August 2022 - Freshers' special
Freshers' 2022 events preview page 24 Get involved!
In this Freshers' special edition of the newspaper, we will introduce our teams to you, as well as give you a look into the societies, events and clubs that are on offer. So jump in and find a way that you can get involved! even fit them all on two this year, so feast your eyes on four pages of event-y goodnesss.
We are your Students' Union team and we are here to make life better for students at Bucks.
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/communications
© 2022 Bucks Students’ Union
The University chat to Jay Blades about his time at BNU, as he opens up about his struggles with dyslexia.
For all advertising and media enquiries please contact the Students’ Union Communications and Marketing department: sucommunications@bucks.ac.uk
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See what our clubs, societies and sports team have in store for the upcoming year, and make the most of joining them for FREE! Meet chancelloryour
Hello! page 10 page 15
Some of you hopefully already know what Bucks Students' Union does, and what we provide - but for those of you who are new; enrolling on a course at Buckinghamshire New University automatically makes you a member of Bucks Students’ Union. You don’t need to join and there are no fees involved, but membership gives you access to the vast range of services that we offer - all for free. These services include; sports, events and entertainment, societies, additional skills training sessions, recreational activities, support from our Advice Centre, a rewarded student rep scheme and much more. Our hope is that offering all of these activities and events free as part of the Big Deal will give you the opportunity to enrich your University life as much as possible and get involved in as much as you can!
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Want to see your name in the list above? Want to have your writing or artwork on show to thousands of people? Get involved! Email editor@thebucksstudent.com
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We couldn't
A very warm welcome
If required, this document can be made available in different formats. Please contact Bucks Students' Union for more information.
To make life even better for students at Bucks this year, we've expanded our sabbatical team to four! Find out what they're all about on pages 4-8.
Charlotte Leighton-Woods • Brandon Tester Emily Crawshaw • Jess Bradbury Emily West • Rory Butler • Sarah Jackson Nellie Hughes • Daniel Lawrence • Tash Neal Seana O'Reilly • Tim Dixon • Raffy Pantaleon Leo Juster • Tegan Arnott • Ellie Lee Dee Whyte • Maya Jones • Claire Sessions Ciaran Bond • Amy Cowper • Georgia Reeve Oli Gunson You are now a member of the second best Students’ Union in the UK August 2022 - Freshers' special
"I became passionate about the Students' Union and helping my fellow students through my roles as Chair of the Boxing Society and School Officer for Art, Design and Performance. These positions gave me a chance to connect with the wider student body and people from all walks of life. I was lucky enough to be told some truly incredible and beautiful stories by many students and realised the true impact of having a safe and inclusive place like the Union, and decided I wanted to be a part of it."
"Continue making Bucks an inclusive your Students' Union President
Describe your role "As your President, my job is to make sure our members, the students of BNU, are being looked after. I help sustain the relationship between the University and the Union and represent our members in numerous meetings. I also engage with national student movements as well as researching student issues within our own community and, by listening to our members, campaign to have these resolved. If you'd like to get in touch with me, feel free to drop me an email at su.president@bucks.ac.uk."
By Charlotte Leighton-Woods your President
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Charlotte Leighton-Woods
Why did you run for the role?
Meet
Give a warm welcome to...
What are your priorities for the year?
specialFreshers'5Meet your VPSI
Jess Bradbury your Vice President Student Involvement
Wave hello to...
"More is always more and I'd love to have more opportunities for students to enhance their Createexperienceaprogramme of events to include celebrations of religious and cultural Supportfestivals more students in building their CV with volunteering opportunities and leadership roles The one I cannot miss out, win Varsity 2023!"
