The Bucks Student: Edition 112 by Bucks Students' Union

It’s spooky season...

and free food for all!

...words from your elected officers...

October 2023 – Edition 112

2 The Bucks Student

Welcome In this edition: Full-time elected officers update. . . . . . . . 3 VPEW extra updates. 4 The Lounge. . . . . . . . . . . . 6 School officers. . . . . . . . 8 Executive officers. . . . . 9 Monthly Monday Meals. . . . . . . 10 Big Bucks Meal Deal. 11 Sport for Fun. . . . . . . . . 12 William Harding charity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Events calendar . . . . . 14 Raise and Give and volunteering . . . . 16 Rec. activities. . . . . . . . 19 BNU Dance club. . . . . . 20 BNU Boxing . . . . . . . . . . 21 LGBTQ+ society . . . . . . 22 Nursing society. . . . . . 23 Wycombe Wanderers. . . . . . . . . . . 24 BNU Swimming. . . . . . 25 Men’s Rugby . . . . . . . . . 26 Bucks Women’s FC. . . 27 Register to vote . . . . . . 27

Page 14 – Halloween is upon us... time to get spooky in The Venue!

A huge welcome to the class of 2023 from The Bucks Student team! We are here to keep you informed, involved and engaged with all the goings on across our campuses and beyond. To do that, we look to you, our students, to submit anything you would like to the paper. And honestly, we really do mean anything. (Well, within legalities and reason...) So whilst we’ll continute to publish monthly(ish), it’s mostly over to you now, the BNU students, to let us know what you would like to hear about and what you’d like for us to talk about or even investigate. So as always, we encourage you to get in touch with us if you have any feedback or ideas for future editions. We are always looking to improve and provide the best possible experience for our readers, so 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 McDowell - simon.mcdowell@bnu.ac.uk

Oli Gunson - oli.gunson@bnu.ac.uk

Nellie Hughes - nellie.hughes@bnu.ac.uk

Ajay Sunder - ajay.sunder@bnu.ac.uk

Articles in this newspaper do not necessarily represent the views of Bucks Students’ Union but are that of the specific author. View this edition online at bucksstudentsunion.org/ media/newspaperarchive. © 2023 Bucks Students’ Union

Elected Officers update

October edition 112

get to know your

ELECTED OFFICER EDITORS Sruthi K. Subhash VPEW (HW)

Brandon Tester President

We hope everyone is doing well and has settled into university life after celebrating freshers’ fortnight and what a fortnight it was, we hope you enjoyed just as much as we did. Over the summer, the campuses felt like empty canvases, but the return of students has breathed new life into them. It’s amazing to see so many students studying, socialising, participating in activities, and volunteering their time. The entire Students’ Union has returned to busy times, which we prefer. As the dust settles after an electrifying freshers’ fortnight, it’s great to witness students diving headfirst into campus life with the Students’ Union making sure there’s no shortage of fun and learning. For those who have just embarked on their university journey. Freshers’ fortnight was a whirlwind of events and socialising that left a mark. It was a fortnight to remember filled with, a variety of activities and opportunities for students to mingle and enjoy the vibrant campus atmosphere. Please keep an eye on all the events coming up on our What’s On page, there is so much for you to enjoy.

Jess Bradbury VPAB

But it’s not only about socialising we have available, you can get involved with plenty of training sessions as it’s always nice to learn new skills and gain extra knowledge- helps construct a wonderful CV. All the full-time elected officers have been hard at work representing the student voice in the university. In a flurry of meetings, we have felt like yo-yo’s, but all for a great cause. These meetings are the cornerstone of ensuring that the university is held accountable for its actions and decisions. Making a difference is the ultimate goal, the elected officers and the Students’ Union is determined to achieve it. One highlight of the recent Union council meeting was the introduction of a new structure. It seemed to run seamlessly, and students had the chance to get more involved by participating in the “elected officer hotseat”. This session gave students the opportunity to question all the elected officers regarding their manifesto’s or general questions meaning they could be actively engaged in the discussion. In a thought-provoking session, special guest speaker Kevin Campbell-Karn

Amy Pile VPEW (Uxb and Ayls)

delved into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The discussion was well-received and left students pondering the possibilities of this cutting-edge technology. To top it off, attendees were treated to FREE pizza, making it an engaging and delicious evening. We are hard at work on numerous projects, and we are committed to keeping you informed. You can expect regular updates on all social media platforms, Union council meetings, newsletters and the newspaper. We are revving up for a fantastic year which we know it will be, with the promise of more and exciting events and initiatives to come. Top tips from your elected officers, being a student, stay connected, get involved, and make the most of your university experience. After all, your time here is all about much more than just coursework (even though that is the biggest factor) it’s also about building lifelong memories and skills that will serve you in the future.

