Tom Grennan tells all
October 2021 - Edition 99
A new term kicks off
October activities!
2 The Bucks Student
Welcome In this edition: Sabb update . . . . . . . . . . 3 Editor’s update . . . . . . . 4 Jessy welcomes you all back.
Akuma Matata . . . . . . . 5 Our new sports kit is here!
Student Leaders. . . . . . 6 We introduce our students leaders for the year.
Tom Grennan . . . . . . . . 12 Zuzanna is back with live music!
Leadership Academy. 14 Don’t miss the deadline!
Bucks Award. . . . . . . . . 15 Do you have yours yet?
What’s On calendar. 16 Living with autism . . 18 An important poem
Page 5 - Akuma Matata! Get a look at our new sports kit. Wheeew, it’s been such a busy summer that it feels as though it was just a week or so ago when we were signing off the last paper of term. But here we are, after another successful Freshers’ week, and it’s great to have you all back on campus. In exciting newspaper news, you may have noticed that this edition is number 99, which means we’re approaching the big one double zero for our next edition! We’re pretty proud to be reaching this milestone, and it would be great to get as many of you involved as possible with what we hope will be a bumper edition. So if you have any content, articles, images, interviews or achievements you’re proud of too, drop an email to editor@thebucksstudent.com and we’ll take it from there.
Legoland visit. . . . . . . . 19 Volunteering update. 20
For all advertising and media enquiries please contact the Students’ Union Communications and Marketing department.
Activities update . . . . 21 Tour, Tour, Tour! . . . . . 22 Nursing society. . . . . . 23 Musical Theatre . . . . . 24
STUDENT LEADERS
Invisible disabilities. . 25 MARVEL society . . . . . 26
Page 6 - 11 Meet our student leaders for 2021-22
Simon McDowell simon.mcdowell@bucks.ac.uk Oli Gunson oli.gunson@bucks.ac.uk Nellie Hughes nellie.hughes@bucks.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. © 2021 Bucks Students’ Union
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Sabb update
October edition 99 By Honor Fletcher (she/her), Tash Neal (she/her), Tom Featherstone (he/him)
Hello and welcome back to the first edition of The Bucks Student of the year!
Honor Fletcher - President
Welcome to anyone new who’s joined us throughout freshers and welcome back to all returning students. I hope that you have settled in well and taken advantage of Freshers Fortnight! I’m going to give you a quick update on what we’ve been up to and what is coming up. Firstly, it was great to meet so many new faces out and about on the concourse and in The Venue over the last week or so. It’s been a successful couple of weeks and especially a successful Freshers Fair. Having so many people sign up for new clubs and societies is always good to see - but remember, it’s never too late to sign up.
Tom Featherstone – VPSI
Tash Neal – VPEW
Just visit the Students’ Union website, bucksstudentsunion.org (with a brand-new look!) click on our Clubs and Societies section and you will be able to find the information needed on there. With the start of the term means the start of the BUCS Wednesdays. For those who don’t know or haven’t experienced a BUCSWednesday then you’re in for a treat. Wednesdays will become your favourite day of the week. Heading out to a home or away match in the early afternoon with a group of mates is always a highlight. Whether home or away, these matches are always welcoming to all spectators and families, keep an eye out on our socials on @ Bucksstudentsactivities Instagram for the fixture lists.
On a side note, there is an agreement between the University and the Union that there shouldn’t be any lessons or personal tutor sessions after midday on a Wednesday to allow for students to take part in activities. If this hasn’t been followed on your course then please email me at tom. teatherstone@bucks.ac.uk or pop into the office and come speak to me. Finally, from me is that we have Movember coming up! I am heading this up as a Sabb campaign this year so please keep an eye out for all the opportunities that there will be for you to get involved in! I am also going to be looking for two student Movember ambassadors to work closely with myself and Movember to put on the best month of fundraisers so if this is something you’d be interested in then please contact me again on the VPSI Facebook (@BucksVPSI) or drop me an email at tom.teatherstone@ bucks.ac.uk
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Editor’s update
The Bucks Student By Jessy Clark (she/her)
Editor’s update Hi all, Jessy here! (She/Her) Welcome to edition 99! A huge hello to anyone who has just started here at Bucks and good to see you again to anyone returning after the summer! For anyone who may be reading The Bucks Student for the very first time, or perhaps haven’t seen my face as of yet, I’m Jessy - The editor of the student paper, the pleasure’s all mine! I’m a third-year studying Multimedia Journalism, juggling a part-time job, a dissertation and a house full of pets all at once (seriously, I have ten hens and two bunnies to care for...I know.) So, if you’re feeling pretty overwhelmed at the moment during your first semester here at Bucks, you’re absolutely not the only one. Coming out of your comfort zone after spending all those months at home during a lockdown during summer vacation is the equivalent of ripping off a super-glued bandaid, and taking that big leap from college, sixth form or even as a mature student wanting to try something new, has to be one of the more honourable decisions a person can make, so remind yourself that you’ve already gotten this far. And remember, the university has a great team of staff to support you every step of the way, from accommodation issues, finance advice, a learning and academic development advice centre who will assist anyone whatever your course, year, or ability level. The Mental Health and Wellbeing team is also available to look out for everyone and anyone studying here at Bucks.
If you would like to get involved with the Newspaper and writer’s newsgroup, you can always drop an email to us at editor@thebucksstudent.com or j_essyclark@hotmail.com.