By Jess Bradbury
"My role focuses on the co-curricular aspect of the Students' Union. I get to work with the student activities team in everything from sports clubs to societies as well as the charitable fundraising events and volunteering. I'm here to provide you with the opportunity to take part in activities you may never have done before. I also work with our training and development team to support you in developing new skills, gaining new qualifications, and boosting your employability so you can smash all of your career goals and ace your interviews. As well as all this, my role as a Sabbatical Officer means I also sit on the Union's Trustee Board to ensure that we're sticking to our principles and making life better for students at Bucks. If you want to get in touch, you can pop into my office or email me on vpsi@bucks.ac.uk." Why did you run for the role?
"Throughout my university experience Bucks Students’ Union gave me so many unique opportunities; skills sessions, chances to compete, I took part in the leadership academy, gained over 400 volunteering hours and went on so many of those allimportant nights out! Bucks Students’ Union helped me to have the best and most fulfilling university experience possible… so I decided to go for the role of VPSI to help students make the most of everything the Students’ Union offers and have an amazing experience just like I did and give them opportunities to carry forward into their life after university."
What are your priorities for the year?
"When I’m not in the office I’ll most likely be dancing! Either that or eating… I’m a massive foodie and I’m always looking to try new things so any recipes or restaurant recommendations I will happily take." What's your favourite ice-cream flavour? "I’m actually lactose intolerant but like most of us who are “scared of milk”, it doesn’t stop me from eating a tub of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie."
Describe your role
What about when you're off-duty?
"Supporting students through the cost-of-living crisis and the Tester Vice President Education and Welfare (High Wycombe) here to represent you...
Describe your role "My role predominantly focuses on improving the educational and welfare experience of our members whilst they're studying at Buckinghamshire New University. I work alongside Emily, the other Vice President Education and Welfare, and our representation team to voice your opinions about your educational experience with the University, be it constructive or positive practice. I also work with the Students’ Union Advice Centre to run a variety of campaigns to enhance positive mental health and wellbeing. As a Sabbatical Officer, I also sit on the Union’s Trustee Board to ensure that as a Union we focus on improving the educational experience of all our members, no matter how they study.
I'll be in and around the different campuses as much as possible, so feel free to grab me for a chat or you can reach me at any time by sending an email to su.vpew@bucks.ac.uk
By Brandon Tester
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"The reason I ran for this role is because I have an interest in education and wellbeing, eventually wanting to move into a secondary school environment working with those who have social, emotional and mental health issues. Not only this, I want to improve the quality of life and learning at Buckinghamshire New University to help create a better life for our students."
He's
What are your priorities for the year?
Why did you run for the role?
your
Meet your VPEW(s) Brandon
Describe your role "My role focuses on the educational and wellbeing experiences of our members whist at BNU. I will be mainly based on the Uxbridge campus, but occasionally Aylesbury too to make sure that the students at our two smaller campuses are represented on a bigger scale. I work closely with Brandon, the other Vice President Education and Welfare, to support your educational and wellbeing needs. I'm also part of the representation team and work with the Advice Centre too, to run campaigns across campuses which aim to boost positive mental health and ensure that your voices are heard. You can reach me at any time by sending an email to su.vpew@bucks.ac.uk."
(Uxbridge
And last but certainly not least...
"Away from work I spend my time seeing friends and family. I also like being active whether that is going to the gym or for a swim in a lake or pool. In my chilled time you will catch me watching the latest series on Netflix, taking part in a bit of sport or painting."
"Raise awareness of our services at the Uxbridge and Aylesbury Campuses Providing more Mental Health First Aid courses to better provide support for our community Continue working with the University to ensure that the students are being supported and have a positive educational experience."
"Tricky! My ice cream order changes depending on what I am craving, but I can guarantee if Ben & Jerry’s is on offer then I will be picking up a tub of Baked Alaska."
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What about when you're off-duty?
What's your favourite ice-cream flavour?
What are your priorities for the year?
Meet your VPEW(s)
By Emily Crawshaw Emily Crawshaw & Aylesbury)
Why did you run for the role?