VPEW Uxbridge and Aylesbury update

The Bucks Student By Amy Pile

I was a nursing student... Hi, I’m Amy your elected Vice President Education and Welfare Uxbridge and Aylesbury. I have recently just completed my nursing journey and I await to go to board at the end of October. I was based in Uxbridge. I wanted to reach out to all nursing, midwifery and allied health students, I understand that managing placement throughout your degree may become challenging at times, I know there were sometimes that I struggled and I want you to know that is ok. I’ve put together some top tips and placement must haves that will hopefully be of some benefit for you. My top tips for placement: • Kindness - surround yourself with kindness and always remember to be kind, even in times when we may not get that kindness in return. • Organisation - Try and be as organised as you can, this will really help you with juggling many responsibilities. • Prepare - This is key, the more prepared you are, the easier you will manage. Get a diary, keep up to date with your emails and blackboard. • Reach out - If you need support please reach out to family, friends, university, students union, advice centre, student hub- there is so much support out there for you, don’t struggle in silence. • Build connections - Make friends, have connections that will benefit not only you but others, this supports you whilst on placement as it can become lonely especially if you are the only student at your placement have a good professional relationship with your personal tutor, lecturers- all university staff.

I wish you all the best to those currently on placement, about to start their next placement, or those that will start their first ever placement! Please do reach out if you need any support.

Before I started my first placement, I went out and brought so much stuff, I ended up not using most of it and it was money I didn’t have to spend. So, here are my placement must haves. • Always take an extra uniform I’ve had to change a couple of times due to fluids landing on my uniform. • Pens! And lots of them I put about 20 pens in my bag for my first placement and by the end of the 8 weeks, I had about 3 left, pens are like gold to us! • Nursing ID and name badge this is important; you need to be able to identify yourself to others and having correct uniform and ID shows professionalism. • Water bottle Must have its thirsty work and you really need to keep hydrated. • Pen torch I have used this so much on placements • Pocket notebook this is great as you can write down, a medication you may not have heard of before and anything else you want to research without forgetting. • Good pair of shoes I got sketchers and they were so comfy and lasted the whole 3 years! • Paracetamol and Ibuprofen (if you can take this, and only for your benefit not to give to others). This just helped me when I had a headache or had any pains. • Hair bands if you have long hair My hair bands were forever breaking so make sure you have a good stash. • Finally…. a good bag!

VPEW High Wycombe update

October edition 112 By Sruthi K. Subhash

EMPOWERING

STUDENTS

Hi there, my name is Sruthi, and I am one of the elected sabbatical officers for the years 2023-24. As VPEW at the High Wycombe campus, my focus is on education and the welfare of students at Bucks. Together with other Sabbs and Amy Pile, who is the VPEW for Uxbridge and Aylesbury, we work closely with the advice centre and rep team to support students throughout their journey at Bucks.

Recently, I worked with Peter Ashiagbor, Chair of the Business & Law Society, on a week-long event called Management Fest 2023. This event, powered by the Bucks Students’ Union in association with the School of Business & Law, aimed to improve the professional and personal skills of students. It included a mix of competitive and skill development sessions. The most popular sessions were ‘The Hotseat’ and ‘The Pitch’, both of which involved internal and external panel members. ‘The Pitch’ gave students an opportunity to present their business ideas in front of an expert panel, including Tristan Tipping (CEO of Bucks Students’ Union), Sarah Williams (Head of School of Business & Law), Asy Ho (Local Enterprise Manager at NatWest), and Jefferson Prince (CEO of Thaeta Internatiol Ltd.). Joanna Zalewska-Jarvis was selected as the winner and received a certificate of appreciation and a cash prize of £25. Additionally, she received one-to-one mentorship to further develop her business idea.

‘The Hotseat’ aimed to help students understand interview procedures to prepare them for potential job interviews. Nicola Norminton (Student Opportunities and Career Success Advisor) and Jess Hughes (Training and Development Coordinator-SU) were the panel members for the Hotseat, and Sundhari Thevar was selected as the winner of the event. She was awarded a certificate of appreciation and a £25 Amazon voucher. Other sessions at the Management Fest 2023 included the Bucks Award Workshop by Sarah Jackson (HR & Development ManagerStudent Union), Consultancy Introduction by Tony Lavender, a Negotiation Session from Chartered Management Institute, Alumni Talks led by Jack Bellamy, and a wrap-up event led by Andrew Markland from Careers team. As the event wrapped up, we would like to thank everyone who attended the sessions and encouraged us to work on something bigger in the future. Through the event, it was shown that as an SU, we are here to create and build on student ideas and always stand by the student’s side to make life better for students at Bucks. If you have any concerns or queries related to education or welfare, feel free to contact us. We are here to support you throughout your journey at Bucks.