The Bucks Student paper is also looking for new members of the team and submissions! You can submit anything for publishing from; articles, to illustrations/comics, to photos, to University projects, or even your thoughts on a current matter really anything you would like showcased. In our most recent editions, we have had some wonderful and very insightful pieces written by your fellow students about LGBT+ awareness, autism awareness, some fun interviews with local bands, and our newest and most current societies. But we’re not just looking for content this year - we would like to offer as many ways to get involved as possible - We are looking out for people that would be interested in helping out with the design, production, distribution, and promotion of the newspaper. So please do get in contact at editor@ thebucksstudent.com if any of the above interests you, and we hope to see you published in the newspaper or at a newsgroup meeting soon!
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Akuma Matata
October edition 99 By Tom Featherstone (he/him)
Akuma Matata
The secret is out! If you hadn’t already as of this academic year (2021-2022) we have partnered with Akuma to create our match day shirts! But this isn’t the end of the partnership! We are proud to say that we have also partnered with them to be our stash supplier! Akuma Sports is a family-owned business founded in 2008, by brothers Warwick, Daniel, and Thomas Aldersley. The brothers share a love for sport and a passion to deliver a simple solution to purchasing high-quality sportswear. Akuma is one of the UK’s premier suppliers of bespoke, custom designed sports kits to both amateur & professional teams, clubs and organisations of all levels.
Something key for us when looking for a new supplier was how ethical their production process is. This is all in bid to be more eco-conscious and environmentally aware. Therefore, our new match day shirts come in at being made from 95% recycled materials and the new stash from around 80%. Their goal is to create all their products from 100% recycled materials within the next few years! Head on over to the Akuma Sports website, click on “Club Shops”, then scroll down to Bucks New Uni and click on “View Shop”. Here you will be able to access the shop! If you have any issues or questions email bucksnewuni@akumasports.com
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Student leaders
The Bucks Student
Executive officers To ensure that the Students’ Union is representing all our members to the best of our ability, we have Executive Officers who represent eight student groups. They are democratically elected by the students they represent in our March and October elections to ensure our work is inclusive and accessible for all. Executive Officers are offered an extensive package of benefits, including support with applications for the Leadership Academy, additional free skills and training sessions, personalised one-to-one support, and are rewarded up to £250 for their work. Four of these roles are self-defining: Women’s Officer, Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Officer, Disabilities Officer, and LGBTQ+ Officer. Students who wish to stand or vote for these positions must self-define before doing so. The final four positions are based on your entry criteria when applying for university: Mature Officer (aged 21 or over at the start of your degree), Part-Time Officer (part-time programmes), International Officer (paying international fees) and Postgraduate Officer (postgraduate programmes).
Kate Gordon (they/them)
Amy Pile (she/her)
Hi, my name is Kate Gordon I am the Executive Officer for Disabilities for this academic year (2021/22). I applied and accepted this role to help support students with disabilities and bring more awareness to hidden disabilities that impact people on a daily basis. I also wanted to pass on the support that I have been so fortunate to receive over the past two years.
Being a mature student myself, I found that networking with mature students really made my time at university not only enjoyable, but supportive. When this role became available, I put myself forward because I felt I would understand other mature students, and with heading into my second year have a good understanding of campaigns, events and University life in general - meaning I could support fellow mature students. I also enjoy speaking with others, meeting new people and creating memories for students whilst they are at university.
Executive Officer for Students with Disabilities
Visit bucksstudentsunion.org/disabilities-exec to find out more about Kate and their priorities for the year or email sudisabilitiesofficer@bucks.ac.uk to get in contact directly.
Executive Officer for Mature Students
Visit bucksstudentsunion.org/mature-exec to find out more about Amy and their priorities for the year or email sumatureofficer@bucks.ac.uk to get in contact directly.
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Executive officers
October edition 99 By Kate Gordon, Amy Pile, Mafalda Simoes, Iuliana Stroescu
Mafalda Simoes (she/her)
Iuliana (Julie) Stroescu (she/her)
Hello everyone, my name is Mafalda and I’m your International Executive Officer this year! I am originally from Porto, Portugal, and I’m in my final year, studying Graphic Design. Since I moved to the UK and started studying at Bucks, I’ve met people from so many different countries and got to learn about their cultures, which made me expand my knowledge and become culturally aware of others! Having this network with other international students made my time at this university much more gratifying and supportive. For that reason, and many others, I decided to put myself forward for this role. I want to be able to guide, support and help all the international students during their stay at Bucks, and be someone they know they can count on.
My name is Iuliana Stroescu, but I’m known as Julie. My pronouns are she/her, so please use those when you are referring to me. I am the Executive Officer for Part-time students, and therefore, I represent the Part-time Students studying at BNU. My interest in becoming Executive Officer came from wanting to support students and campaigns and making sure their concerns and needs are met and dealt with appropriately!
Executive Officer for International Students
Visit bucksstudentsunion.org/international-exec to find out more about Mafalda and their priorities for the year or email suinternationalofficer@bucks.ac.uk to get in contact directly.
Executive Officer for Part-Time Students
I am currently studying MSc Applied Forensic Psychology, but also volunteering externally as a Family Support Worker! I have always enjoyed working and helping people, this being the reason why I love what I do! I have a slightly weird passion (as some would say) in psychopathy and women serial killers, but I also love enjoying a nice view with great company! Visit bucksstudentsunion.org/parttime-exec to find out more about Julie and their priorities for the year or email suparttime@bucks.ac.uk to get in contact directly.