"When I was a student at BNU, the Students' Union provided me with many opportunities that enabled me to develop. Through the Big Deal, I was able to learn how to ski through SnowSoc and from here I ended up taking leadership positions which improved my confidence but also allowed me to have my voice heard. One of these was the Student Representative on Council, sitting on this meant that I was able to understand the different policies that underpin the running of the university. It was this which led me to represent the student’s voice at a larger level."
your Vice President Education and Welfare
in touch:
By Charlotte Leighton-Woods, Jess Bradbury, Brandon Tester, Emily Crawshaw
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Bucks Vpsi @BucksSUVPSI Brandon:
What we can do for you
We wanted to start this newspaper article by saying welcome to or welcome back to BNU! We are your elected Officers of the Students' Union. We hope you have an amazing time whilst you are studying, and we are here to support you in every step of your University journey! We will be coming into as many induction sessions as possible to meet you face to face over the next few weeks, but if we don’t see you, then please come and say hi at our Freshers' Fairs taking place at the Uxbridge campus on Wednesday 21 September and at the High Wycombe campus on Thursday 22nd September! Our office also has an open door policy, so feel free to come in at any point to have a chat and a catch-up! Keep an eye out on our What’s On page on the Students' Union website and our social media to keep up to date with all of our latest events, news and campaigns. We also have a set of podcasts that have been going out over the past month to tell you a bit more about what we offer as a Students' Union completely free, thanks to the Big Deal, so make sure you check out Rusty’s Radio station on our website to listen back to them. Finally, make sure you check out our website, where you can find the contact details for all of the Sports and Societies we have available free that you can get involved with. Don’t be afraid to get in touch with Jess ( bradbury@bucks.ac.ukjess. ) if you have any questions about a society or sport or you are interested in setting one up yourself! Best of luck this year, and we will see you soon! Charlotte, Jess, Brandon and Emily Sabb's plans
Bucks SU Pres @BucksSUPres
Bucks Vpew Ux Ayls @BucksVPEWUxAyls Get
Bucks Vpew @BucksSUVPEW Emily:
Your
Get Charlotte: charlotte.leighton-woods@bucks.ac.uk Jess: jess.bradbury@bucks.ac.uk brandon.tester@bucks.ac.uk emily.crawshaw@bucks.ac.uk a peek into...
ZorbActivitiesfootball
By Emily West
Emergency First Aid A key skill for anyone to have, but also looks great on a CV! This will teach you the basics of the role of a first aider and how to deal with managing an emergency and what to do in the first instance while waiting for help.
Make your money jiggle jiggle...
Beauty Therapist - Part time Beauty Therapist required at Elwoods.
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Hairdressing Apprenticeship - Part time position available at Elwoods Studio.
At Bucks Students’ Union everything offered is FREE to our students, courtesy of The Big Deal.
The opportunities are changing all the time and examples of current vacancies available are:
Whether you need to boost your CV, learn a new skill or just unwind on a great day out we are to here to help! Already lined up for you this year we have: MentalSkills Health Awareness Our two hour course includes activities, film and discussion to explore 4 areas of mental health: illness, stress, stigma and wellbeing.
Front of House/Kitchen roles - The Crown in Hazlemere has a number of positions available with flexible hours to fit around your lectures!
Carer - Enthusiastic, fun, caring and responsible person, preferably a Psychology or Nursing student, who loves children, required to work part-time (6- 10 hours per week) on a one-to-one basis with an 3-year old boy with autism.
Escape room – The Big Hangover! Bring some friends along or make some new ones at a great local venue in High Wycombe! The stag do that went wrong! It was only supposed to be one quiet drink, but instead, heads are hazy and you’ve lost the groom. You awake the morning after the night before to find yourself in the town police cell with an hour until the church bells will ring. Can you retrace your steps, and get him to the church on time? And there’s more! For a full list of additional skills and recreational activities and for more details on how to reserve your free tickets, visit the What’s On page of our website. We are always looking for new ideas! So if you think of something not listed, please come down and see us at the Students’ Union office (High Wycombe) or email surecactivities@bucks.ac.uk so we can see if we can arrange your activity.