6 The Bucks Student

Open 8am – 4pm, Monday – Thursday 8am – 3pm, Friday

Our varied menu includes… All day breakfast from £3.90, for A wide range of burgers and sides

all your hashbrown-related needs.

from £3.30, and the option to cus

Brilliantly beer battered fish and

tomise them too!

chips from £3.60, mushy peas opt

Luscious Lasagna and crisp green

You can find us on the ground floor of North Wing, within The Venue. Or, scan the QR codes to be taken straight there.

ional...

salad from £5.20

Scan the QR code to view our most up-todate menus and special offers.

Letter to the editor

October edition 112 By Anonymous

Am I Getting the Education I’m Paying For? For us university students, the question of whether our education is worth the hefty For us university students, the question of whether our education is worth the hefty price tag is a pressing one. Let’s dive into a few key concerns that keep cropping up. We’ve all been there – those yawninducing lectures. Some lecturers seem to just read off PowerPoint slides, making us wonder if we could have saved a small fortune on rent and attended class in our PJs from home. But let’s rewind to our college days, where tutors were more like supportive mentors who genuinely cared about our learning. Now, in the university, things seem different. It makes you wonder if the tuition fees change the game.

Then there are those mandatory course-related trips. The kicker? They’re not included in our fees. So, we’re shelling out more cash for an experience that’s supposed to be part of our education. Then you add in the occasional lecture cancellations or turning up and they last half as long as timetabled and you’re sent off to do research, or the last week of term is ‘self-guided study’, or the tech in the classroom isn’t working…. Again. It makes you question the logic of it all when you’re already paying £9250+ in tuition.

There’s the bright spot that keeps many of us going: our trusty Students’ Union. They’re not just about support; they bring life to the campus. Without them, we might have called it quits by now, but you can still end up feeling shortchanged by the whole experience. So, is our university education worth the price tag? It really is a mixed bag. From a third year Student in the school of Human and Social Sciences who wishes to remain anonymous.

Anonymous letter to the editor

price tag is a pressing one. Let’s dive into a few key concerns that keep cropping up.

So what do you think? Is university worth the money? Are you getting the experience you were expecting? What else could we be doing a BNU to keep you happy? What needs to change and what more would you like to see? Let us know by emailing editor@thebucksstudent.com

Placement travel survey Amy here again - I have just finished my 3 years as a student studying adult nursing. I have experienced a financial impact attending placements, as someone who didn’t have a car, I had to use trains, buses and taxis which at times put me in financial stress. There is a survey for all students who attend any placement settings to complete, so that we can gather all information on your experiences, meaning we can have a better understanding of the financial impact. Please scan the QR code to access the survey. Thank you for your input.

Student Leaders

The Bucks Student

Come and meet your... The Pillars of Representation at Bucks Students’ Union

Welcome, Bucks Students! As the academic year unfolds, it’s crucial to be aware of the individuals advocating for you, helping shape your experience at Bucks Students’ Union and the university at large. From creating empowering campaigns to providing training opportunities, these student leaders are integral to your student life. Meet the students who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make your time here more enriching.

School officers School Officers act as the voice for their School, each working with the student reps for their area to collect and present feedback in termly Programme Committee Meetings and hold regular meetings with their respective Heads of Schools. These Officers are a pinnacle and driving force for positive change within the university at an academic level. Art, Design and Performance (Art and Design): Benedicta Duhoe benedicta.duhoe@bnu.ac.uk

Creative and Digital Industries (Digital): Euan McGinness euan.mcginness@bnu.ac.uk

Art, Design and Performance (Performance): Ana Silva Timóteo ana.silvatimoteo@bnu.ac.uk

Health Care and Social Professions: Lena Ricci-Hodgson lena.ricci-hodgson@bnu.ac.uk

Aviation and Security: Om Dhadwal om.dhadwal@bnu.ac.uk

Human and Social Sciences: Bethany Jackson bethany.jackson@bnu.ac.uk

Business and Law Joy Dellah-Gu joy.dellah-gu@bnu.ac.uk

Nursing and Midwifery (Sept): Saima Zuhra saima.zuhra@bnu.ac.uk

Creative and Digital Industries (Creative): Chloe Hayes chloe.hayes@bnu.ac.uk

Nursing and Midwifery (Feb): Omolara Elemo om.dhadwal@bnu.ac.uk

Student Leaders

October edition 112 By Will Deeley

Student leaders! Executive officers Executive Officers focus on aligning the Bucks Students’ Union’s activities and objectives with the needs of specific student demographics. They work alongside full-time sabbatical officers and other student leaders to make sure the Union continues to operate in the best interests of its members. Whether it’s helping to plan development strategies or fostering a sense of community both online and offline, they are committed to amplifying your voice within the Union. Women’s Officer Liv Ross suwomensofficer@bnu.ac.uk