By-Elections for our four remaining Executive Officer positions are currently underway; LGBTQ+ Officer, BAME Officer, Women’s Officer and Postgraduate Officer. There are eight candidates across the four roles, voting is now open and will close at noon on Friday 15 October, so make sure to vote now! View the candidates’ manifestos and vote at bucksstudentsunion.org/elections/execofficers
EXECUTIVE OFFICER BY-ELECTION CANDIDATES LGBTQ+ Officer candidates
Claire Sessions
R.O.N
Postgraduate Officer candidates
Joshua Fake
BAME Officer candidates
R.O.N
Women’s Officer candidates
Abdul Ali Ngamjeh
Aisha Mehmood
Joanna Rosa Mendes
Shannon Rigg
Georgia Frame
R.O.N
Sue Davies
R.O.N
HOW TO VOTE QUICK GUIDE Login and click over to our elections tab Click on ‘Executive Officers’ Click ‘Candidate list’ and you can read Manifestos Click Vote and click on your candidates in order of preference If you don’t think any of the candidates are suitable, select R.O.N (re-open nominations) Click on ‘Cast Vote’, then confirm your vote!
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Student trustees
October edition 99 By Brandon Tester, Lisa Connell, Heidi Thorne, Katie Jedrek
Student Trustees
We have four Student Trustees, who sit on the Students’ Union trustee board alongside the three Sabbatical Officers and four Lay Trustees to ensure that, as a Union, we focus on improving the experience of our members. One of these four positions is held for an Uxbridge student. Student Trustees are typically elected in our March elections and once elected can sit on our trustee board until they are no longer a student.
Brandon Tester
Heidi Thorne
Student Trustee
Student Trustee
Hi, my name is Brandon, I am currently studying in my third year at Buckinghamshire New University under the course Education Studies which will eventually lead me into a SENCO role within a learning environment. I wanted to become a student Trustee to become more involved within Bucks Students’ Union and become more established with the ongoings within. I am already involved with the Students’ Union by being the Bucks Men’s Rugby President for this academic year alongside being a Student Representative for my course and also being on committee as fundraiser for the current holders of Society of the Year award, RAG Society. I am hoping this role opens the doors to future professional roles within the Students’ Union, such as the Vice President Education and Welfare and those outside of the establishment.
Lisa Connell Student Trustee Hi, my name’s Lisa and I’m a third year Adult Nursing student. During the 2019 Constitution Referendum, we voted to ensure one Student Trustee spot is kept each year for an Uxbridge student. I am the 2020-21 Uxbridge Student Trustee. As well as being a trustee, I have taken on a number of other student leadership roles including being Student Rep for my group, School Officer for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health, Student Ambassador, and a few other roles. I am also a Leadership Academy graduate, and, at the 2021 Union Awards, I was the recipient of the Student Leadership Award. The leadership opportunities given to me by the Students’ Union have played a huge part in my journey at Bucks and I hope to make the most out of my last year here!
Hello! My name is Heidi and I’m one of the Student Trustees for Bucks Students’ Union. I am a third year studying International Tourism Management with Air Travel. There are a few reasons why I wanted to be a student trustee. I wanted to discover the background of our amazing Union, how it operates and become part of the Union itself. I also wanted to represent my fellow students in important meetings, so the students’ voices are heard. This is a great opportunity to enhance skills or new skills for my future career. I was a Student Rep in my first year and it’s a great feeling knowing that you represent your fellow students on your course to change something or to improve something for the course. Last year, I was part of the Leadership Academy scheme where I can learn leadership skills and use them to good use for University and the future.
Katie Jedrek Student Trustee Hi, my name is Katie, and I am one of your Student Trustees this year. I am currently a thirdyear Accounting and Finance student. I applied to be a student trustee as I am interested in the running of companies/charities as well as having the opportunity to work within the finance and staffing sector within the Students Union. Taking on the role also gives me the chance to expand my leadership roles, open new opportunities in the future and boosts my confidence. I am currently the Chair for Bucks Netball after previously being the Social Secretary, the Secretary for Bucks RAG Society after previously being the Treasurer, a Graduate from the Leadership Academy, and a Freshers’ Helper for the past 3 years.
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Student leaders
The Bucks Student
School officers
At Bucks, we have one School Officer for each of the seven schools: Art, Design and Performance; Aviation and Security; Business and Law; Creative and Digital Industries; Health Care and Social Work; Human and Social Sciences; and Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health. School Officers are appointed through an interview process to work alongside the Representation Team to promote the benefits of representation. School Officers lead on representation within their school and liaise with Student Reps to gather feedback and help formulate our Education Committee reports, ensuring the student voice is heard at all levels across the University. Extra support from the Students’ Union and various training programmes are provided, as well as a financial reward of up to £350, and invitation to Rep Conference and Union Awards.
