or audience members. If anyone is interested in joining the crew, we will have the opportunity for you to work with us in running the event with roles from backstage management, advertising, sound, and lighting. Please get in touch with us for more details via our email or social media.

In conclusion, we have an array of fun activities planned for the rest of the school year, and we would love for all of you to get involved. As our society grows, more roles and jobs will become available, just like the jobs we’ve mentioned for our endof-year showcase.

You can contact us via email or social media.

Email: BNUMusicians@gmail.com

Instagram: @bnumusicsociety_

TikTok: @bnumusic.soc