Part-time and Commuting Students’ Officer Malikhai Samworth suparttimecommutingofficer@ bnu.ac.uk

Students with Disabilities Officer Jacob Hosanee sustudentswithdisabilitiesofficer@ bnu.ac.uk

BAME Students’ Officer Mohit Nayal subameofficer@bnu.ac.uk

International Students’ Officer Dhanya Mohan suinternationalofficer@bnu.ac.uk

Postgraduate Student Officer Arjun Anilkumar Nair supostgradofficer@bnu.ac.uk

Mature Students’ Officer Sam Adams sumatureofficer@bnu.ac.uk

LGBTQ+ Students’ Officer Ellie Lynn sulgbtqofficer@bnu.ac.uk

Your student leaders are here to ensure you have the best possible experience at Bucks Students’ Union and the university. They are your go-to people for concerns, suggestions, or even if you’re looking to get involved. Know their names, know their roles, and don’t hesitate to reach out to any of them, or the Representation team at surepresentation@bnu.ac.uk.

Monthly Monday Meals

The Bucks Student By Brandon Tester

BURRITO BOWLS

approx cost: £2.65 | approx time: 30mins | freezable: topping only

INGREDIENTS* • 125g Rice - 20p • Tin mixed beans - 70p • Tin chopped tomatoes - 35p • Red Onion - 15p

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS 1. Grab your rice and give it a rinse through, this will help stop your rice from sticking. Add this into a pan with 250ml of cold water (Or a mug full of water for ease). 2. Bring to a boil, add a pinch of salt and stir well then add a lid and bring the heat down on low. Cook for 10 minutes then let rest for 2-3 minutes before fluffing and serving. (You can start prepping for the next steps).

• Tex-mex seasoning - 75p

3. Prepare your peppers and onions, cutting them into strips. Add oil to a medium heated pan and throw them in. Make sure to not burn the onions and keep on the heat till all the veg is soft.

*Priced during September 2023 and subject to change

4. Add your can of chopped tomatoes, cook for a further 5 minutes on a medium heat mixing in your Tex-Mex seasoning and Kidney beans towards the end.

• Pepper - 50p

5. Ensure food is piping hot before serving on top of your rice. Enjoy!

Use your creative intuition to make this recipe your own by adding or removing what you fancy, or scan the QR code to follow along with the recipe on TikTok!

11 October edition 112

THE

LOUNGE Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays By Brandon Tester

free food and good company! The Big Bucks Meal Deal A project derived from the costof-living campaign run by Bucks Students’ Union to make sure you are fed and well. The campaign aims to tackle food poverty within the student community at BNU by cutting the prices of food in our cafés and The Lounge hosting three free hot meals a week. This is funded and supported by BNU and delivered by Bucks Students’ Union. Where is it? The Lounge in Bucks Student’s Union (look for the large elected officer banner and head in that way). You can walk along the road with the speed bumps from the Gateway reception to find the banner. When is it? Three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, 5.30–7.30pm and Sundays, from 7pm onwards. You’ll just need to bring your student ID and a good appetite. This is all free to help with the cost-of-living crisis. If you have any issues regarding the cost-of-living crisis, or food poverty, then please contact Brandon Tester, Students’ Union President, or the Advice Centre via email or on social media below. Advice Centre suadvice@bnu.ac.uk Facebook Bucks SU Pres President email brandon.tester@bnu.ac.uk

Sport for Fun

The Bucks Student By Daniel Lawrence

Our Sport for Fun programme is well underway this year with so much having already happened. If you are not aware what Sport for Fun is, well let me tell you. It is our recreational sporting programme where you can try a range of different sports regardless of your ability. It is a perfect way of trying something new, meeting new people all whilst having fun. The majority of these activities you can just turn up and enjoy, be sure to look out for our ambassadors in lovely blue tops. We have a mixture of sports for you to choose from, Badminton, Basketball, Football, Volleyball and Table Tennis to name a few. This is not all, we also run a variety of trips and this year there has already been trips to Bowling, Rush Trampoline Park and Go Karting with a lot more planned for the year. Be sure to check out bucksstudentsunion.org/whatson as well as @bucksstudentsactivities on Instagram for all the latest events.

Bucksmaster Get involved in our very own version of the hit TV Show Taskmaster, Bucksmaster. Our first task is well underway, however you still have time to get involved. As a house/flat or even group of friends, grab yourselves a teddy and then take it along to as many SU events as possible, whether it is a Sport for Fun session, club or society, additional skills workshop or even a night out. Once there, make sure you take a picture and then create a collage of all images and upload it to Instagram, tagging bucksstudentsunion and bucksstudentsactivities. The task is running until the end of October. Task 2 will come out not long after this so keep an eye on our socials.