Charlotte Leighton-Woods
Ioana Catalina Filon (she/her)
School Officer for Art, Design and Performance
School Officer for Aviation and Security
I’m Charlotte, School Officer for Art, Design and Performance. I’m a final year Hair and Makeup for Film and Performance. I’m also the Chair for the Boxing Society and Secretary for the Star Wars Society. In my first year I was a student rep and a Senior Resident (SR) at Brook Street. I’m really excited to take on the role of School Officer and am looking forward to taking positive steps towards the upkeep and progress of the School alongside our staff and students! Email: charlotte.leighton-woods@bucks.ac.uk
Iuliana (Julie) Stroescu (she/her) School Officer for Human and Social Sciences I’m Iuliana (known as Julie) Stroescu and I am the School Officer for Human and Social Sciences! I’m very excited to be working with you to make sure your courses are ran smoothly! I’m also an Executive Officer representing all part-time students (including myself) at BNU, whilst studying MSc Applied Forensic Psychology! I’m looking forward to meeting you and seeing you around campus! If you’d like to get in touch, please email me! Email: iuliana.stroescu@bucks.ac.uk
I’m Ioana Catalina Filon, School Officer for Aviation & Security. Currently, I am in my second year studying Airline and Airport Management and am beyond excited to take on the School Officer role this year! I am also Student Rep for my course and the Secretary for the British Sign Language society! My hobbies include travelling, archery, reading, gardening, swimming, hanging out with friends and so on. If you would like to get in touch with me regarding anything, especially your time at Bucks and how I can support you, please feel free to email me anytime! Can’t wait to befriend you! Email: ioana.filon@bucks.ac.uk
Francesca Toms (she/her) School Officer for Business and Law Hi everyone! I’m Francesca Toms, School Officer for Business and Law this year! I’m in my third (and final!) year studying Business Management - I’m also the student rep for my course. I am really looking forward to taking on the role of School Officer and continuing my work as student rep - I want to make sure you feel supported in your studies, and that you’re having a great time at BNU! If you’re a student of the Business & Law School and want to get in touch, or just have a chat, please email me. Email: francesca.toms@bucks.ac.uk
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School officers
October edition 99 By Charlotte Leighton-Woods, Iuliana Stroescu, Ioana Catalina Filon, Francesca Toms, Shelby Swafford, Amy Pile, Jody Bates
Shelby Swafford
Jody Bates (she/her)
School Officer for Creative and Digital Industries
School Officer for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health (February Cohort)
I’m Shelby Swafford, School Officer for Creative and Digital Industries. I am an international student in my second year studying Music Production and Business here at BNU and I am extremely excited to take on the role of School Officer this year! On top of School Officer, I am also a Student Rep for my course as well as the Welfare Laison for Boxing Society and the Head of Music for Rusty’s Radio. In my spare time I also love to volunteer as much as possible with the Students’ Union. If you have any issues comments or concerns, I am here to help and support you, and make the most out of your years at Bucks. If you are a student studying and my school and would like to get in touch with me, please email me! Email: shelby.swafford@bucks.ac.uk
Amy Pile School Officer for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health (September Cohort) Hi, I’m Amy, I work alongside Jody, I’m a school officer for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health for September cohort. I’m a second-year adult nursing student, my group rep, executive officer representing mature students and chair of Bucks Nursing Society. I adore animals, love watching a good film and singing. Feel free to contact me via email! Email: amy.pile@bucks.ac.uk
I’m Jody Bates, a School Officer for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied health for February cohort. I’m a first year Mental Health Nursing student, who is also Rep for my group! I’m a mature student who decided to change careers from design to nursing. I’m fond of animals, pizza, and Netflix. I am here, alongside Amy, to help support you during your time here at university. Feel free to contact me via email. Email: jody.bates@bucks.ac.uk
VACANT School Officer for Health Care and Social Work If you are a current Bucks student in the school of Health Care and Social Work and are passionate about representation, this could be the role for you! The School of Health Care and Social Work contains all undergraduate and postgraduate Social Work programmes, Paramedic Science, Public Health, Health and Social Care, Child protection & Adult Safeguarding, and Physiotherapy. To find out more about the role and apply, please email surepresentation@bucks.ac.uk expressing your interest.
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Tom Grennan interview
The Bucks Student By Zuzanna Maja
Tom Grennan An interview with the ‘Little bit of Love’ star So, first of all - you are already after big venues and festivals like Leeds and Reading... How does it feel to be on stage, sing to thousands of people and hear them singing back? Tom: It is really good, it is really nice, it is something that I never thought would ever happen. It is something that I have now. When I write a song I try to imagine the crowd singing it back to me - Will this be a song that lots of people sing back? People are singing your songs back and you are getting more and more popular every day, all around the world. How do you deal with that? Tom: I don’t really know. I don’t turn to look at myself as doing this or that. I live my day and I am doing my shows and it is so good and nice that people are coming out. But I don’t see myself, like, every day I check “Oh, am I bigger today than I was yesterday?”. Do you know what I mean? I am just going with the flow of it. I am not really concentrating on that. I am concentrating on making a show good and how to make it better, how to just be better.
You are making your own sound and you are looking for your own space in music. So, have you found what you’ve been looking for? Tom: Not really. I think that as humans we are always searching and always looking for something. And if we found something... I think... It appears and we try to play but I don’t really think we’ve found it yet. I think I am still searching for it. For whatever it is. Don’t get it wrong I have found a sort of... thing. But have I found what I have been looking for in my career? Not yet. I want to be massive. What was the moment in your career which made everything go that way for you? Tom: I don’t know. I think just working hard and...I think just hard work and perseverance and keep your eye on the goal, keep an eye on the prize. You can catch the rest of the interview at teaindie.com!