Bubble football guarantees a lot of laughter, bumping, bouncing and rolling! Singing lessons One to one tuition with a qualified tutor for a 5 week block of lessons! Whether you want to improve your singing voice for auditions in the future or just improve your karaoke voice these FREE classes will help! Healthy cooking workshops With the cost of living crisis on us, it has never been more important to understand how to take care of yourself on a budget. These great workshops will teach you how to make great nutritious food to keep you going without breaking the bank.
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Teaching Assistant - Saturday only teaching assistant required at Performing Arts Academy in Maidenhead. If there is something more specific you are looking for, or would like support in writing your CV or applications, we are here to help! Please arrange an appointment with us by emailing sujobs@bucks.ac.uk
Customer Service/ Sales Administrators - Bank and weekend staff needed for two sales offices in Uxbridge and Aylesbury.
Recreational Activities
Additional Skills / JobShop
At the Students’ Union we understand that the majority of our students will need to work while studying with us and with that in mind we have tried to make finding local part time work that bit easier for you with our JobShop page! Found on our website, we update this page regularly with local part time opportunities, in a range of different sectors so hopefully there will be something there for you including: retail, caring, bar work, tutoring, hospitality, sports coaching and more. Whilst we understand the impact of the cost of living crisis, we do not recommend that students work more than 20 hours per week while undertaking a full time course. This is to ensure that you are able to give time to your degree, but also so that you have some time to take care of yourself and enjoy your experience at Buckinghamshire New University!
INTERVIEWEXCLUSIVE
The Repair Shop presenter came from humble beginnings and rose to award-winning broadcaster and social entrepreneur. He counts his time at BNU as formative in helping him in his journey and wants new and existing students to make the most their academic careers by networking and breaking down any personal barriers to their education.
Interview with new Chancellor - Jay Blades
Jay Blades
Your new chancellor... BNU introduces Jay Blades, as he opens up about his struggle with dyslexia
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Jay Blades MBE has opened up about how Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) helped him to manage his struggle with dyslexia – and why his undergraduate studies were the perfect opportunity to make professional connections.
Jay Blades opens up about his struggle with dyslexia – and the value of networking at BNU
In a recent interview he talked about the speed with which BNU identified and supported his dyslexia after he embarked on a degree in criminology and philosophy in 2001 – and why establishing good connections is critical to career success. He recalled joining the university and being eager to take up every advantage that was afforded to him, including BNU’s full range of support services.
Jay Blades is perhaps best known for his successful BBC television show The Repair Shop, where expert tradespeople pool their talents to restore beloved family antiques and heirlooms. But before that, Jay was a student at BNU. He arrived at the University in 2001 having left school at 15 with no qualifications, to embark on a degree in criminology and philosophy. He has since praised BNU for supporting him in his struggle with dyslexia, and has publicly expressed his pride at being appointed BNU’s first Chancellor, the honorary Head of the University, and its public ambassador. And, in recognition of all that he has achieved, Jay will be formally invested as Chancellor in September.
“It's not only useful for when you're at university, but out in the big wide world. This is your network. You're actually building this up as you go. “If you're a student here, go outside your discipline and speak to other people. That's the way.
“I think no one should ever be complacent and say, ‘that is it’. No, set a goal. I set a goal for everything. “I would say…anybody who's looking to come to BNU, why wouldn't you, if I'm an example of how studying here can change your life.
By Rory Butler
“I went to university because I met someone who had a lot of knowledge, and she explained to me she got it from university,” said Jay. “So, I thought, if I come here, I'm going to get the knowledge, and I've got it by networking with so many different people.
“I met loads of people at university. For me, university was all about networking. To me it was kind of like a playground. It was like…you can just learn from anybody. That's what I was doing.”