Netball4RAG

Bike Hire

Netball4RAG returns on Thursday 26 October as part of RAG week. Come along to the Events Hall and take part in a fun filled evening, whether you have played netball or not. Teams are £10 to enter with all proceeds going to our RAG charity, Stokenchurch Dog Rescue with entries closing at 12pm on the day, so grab your mates, society members, team mates, house mates or your course together. Fancy dress is encouraged. Any questions contact sport@bnu.ac.uk.

Did you know that you can hire a bike from us here at the Students’ Union? Whether you want an ecofriendly way to get to campus or to challenge yourself to a ride in the Chiltern Hills. We have a bike for you. These bikes are hired on a weekly basis from Monday to Friday with the potential of hiring them for a longer term.

William Harding Charity Trust

October edition 112 By Tim Dixon

William Harding charity trust Are you a resident of Aylesbury? If you are, you could be eligible to apply for a non-repayable grant from the Aylesbury based William Harding’s Charity. Grants to assist with the cost of further education can be up to £ 2,000 normally for a maximum of four years.

More information, forms and guidelines can be found on the website: www. williamhardingcharity.co.uk.Grants are also considered for amateur sport, economic and community development and training for employment.

William Harding was a yeoman farmer who owned farmland and a house and an Inn within Aylesbury. He died in 1719 leaving his estate to provide clothes and education for families in Aylesbury. The endowment has grown over the years and now over three hundred years later the grants are more varied and considered for those living within Aylesbury.

The Trustees meet monthly to consider applications and the Clerk’s Office will contact you with the outcome. An application is not guaranteed to be successful and it is the decision of the Trustees whether they will pay a grant to you. All the grants are means tested and you will be required to submit all of the evidence listed on the application forms.

If you need to purchase tools, books and equipment for your course you can be considered for a grant of up to £ 1,000. The Charity’s main aim is to support people at University, college and receiving training, by providing annual financial and maintenance grants. In addition, support can be given towards the cost of school trips and school uniforms. The relief of poverty is important to the Charity.

Events calendar | Halloween special

The Bucks Student

The Venue and The Lounge at Bucks Students’ Union are open seven nights a week. If you don’t see an event listed below, check online nearer the time; bucksstudentsunion.org/whatson

Mon 23

Wed 25

Tue 24

Thu 26

Fri 27

At The Venue we put on events for the students. These range from our big nights out including the 3-day end of year Festiball, with headline acts, our haunted Halloween weekend and your weekly student Wednesdays fix! Not every night needs to be like this as we host an array of different events including Cinema Club, Arts and Crafts nights, The weekly Sunday Quiz, Free food and drinks events and so much more! As Halloween is fast approaching, we would like to introduce Bloodbath: Escape Freddie’s Farm. Save the Date… Saturday 28 October. It’s the ultimate haunted Halloween Party. This spooky spectacular consists of a fully transformed venue with all the devilish decorations, 4 devilishly daring dance floors, our biggest ever scare maze, a new and improved scary silent disco, prizes and giveaways! Be warned Freddie the scarecrow will be lurking in the darkest corners and ready to take his next victims so only enter if you dare. Throughout the night, there will be a mixture of DJs playing your classic cheesy bangers to the ultimate afrobeat’s anthems and best Halloween Hip Hop. At The Venue we strive to make the student experience unforgettable without breaking the bank account. That is why event is free to students and alumni. We also offer the cheapest drinks in High Wycombe all year round! There really is no excuse not to come down!

Sun 29

Sat 28

Volunteering and RAG

The Bucks Student

Volunteering

RAG

ive

aise

By Kelly Wiles

Welcome to a new year, we have had a very busy beginning of term with loads of volunteering activities. From Flower bomb making to Cleaning Brighton beach and so much more to come, Fresher’s helpers have been welcoming new students and making the volunteer activities accessible to everyone. We attended The Horse Trust, the oldest equine centre in the world helping with the grounds before winter hits and got to meet some of the horse’s which call the horse trust home. During the summer we have had our amazing returning students volunteering with their communities and have gained the community bundles and accomplished volunteer awards.

Silver Volunteering Award: Phoenix Broxton Patricia Glassborow Bethany Jackson Abi Hix Daniel Wallace Jorja Fulford Tyler Smith Jessica Leach Gold Volunteering Award: Wren Sell Eva Dzyubenko Platinum Volunteering Award: Marissa Leyden Renato Sebastiao Martins Dee Whyte Peter Ashiagbor Community Bundle: Bethany Jackson Daniel Wallace

A new RAG charity is chosen! Thank you for the nominations and voting for the Rag Charity this academic year. This year we are pleased to announce the RAG charity for the academic is Stokenchurch Dog Rescue. Stokenchurch Dog Rescue was formerly known as The High Wycombe & District Dog Rescue and Welfare Society. It was set up by local residents in 1963 to save the lives of stray, abandoned and unwanted dogs, as well as those impounded by the police. Since then, we have successfully rehomed thousands of dogs and are well known for our nondestruct policy. Since the police gave up providing this service in recent years, stray and unwanted dogs are taken to council pounds. We now work closely with these organisations to ensure that we can rescue as many dogs as we are able and then find them safe and loving homes.