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Leadership Academy
The Bucks Student By Sarah Jackson
Leadership Academy
Applications are still open for our next cohort of students to this year’s Leadership Academy! Given the current climate, it has never been more important to focus on building up your skills and having a clear set of goals to achieve by the time you leave university to search for your first job. Whether you know exactly what you want to do, or are still deciding, the Leadership Academy can help equip you to give you the best possible advantage when leaving university.
The Leadership Academy was developed to recognise the value of developing future leaders early on. It is a bespoke development programme for talented students to gain specific skills for routes through the Union into leadership roles. It’s a series of training, courses and opportunities to enhance employability and build leadership traits - all free of charge courtesy of The Big Deal. Now more than ever, having extra skills recorded on your CV and expanding your network will help you to make your next steps when leaving university. Development activities will be sympathetic to studies, it really is an individual programme designed around you! It will be manageable for students at all levels and a typical programme will include: One to one sessions to agree your leadership development route and monitor progress - We will discuss your career aspirations with you, propose and agree a personal development plan with clear objectives and deadlines and review your progress throughout the academic year through regular emails and meetings. Workshops focusing on leadership styles and self-awareness - Through an external agency, we would fund and deliver formal leadership training which would provide you with workplace critical skills. We can also offer a free Strengthscope personality profile to help you understand your key strengths and how to use these to your advantage. Accredited training courses specific to your chosen route - We can provide licensing qualifications and legislation compliant certificates for those in the hospitality industry;
safeguarding or coaching qualifications for those in the sports industry; your development programme will be specific to your route and we will source the experience that you need. We can fund specific external courses either online or in person to help you meet your goals. Employability sessions focussing on CV’s, interviews, applications and assessment centres - Group sessions in all of the above will be scheduled regularly alongside the University’s Careers and Employability Service. One to one sessions are also available with both the Students’ Union and the University. Access to networking opportunities through conferences, staff days and external events - There may be a national or industry specific conference that we agree will benefit your leadership journey and you will be invited to be involved with Students’ Union meetings and development days and consulted with when we have new initiatives or policy to implement. Mentors – we will discuss in the initial meeting whether you could benefit from a mentor either in or related to your chosen industry who can give you real-life tips and advice on how to get your foot in the door and progress in your career. Plus full support of the Students’ Union Development Team through one to one meetings, reflective developmental sessions and assistance with finding your ideal leadership role. Once you have completed the year, you will receive a certificate of completion plus a free Leadership Academy hoodie! But the support will not end there, and we will continue to support you through to your graduation and beyond.
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Bucks Award
October edition 99 By Emily West
Bucks Award
Everyone deserves to show off their achievements!
BUCKS AWARD Acknowledging commitment & celebrating success
John Smith
Graphic Design | 2019
Volunteering
Employment
Poppy selling – 8 hours
Freshers’ Helper
Chiltern Rangers – 3 hours
Bar Staff
Smile Campaign – 3 hours
Students’ Union Receptionist
Gardening at Wycombe Museum – 2 hours Brighton Beach Clean Up – 5 hours Good Deed Day – 1.5 hours
Skills
Leadership roles
OCD Awareness Understanding Deafness End of Life Care Online Reputation Management Sign Language Public Speaking
RAG Ambassador Badminton Treasurer
Badminton Rugby Cosplay & Craft Society Snowsoc
Awards
Beginners Scuba Diving
Big Deal Award for Engagement 2017
Careers in the Arts
Membership Services Employee of the Year 2018
Time Management
RAG Charity Fundraiser of the Year Nominee
Safeguarding and Protecting Children
Student Rep of the Year Nominee
Make Up Masterclass
Membership Services Student Staff Member of the Year Nominee
End the Awkward Public Speaking Public Speaking Level 2
IN THE
Memberships
Cooking Lesson
Business Path
This is where the Bucks Award can help you! Every time you participate in an activity with us, be it volunteering, a skills session or securing a committee role, we have a record of it and are now able to collate these records to really showcase your involvement through the Bucks Award.
Course Rep
Autism Awareness Anti Bullying Awareness
Whether you are in your first or final year with us, the Bucks Award will have a record of all activities you have taken part in with us. With a new term starting, this could be an ideal time to start thinking about what skills you can build up throughout the course of the year.
The Bucks Award is divided into sections with the idea that by the time you leave university you have something in every section – a completely achievable goal due to all the free opportunities you have access to thanks to the Big Deal. So when it comes to writing your CV, when you are looking for skills that really demonstrate your ability to communicate, manage your time and your attention to detail, you will have a ready-made list of transferrable skills to include. The Bucks Award can be used as an ongoing reflective tool to identify any areas you feel we can help you develop – maybe you have accrued many volunteering hours but would like to secure a leadership role or maybe you’ve attended lots of skills sessions and would like to use those skills working for us.
Even if you don’t have every element covered, we want you to be able to talk about your experiences in an effective way that can be relatable to the career of your choice. When writing your applications and attending your interviews, it is important that you are using everything you have from your experience to demonstrate how you meet those particular criteria the employers are looking for. For this reason, we also offer Bucks Award sessions, where we are able to produce your Bucks Award on request and use this self-reflective session, to really help you understand all the skills you have gained from your involvement with our activities and how each of these can be transferred into the workplace. These sessions can be booked directly with the Training and Development team, by emailing sutraining@bucks.ac.uk.
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Events calendar | 11 Oct – 17 Oct
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 11
Handcream Volunteering
Tue 12
Tue 12
Thu 14
Wed 13
Fri 15
Caribbean Fever Night!