Overcoming barriers
“Speak to academic staff and speak to Student Services because you will have an opportunity,” said Jay. “That's exactly what I did, I spoke to them and they sorted it out. “First, Student Services arranged for me to be tested. Next, BNU applied for the funding to have [my] equipment and they spoke to whoever they had to about me getting a scribe and receiving extra “Anybodytime.who has a difficulty, in any way shape or form - it doesn't have to be dyslexia, it could be a disability - speak to people. “The sad thing is, a lot of people suffer in silence and when you suffer in silence, nothing gets changed.
Jay Blades
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He said BNU gave him the tools to better his lot in life, and he urged new and existing students to follow in his footsteps and seize every opportunity to make the most of BNU’s diverse community.
“You need to change these things and the only way you can change is by opening up and speaking about it. And - especially at BNU - there's someone to help.” Never one to shy away from where he started in life, Jay talked openly about rising from a Hackney council estate and leaving school with no qualifications, to university graduate and later become the first Chancellor of BNU.
‘Network, network, network’
“You need to network,” he added. “Mingle with other people, hear their thinking, see what's going on so you can have a real conversation.
Interview with new chancellor -
‘BNU creates community champions’
Jay added: “I’m always striving for better. My mission is to influence people I'm never going to meet.
Once I came here, things totally changed for the better. I had a purpose and a focus. I knew what I was looking to achieve, and this University helped me.
His willingness to explore well beyond his discipline and to build a web of contacts while at BNU paid dividends, and in return, he now hopes to give back by working with the University to develop new furniture-related courses at the High Wycombe campus as part of a £15m building works Jayprogramme.isawonderful example of the kind of success that is possible at BNU which he explained is adept at creating “community champions”. Indeed, BNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Braisby previously described Jay as an “inspiring individual and a shining example of the transformative power of the education we provide at BNU”.
“Once I came here, things totally changed for the better. I had a purpose and a focus. I knew what I was looking to achieve, and this university helped “Ime.think what BNU do is they create community champions, and that's what they did with me.” For advice on networking, careers, and development, visit Student Opportunities and Career Success at BNU, and Bucks Students’ Union. For details about support with learning, visit Support Services, or our student portal, MyBNU.
“The Leadership Academy has given me access to bespoke training courses relevant to my industry. It has also allowed me to take tests to analyse my strengths as an individual, look through and improve my CV, and overall has given me great guidance on how to cope with a busy workload and stay resilient!”
The programme starts with an in-depth initial meeting to learn a little more about you, your commitments and what you would like to achieve or would like support with during your time with us. We can help by providing additional training opportunities to boost your CV or help with softer, transferable skills such as time management or building confidence. We will signpost to different services offered by the Students’ Union and the university or other local organisations and arrange a mentor in a relevant industry to you. You will have access to a FREE Strengthscope session with a qualified practitioner where you can learn more about your strengths as well as FREE leadership workshops and access to a community of students through our student leader socials. You will also be entitled to a FREE hoodie, career fact file and a guaranteed invitation to our annual Union Awards! We will work flexibly around your commitments both in and outside of university, offering appointments both in person or online depending on your preference and keeping in contact through the year by a method of your choice, such as phone, email or meetings. The frequency of these sessions is again entirely up to you and the level of support you would like, ranging from bi-weekly to once every couple of months.
AcademyLeadershipCreatingfutureleaders
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This really is a programme designed to support you in achieving your goals in a completely bespoke, flexible and manageable way. See what our previous Leadership Academy graduates have had to say about this programme: “I am incredibly grateful for the flexibility and individual planning that the Leadership Academy does. It makes a huge difference in facilitating those on busy/diverse courses being able to partake.”
Leadership
By Sarah Jackson Academy
“The Leadership Academy has given me the support and confidence I needed to pursue a graduate career”
“The Leadership Academy helped me to “keep on track” with both my studies and my future endeavours, by finding opportunities which I wouldn’t/couldn’t have found on my own”
It's never too early to start planning your career
The Leadership Academy is an entirely bespoke and individual programme to help you reach your goals for the year, and beyond. We welcome applications from students in any year of study and can support you throughout your time with us at university and once you have graduated!