RAG Week 1 starts on Monday 23 October. We will be hosting activities all week, as well as a special in the Lounge for Breakfast! Keep an eye on bucksstudentsunion.org/ whatson for all the activities! Your RAG ambassadors Dee and Jorja will be around promoting activities and raising funds for our charities. Remember if you would like to hold a RAG event, please email volunteering@ bnu.ac.uk

October edition 112

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Recreational activities

October edition 112

By Imogen Sanders

Pets as Therapy Friday 3 November

Marlow Bottom Fireworks Saturday 4 November

ITI V I T AC

We have lots of exciting upcoming recreational activities and skills sessions!! We have had a very successful past few weeks during freshers with lots of activities being fully booked. The escape room was a big hit, everyone that turned up enjoyed themselves and they all managed to escape in time!! We have some great skill sessions coming up, such as: public speaking and singing lessons.

Bushey Fireworks Sunday 5 November

Greatest Days Take That Musical Friday 10 November

ACT Self Defence Seminar Friday 17 November

Winter Wonderland Thursday 7 December

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!

20 The Bucks Student

BNU Dance Club

By Amber Ogles

We are excited to announce that BNU dance club is back and better than ever, eager to start the 23/24 comp season. We hope that each of our members has had a well-deserved break after the year we have had as you all truly deserve it! We want to thank each and every member who attended this year’s auditions, you all worked super hard and smashed every audition. The talent this year has swept us off our feet and we cannot wait to see this translate in successes during our 23/24 comp season! Each year BNU dance club holds their very own dance competition in our events hall. Universities from all over the country come along and compete against our own teams. So much talent is seen throughout these competitions each year within each performance. This year bucks comp will be held on Saturday 9 March, SAVE THE DATE!

We as a club make sure we are inclusive to all our members whether they are competitive or not. Each week we hold an alternative technique or masterclasses in all different styles which we encourage all members to come along and have fun learning new things. On top of this, we hold weekly socials every Wednesday to give all our members a chance to socialise and wind down for the night. These socials are super fun and are a great bonding exercise for all members.

On top of all this, the club also holds an annual award night at the end of each competitive year to congratulate our members on all the hard work they have put in throughout the year. This is a great night to socialise with everyone and to recognise people’s successes. If you are interested in joining the club please follow our social media for daily updates as to what we’re getting up to! Instagram - @bnudanceclub Facebook - @BNU Dance Club TikTok - @bnudanceclub We can’t wait to start our most successful season yet <3. BNU Dance Club x

BNU Boxing

October edition 112 By Connor Martin, Viktoria Mairet, Aaron

BNU BOXING

The start of this year at BNU Boxing has been really optimistic, we have had plenty of members for our first session (a lot of which I trust to be regulars) with lots of energy and focus to boot! A lot of us are excited to start sparring to test and refine our skills for the coming fight night which looks to be maybe the biggest and best yet! (Who wouldn’t want to see swordfights and boxing matches in the same night? Did I mention we’re collabing with Blades?), this will consist of a number of performances by societies across the uni and is easily one of the largest events that’s hosted by societies, this is going to take place on April 20th and entry will be FREE (thanks big deal) with a suggested donation that will go towards the society and charity! Our regular sessions start off though with a bit of boxing fitness, namely conditioning (the pushup challange is a favourite) and some technical work; example being trying to take snatch clothes pegs away from eachother, brilliant for making you learn your speed and refine your accuracy!

But of course it’s easy for me to talk highly of our society, we’ll hear from one of our new members Viktoria Mairet: “The boxing society is definitely not one to miss! From the lovely leaders helping every member get in, they make sure to make it accessible for everyone which helps all, regardless of fitness level or experience level. The coaches at the gym help everyone work on their skills and are happy to help you with your goals. Do you want to spar? Or simply have a good time learning to punch with a friend? This is definitely a society for you! On top of that, coaches are available from the uni, making it easier and safer for students to get from the uni to the gym. They will get you there and back every session. Don’t miss out!” And another opinion from another of our boxers, Aaron!: “I can say that it surpasses all expectations when it comes to testing your own self worth”