Sat 16
Sat 16
Sun 17
Events calendar | 18 Oct – 25 Oct
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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
October edition 99
Mon 18
Wed 20
Fri 22
GRAD BALL Sat 23
Sun 24
Mon 25
It’s been a busy few weeks for us all here in the Bars and Events team as we’ve delivered a fun packed program of events for Freshers’ 2021! The opening of the fortnight saw Soap launch freshers in style with a 4D interactive club night. The rest of the week was jam packed with events to suit every interest… such as the launches of our brand-new events ‘The High Wycombe Comedy Club’ and ‘Wxved’ a new monthly urban night to hit our venue. We drew Freshers’ to a close with our annual Freshers’ ball which for the first time ever stretched across 3 days with Twisted Time Machine hosting the Friday night and Fuse ODG, Friction and Old Dirty Brasstards headlining the Saturday night- all topped off with a survivors brunch on the Sunday for those who could hack 3 days in a row. Freshers may be finished, however the fun doesn’t stop there… we have a full programme of events coming up in the next few months including the return of Glitterbomb and our spooktacular Halloween weekend, so keep your eyes peeled over the next couple of weeks for more information or check out bucksstudentsunion.org/whatson!
Rusty Recommends
Mon 25
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Living with autism
The Bucks Student By Nichola Sun
Living with autism Just because of who I am, I may not sense or understand, Everything on what is happening, I need the time to perceive as it is challenging.
I know, because I have differences, Sometimes if things get too much, I need to take my distances, It is often tricky to get used to this bit, But it is important for us to learn and accept it.
You should not feel you have to fit in The Crowd, Saying “no” to take time for yourself is allowed, You are doing this for your own benefit, To not feel the pressure to do more than your limit.
If we know and learn about acceptance, The world for everyone will have more pleasance, Because of all differences being accepted, It will make us feel more loved and connected.
Just remember you are all fantastic, Despite having differences, it is best to be authentic, Let’s hope to accept differences every day, Rather than just on April 2nd, World Autism Day.
To begin with, autism is more than just awareness, Let’s treat it with acceptance, respect, and kindness!
I was diagnosed with autistic features (now known as Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)) when I was three years old. Therefore, I received speech, physio and occupational therapies and had an intervention programme up to the age of six. These helped me to overcome my challenges and improve my social and communication skills. Due to my personal experiences, this steered me to become an advocate for autistic people so that they can get the support and overcome any obstacles they encounter in their daily lives. I came across a poem written by an autism advocate based on their personal experiences and I was moved by this poem because it displayed so many different emotions. This prompted me to rediscover an old hobby of poetry writing I had when I was younger. I had taken a break from writing poems for three years and 2021 was a reflective year for me after facing the Covid-19 lockdown. This inspired me to write my ‘Acceptance’ poem to honour Autism Awareness month in April 2021. Ultimately, my former boarding school had asked me to be their mentor for their Autism Acceptance Day. Back in 2019, I initiated the Autism Day event at school to encourage both the mainstream pupils and staff to understand autism and be inclusive to the pupils in the Autism Centre rather than ‘shoving them into a corner’ or putting them into a ‘group on their own.’ Furthermore, we see, we hear, and we are aware of autistic people. However, besides awareness, many still cannot accept autistic people, because of their different behaviours as they perceive the world differently to others. With this poem, I want to portray to the general public to accept others for who they are, and individuals should never be ashamed to admit their disabilities or differences and just be themselves. This is better than having to change to ‘fit in’ The Crowd or become a people pleaser. I hope a message can be sent to our community to be more inclusive of people with disabilities.
19
Fun at Legoland
October edition 99 By Amy Pile
Everything is awesome!
A fun day out at Legoland Windsor
The day arrived, my children and I were so excited, we arrived at 10am, it was a lovely sunny day, it was nice to see people out enjoying their time together, we had to queue but that was expected, and it did not ruin our day, our favourite ride was Lego Mythica: world of mythical creatures a flying theatre ride, it was their newest attraction. Leaving Legoland at 6pm the same day I had two very happy and tired children.
Being a mature student with four children can be financially draining, I knew I would be able to manage with the basics but was worried that I might not be able to take them for special days out, being a full-time nursing student, I felt I needed to make sure that we did have days together doing fun activities I didn’t want them to miss out because I decided to study. Throughout the lockdown this became impossible, but we managedwith indoor family fun evenings. I was so fortunate as I got to spend much moretime with my family then I expected.
With lockdown easing, I was encouraged to look at bucksstudentsunion.org/whatson being told they provide countless activities not just for me but my family as well. I came across many family fun activities and after a couple of weeks LEGOLAND was added, I was thrilled as my kids had never been and all it would cost me was a five-pound deposit which we get back after attending and I would need to provide my own transport, I booked straight away for me and my younger children, the two eldest apparently had better plans gaming!
I want to thank the Bucks Student’s Union for making this possible and understanding that finance can have a huge impact on not just me as a mature student but all students, I look forward to many more activities and knowing throughout my studying I can have special days out with my family. If you haven’t done so yet please check out bucksstudentsunion. org/whatson, you never know what fun activity they are planning next!