LGBTQ+ society: Drag for RAG

The Bucks Student By Laurine Milne

LGBTQ+ society On Friday 13 October from 7.30 to 10.30pm the venue hosted the Drag for RAG event which was the takeover for LGBTQ society and the Nursing Society. The money raised by the LGBT society towards their chosen charity Gendered intelligence - this aims to increase understanding of gender diverse people through education. And provide support for trans people within the community. On the other hand, money raised by the Nursing Society will go towards the Stokenchurch Dog Rescue charity. This charity was set up to save abandoned stray and unwanted dogs, as well as those impounded by the police. Throughout the evening we had the lovely Sareeba Tit to host the event and many students ended up participating in the event either by performing, taking part in a scavenger hunt, or going on stage in a best dressed competition. we also had our SU President Brandon take part by dressing up as Big Bertha and doing a small performance of his own. This event was a good way of not only raising money for charity but also a brilliant event for other societies to Have fun, participate and enjoy an evening of fun. The tables were set out with stickers and Badges for the LGBT community as well as sweets, Nursing decorations and confetti. Around the venue, many Different LGBT flags were placed around the room.

Throughout the event, Ellie and Chloe from the LGBT Society were selling mocktails and cocktails for. 1 for 3 pound or two for 5 pound deals as well as face paint for one pound. The performances of the night were of people from various societies, they will be referred to by their stage names. In order of performances, we had Adam fireballs from nursing, Marcus, who represented both musical theatre and women’s hockey, Amethyst Sharp from music, Ann Drogynous from roller skating, Slaymanda and Billy, the puppet from Alt Society, And finally, Genie from men’s rugby. All contestants put on a great performance However, there were two finalists. Marcus and Genie. After a 15 minute break, Marcus and Genie went head-to-head in a lip sync battle in which Marcus was victorious. A big well done to all the people who participated during the event. Also, many thanks to the Venue staff, Sareeba Tit for hosting the event and everyone who either helped set up the venue for the event or helped tidy the venue before leaving.

Nursing society: Drag for RAG

October edition 112 By Ein Bantual, Rita Ekokotu-Odigie

Nursing society

The Nursing Society proudly welcomes the new and returning students this year! The committee members are delighted to see fresh faces as we embark on another exciting and fulfilling school year ahead of us. We would like to thank everyone who attended our Welcome Lunch held on Uxbridge campus on Friday 29 September. We hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did. It was lovely seeing everyone’s smiling faces as we made new friends, ate pizzas, and shared experiences.

As a society, we aim to deliver academic support by hosting numeracy and group study sessions to encourage our members to reduce procrastination and refine their understanding of nursing learning materials. Not only that, the society has also prepared a list of socials that you will surely enjoy as you take a breather once in a while. After all, university life in nursing is not solely about reading textbooks and watching OSCE videos on YouTube.

Last Friday 13 October, the Nursing Society joint forces with the LGBTQ+ Society to host the firstever Raise and Give (RAG) takeover this year entitled “Drag 4 RAG”. This fun-filled evening showcased various drag acts carried out by talented members of different societies in the university. The goal of this event is to raise funds to support charitable organizations selected by the students and/ or the society while having fun! Stokenchurch Dog Rescue was chosen as the RAG charity for the school year 2023/24, with the goal of helping stray and abandoned dogs find safe and loving homes. If you missed the event, do not worry as there will be several RAG takeovers this year - so keep an eye on the Bucks Students’ Union What’s On page. You can also follow our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts @BucksNurSociety to keep you updated on our latest events.

The Wanderers of Wycombe

The Bucks Student

Hey Buckinghamshire New University students – your local professional football club is calling! Wycombe Wanderers are not just a high-flying League 1 side with Championship aspirations, and not just a source of great entertainment for fans of all ages at our Adams Park home every other weekend. We are engaged in an official capacity with the university, who are the club’s Official Higher Education Partner, and with that comes a host of opportunities for Bucks New Uni and its staff and students to engage with us. In the first year of the partnership, the university sponsored and had a strong presence at three Family Day events at Adams Park, held awards ceremonies at the stadium, collaborated on research projects into the representation of female fans at football matches, benefitted from hands-on experience for its students in the media department on matchdays, and kicked off a

brand-new football coaching and education programme with the club’s charitable arm, Wycombe Wanderers Foundation. But that’s not all! Wycombe Wanderers are an employer of more than a hundred staff each matchday in its food and beverage and stadium teams, with many Bucks New Uni students benefitting from jobs behind the bar, in the hospitality lounges, helping supporters around the ground or working in security positions. And – back to matters on the pitch – the team are currently enjoying a fantastic start to the season, playing an entertaining, high-tempo style of football under the leadership of club legend and former captain Matt Bloomfield.

Matchdays at Adams Park are a terrific place to enjoy a day out with mates, or to earn a wage as part of the team, and you can get involved by checking out more details on the club’s website at wwfc.com, or emailing the marketing department on marketing@wwfc.com with any specific enquiries about what you’d like to achieve. As two of the largest, most innovative and communityfocused organisations in the town, Wycombe Wanderers and Bucks New Uni are a perfect match – and it’s time for you to join the party too. Hope to see you here at a game very soon!

By Patrick Fillingham

BNU SWIM is a fun and engaging sports club that welcomes any swimmers at any level to join. Anyone from any course who already swims can join are two sections recreational or competitive. Are recreation section is tailored for those swimmers who want to have fun and be able to swim at their own pace and leisure in a relaxed atmosphere. Our competition section trains those swimmers for people who want to do more structured based session. Within our competitive pathway there are two squads, development, and performance. Development squad has a coach who will introduce drills to improve technique and bring swimmers up to race standard. Our performance squad is for those swimmers aiming to compete at the BUCS national championships and long course and short course level. Both recreational and competitive pathways train at Wycombe leisure centre every Tuesday 9–10pm at Wycombe Lesure centre, it is free to join and a chance to experience their state-of-the-art facility.

“Joining the swimming team was definitely an easy process. The leading team was patient with all of us and helped us apply. All the while arranging for a smooth session, they made sure people have a chance to attend and make it really fun for everyone. Another part of the swimming team that is really enjoyable is the fact that everyone talks together and we are one big group. Another note that needs mentioning is that they arrange the transport for free which makes is accessible for everyone who loves to swim” Viktoria, BNU swimming member

October edition 112

It’s going Swimmingly...

BNU Swimming

26 The Bucks Student

BNU Men’s Rugby

By Tim Cunningham

BNU Men’s Rugby Joining men’s rugby offers an exhilarating blend of physical prowess, camaraderie, and competition that is hard to match. One of the most compelling reasons to embrace this sport is the opportunity for topnotch coaching. Rugby demands a unique set of skills, and being a part of a team with experienced coaches ensures you’ll receive expert guidance to hone your technique and strategic prowess. The camaraderie among rugby players is unparalleled. The sport fosters a strong sense of unity and brotherhood among teammates. From shared training sessions and grueling matches to post-game celebrations, the bonds forged on the rugby field often extend beyond the sport itself. The mutual support and friendships formed within a rugby team can lead to lifelong connections. Rugby also excels in providing a vibrant social scene. Beyond the rigorous training sessions and fierce competition, there’s a rich tapestry of social events, team gatherings, and post-match traditions that create an inclusive and lively community. Whether it’s team dinners, charity events, or themed parties, the social aspect of men’s rugby is an essential part of the experience. For those with a competitive edge, men’s rugby offers the thrill of varsity-level competition. Representing your school in intercollegiate matches brings a heightened sense of pride and accomplishment. The journey from practice to game day, the adrenaline rush of stepping onto the field, and the satisfaction of contributing to your team’s success are experiences that build character and confidence. In essence, joining men’s rugby provides a holistic experience that combines top-tier coaching, deep friendships, vibrant social interactions, and the excitement of varsity competition. Whether you’re drawn to the sport for its physical challenges or the tight-knit community it offers, men’s rugby promises an unforgettable journey of personal growth, teamwork, and camaraderie.

October edition 112

By Lauren Somerville

Bucks Womens FC

Bucks

Women’s FC This year, Bucks Womens FC has started off with a bang. With our team nearly doubling in size, training sessions have definitely become more productive and our team challenges, organised by coach and committee are creating a great communitive feel with our players. Despite the cold and rainy weather, we have still powered on through to make the most of these sessionswe hope they’ll pay off at our next match on Wednesday 18th, which is a home game against UCL. If you would like to support us, we will be playing at Holmer Green. Onto socials, on Wednesday 4 October, climbing, volleyball and women’s football hosted a joint social at the Rye, where a large group took lunch to the park for a picnic and a kick around. It was a great afternoon, with lots of sun, thankfully! It was great to see each club teach each other about their own sport! We aim to hold a social at least once a month so keep an eye out on our Instagram for any upcoming events or alternatively, get in touch to ask about joint socials!

On Friday 13 October, we held a competition called ‘Anything but a bottle’, where players came to training with a weird item they could use as a water bottle. Pip used a pen holder in the shape of a bin, and secured a prize! We also held a distance competition over summer, where we tracked our distances over summer on Strava. In first place with 139.8 miles was Tash and in 2nd place, with 93.5 miles was Wren, each winning a football. As a Students’ Union, we now know the charity we will be raising money for for RAG. This will be Stokenchurch Dog Rescue. So as a club, we will be coming up with ideas to raise as much money as we can for this charity. Our training sessions take place on Fridays at 8:30, with a meeting time of 8pm in the SU. If you would like to come along, please get in touch through our Instagram page @buckswfc and we will add you to our group chat!

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