20 The Bucks Student
Volunteering
By Melissa Lamerton
Volunteering Here at Bucks we host a wide range of volunteering and fundraising activities. These activities are open to everybody and provide entertainment whilst often raising money for a good cause. There are many different types of volunteering you can get involved in. One of these is international volunteering. If you are interested in going abroad and spending time with a great charity, then Travelteer is for you! If this is something that you would like to get involved with then come along to a volunteering presentation with Travelteer at 5pm on Monday 11 October or visit them at their stall in Beats from 12-3pm.
If traveling is not for you, an upcoming volunteering opportunity is for One Can Trust. One Can Trust is a local charity that runs a foodbank and fundraises to purchase food parcels for those in need. There is a volunteer opportunity to get involved in this from 1-3pm on Wednesday 13 October.
If helping the environment is something you’re passionate about, you should come along to our Brighton Beach Clean on the 16 October 9-5pm. This is one of our most popular volunteering opportunities so head to bucksstudentsunion.org/whatson on the Students’ Union website to reserve your space. Additionally, each year Bucks raises money for two chosen charities for RAG. This year our first RAG week is taking place between the 25 and 29 October. Throughout the week, there will be a series of activities such as Pumpkin Carving (29 October hosted by BNU Dance) So, make sure you get involved for some fun activities, to raise money for charity, and to increase your volunteering hours. Head to bucksstudentsunion.org/ whatson for more information and events that you can get involved with this year.
21
Activities
October edition 99 By Bianca Almeida
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PYO pumpkins (Pumpkin picking)
Public speaking
Pick Your Own Pumpkins are back! And you and your friends will be able to choose the best ones, take them home for FREE and carve them, just in time for Halloween.
Make sure you’re always ready to speak in front of an audience! Attending this FREE workshop will provide you with practical tips and advice on public speaking and presenting. This session will help to develop confidence, address nerves and deliver engaging speeches in a friendly environment that will enable you to try out techniques and develop your own personal style. Whether you will be speaking in front of a lecture theatre, as an election candidate, or you are an experienced public speaker looking to refresh your skills, this session is a must.
Award for personal license holders
IES T I TIV C A Welcome back! We hope you all had a lovely break over the holidays and are excited and ready to be back and enjoy more of our amazing opportunities offered for FREE, all courtesy of the Big Deal! Whether you are starting to think about what to do when you leave and need some skills to boost your employability or just want a way to wind down with one of our rec activities, we have something for you.
On completion of this FREE certified course, candidates will hold a licensing qualification with which they can apply for their personal licence. An ideal qualification for anyone currently working or looking to work in a bar, hospitality or events! Self defence We are offering this FREE one hour Self Defence course designed to teach you a number of techniques and skills to protect and handle yourself in a difficult situation. Learning the art of Self Defence will leave you feeling empowered, confident and assertive.
Coming up over the next couple of months we have all these great opportunities for you…
You can book onto any activity through our website so be sure to keep an eye out on bucksstudentsunion.org/ whatson – 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. We have a diverse and varied programme arranged for you and you can attend as many sessions as you like at any Bucks campus. Also available to book for this term, we have: Eating Disorder Awareness, Fireworks, Winter Wonderland, Introduction to British Sign Language, Pantomime, Sports Taping 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@bucks.ac.uk or pop in and see us in one of the Student’s Union offices.
22
I Love Tour
The Bucks Student By Tom Featherstone
Tour, Tour, Tour! Are you ready for the best week of your life?
That’s right, Tour is back, and we are going back to Poreč! I understand that there are a large group of students who don’t necessarily know what Tour is or what happens when on tour, so I’ll give a brief breakdown of what it is. For a week every Easter we give University students the chance to create memories that last a lifetime. Working with societies, sports teams and course mates, we offer unrivalled experiences through professionally executed trips. Back with vengeance for Easter 2022, we bring you a chance to have those special moments with your friends to take on the infamous Tour 2022. See you there! From a personal point of view Tour is one of the best things I’ve got involved in throughout my time at Bucks, spending the week away with a group of mates, be that in a Club or Society or just as a group of mates is world class! I can’t recommend going on tour enough! If you are interested and not part of a Club or Society, then you will need to sign up through the IloveTour website and sign up through there for week 2 starting the 9 April. The first payment deadline is 19 November, just £35!
23
Bucks Nursing Society
October edition 99 By Susan Davies
Bucks Nursing Society Even in dark times there is light
2. Make connections Join societies, start up new ones if you don’t see what you’re looking for, or attend events run by Bucks Student Union. It’s a great way to make friends. 3. Preparation is key, be proactive I know it may sound boring but from first-hand experience we can guarantee that preparing for your journey to placement/ reading your pre-reading material will DEFINITELY help you feel less stressed. A very warm welcome to our new and returning Nursing students. This is a very exciting time, and we hope everyone has had a chance to rest and prepare for the year ahead. Our focus this month is to provide our new students with a few tips and hints to help their year run smoothly. There’s no denying that our degree is demanding (whether you’re studying Mental Health Nursing, Paediatric or Adult) and juggling life can be challenging but hopefully these tips will help: 1. Be kind to yourself & others it’s going to be a stressful time, so make sure you take time for yourself when you need it and appreciate that all of us will have things going on in our personal lives. Take a bath, read a book guilt free. This is your time!
4. Reflect reflection is such a huge part of nursing and it’ll help you think about where things could have been done differently and more efficiently, whether it be studying, trying to balance a part time job, placement or family commitments. ‘Even in dark times, there is light’ 5. Reach Out this is so important, if you need help at all, please reach out. There are various support avenues such as counselling services, personal tutors, student reps, societies (we are a big advocate of welfare and youre wellbeing) and the advice centre. Any of these will be able to guide you to the right place for whatever your concern is. No problem is too big.
FRESHERS! Freshers’ week is a great time to meet and connect with others. Our BNS chair (Amy) and Lisa Connell (Student Trustee) and our Mascot have welcomed many of you as Fresher helpers. We hope you all had a fantastic time and are glad events are opening up again. BNS Events We have many ideas circulating for this academic year. If you have any ideas or recommendations, then please get in touch. We are very excited to be seeing you all face to face and will be holding: Lunch with BNS on Tuesdays (follow us on Tuesdays at Uxbridge) exact times TBC. A bloody event is also in the pipeline for Halloween. (TBC) Breaking Barriers – Run by our welfare liaison, this is a safe space to raise any issues you may have which we can raise with the appropriate channels. These are run every 3 weeks. Get in touch & follow us on social media: Facebook – Bucks Nursing Society Twitter – @BucksNurSociety Instagram – @bucksnursociety Email – bucksnursingsociety@gmail.com
24
Musical Theatre
The Bucks Student By Nathan Ashton
Musical Theatre
Re-opens it’s doors!
Coronavirus halted the world as we know it for a year and a half and had a massive impact on so many industries, but one of the hardest hit industries was the arts. Theatres, performance venues and studios all closed their doors, too many of them never to open up again. It has been an incredibly hard time for the industry and that’s exactly why now is a great time to get into musical theatre! Musical Theatre Society didn’t let these closures grind them to a halt, instead, throughout the pandemic, weekly Zoom meetings were held with singing lessons, dancing masterclasses and exciting games to keep its members occupied when there wasn’t much else to do; which is is exactly why we have earned the status of outstanding society. Now, we have reopened our doors for weekly, in-person sessions with performance opportunities aplenty. So whether you are a singer, dancer, actor or just want to give it a go, make sure to sign up to the society on the student union website. The first performance of the year is the Wycombe Christmas Lights Switch On on the 21st November 2021, so even if you don’t want to get up on the stage, make sure to come down and watch us, and if you have any questions, contact us on any of our social media platforms:
Email: bucksmtsociety@hotmail.com Facebook: @bucksmusicaltheatre Instagram: bucksmtsociety Twitter: bucksMTsociety
25
Invisible disabilities
October edition 99 By Kate Gordon, Honor Fletcher
Invisible disabilities For people with hidden disabilities, what does it take to make it through the day? Courage. Courage is needed in the moments that are tough and overwhelming, not when every things is going easy and well. Courage is to possess mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty! Living each day with a disability, illness, pain or injury is a journey often filled with moments of tragedy and triumph. Many disabilities are invisible and are only known to the person themselves. The Invisible Disabilities Association want to learn about your stories of Visible Courage. They want to share your stories with the world! Your disability may not be visible, but your Courage is! Visit invisibledisabilities.org to submit your story and get involved.
Kate Gordon Disabilities Officer 2021-22
I am the Executive Officer for Disabilities for this academic year (2021/22). As part of bringing more awareness to hidden disabilities and their impact, We will be participating in "Invisible Disabilities Week" from 17 to the 23 of October 2021. This includes running podcasts recorded by Tamsin and Tasha last year with a new addition from myself and your Students Union President Honor Fletcher. I will be hosting our first networking session during this week; you'll be able to find us in The Venue on Wednesday 20 October between 12pm and 2 pm TBC. This session is open to everyone so, please pop in and say "Hi". Feel free to join our Facebook page "Buckinghamshire New University - Students with Disabilities Network (21-22)" ahead of this, and vote in our poll so we can find the most beneficial day to run future networking events. If you have any questions and/or ideas that you would like to see, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me via email at SUDisabilitiesofficer@bucks.ac.uk or the Facebook page Buckinghamshire New University - Students with Disabilities Network (21-22)
26 The Bucks Student
MARVEL Society
By Hansel Shango
Marvel Comics and MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) have become global with comic book readers, die -hard fans and with people who watch the movies for fun. Since the birth of the MCU, the filming industry hasn’t had such an interconnected series of films are linking to one and another for 14 years and counting during that process 25 films have been produced with president Kevin Feige at the core of it all. The MCU have created incredibly detailed films that have made us joyful, giggle, cry and distraught. The MCU have made fall in love with every fictional character they have put on the silver screen and made us dislike characters too. The Marvel Society that is being created will allow the fans and newbies to come together and discuss/ debate marvel topics, from the next avengers team to who did you side within Civil War team Iron Man or team Captain America. Having film nights as we reminisce Phase 1,2 and 3 in all its glory and discuss what made us fall in love with the franchise and its characters.
Marvel Society is a welcoming society to everyone, whether you watch the films for fun or a die -hard fan, everyone is here to make new friends, share a common interest and talk about what we love most which is the MCU. When we have created the society, we plan to meet three times a week. We also want to interact with similar societies to share our love for the marvel universe but also potentially collab with other societies. We want to also host a cosplay event with other societies, students come in as their favourite characters for a day and maybe act out their favourite scenes. Another thing is we to plan is a trip to the holy grail infamous Comic-con, where comic books fans come to together to take part in cosplay events, release of new comic books, the slate of the next phase in the MCU and much more. We want to make this the biggest society in the university has ever seen and to do that we need you to join and take part in the marvel universe.
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