So get a jumpstart as we are now accepting applications for our 2022/23 intake!
To apply please visit our website and complete the application form and equal opportunities form and return these to sutraining@bucks.ac.uk. If you have any questions, please pop down and see us in the Students’ Union office in North Wing (High Wycombe) or drop us an email at sutraining@bucks.ac.uk
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Next up is the bathroom and it’s probably the most straightforward one on your packing list. Bath towel ⃣ Hand towel ⃣ Toiletries (these cover a wide range of things and this is personal to you, but I would recommend buying the loo roll and handwash once you arrive to save some space in your parents' already crammed car.) Bath mat – get a bath mat! ⃣ A first aid kit – so many bumps, cuts and bruises will happen in your first year so make sure you grab a kit.
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Last up is the kitchen, crockery and cups. You want to keep this to the basics, why bring a corkscrew bottle opener if you don’t drink wine? Six set of dinner plates when you’ll probably only cook for you and a mate or two?
Packing list
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⃣ A duvet (and two covers - wear one, wash one style) Pillows ⃣ Pillow protectors Mattress protector Bed sheets Coat hangers Clothes horse ⃣ Extension cable ⃣ Photos of friends and family Chargers for all your devices – phone, camera, laptop. (Double, triple check these)
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If you get stuck for something in halls, pop into Bucks New Usage in the ground floor of West Wing near Lily's Walk on our High Wycombe campus where you can nose around and pick up anything you need from cutlery to bedding, pots to lamps and even toastie makers. This can be really helpful for International students, as you will have a limited luggage allowance and this can help you to save money on new items.
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⃣ Bank card (have you considered switching to a student account?) ⃣ Passport photos ⃣ USB ⃣ 16-25 railcard for great train travel discounts ⃣ Totum card Moving on to where all the magic happens (We’re talking about those well deserved zzzz’s!) it’s the bedroom.
It’s time! You’ve accepted your offer, confirmed your student loan and paid the deposit on your new room in student accommodation, and now it’s time to pack. But what exactly do you need to make sure that you bring along with you?
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By Nellie Hughes
What do I bring?? A handy packing list
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Everyone will tell you something a little different and it’s so easy to panic and just take everything (I’m talking to you, never-once-used iron!) so make sure you break it down, cover all your basics and remember if you unpack and realise you didn’t bring a single piece of cutlery, you can always pick some up for free with our Bucks New Usage initiative or borrow from a housemate until then!
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Paracetamol – For everything from a hangover to computer headaches and the ever dreaded Freshers' flu. Clothes – Rightfully has its own section. You don’t need to bring your entire wardrobe, all your shoes, and fancy getup. For the most part you can break it down into summer/ winter. Your first term at uni will be in the colder months before you head home where you can swap out your winter coats boots for tshirts, shorts and flip flops. On that note, this is what you should bring for the start of term in September. ⃣ Warm clothes ⃣ A scarf ⃣ A good winter coat ⃣ A lighter winter jacket ⃣ Sensible shoes ⃣ A handful of dressier items for your nights out ⃣ Sports/gym gear if you need it ⃣ Fancy dress
A good set of pots and pans (A good rule of thumb is a big lidded pot, small pot and medium pan to cover your essentials) Cutlery ⃣ Plates Bowls ⃣ A mug ⃣ A glass ⃣ A sharp knife Tupperware ⃣ Scissors ⃣ Chopping board ⃣ Sieve ⃣ Can opener ⃣ Spatula ⃣ Set of wooden spoons for stirring, mixing and general cooking use Peeler ⃣ Baking trays (2 will usually do the job) Tea towels ⃣ Washing up sponge/brush
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First up, the important stuff – passports, paperwork and prescriptions. ⃣ Valid passport and/or driver’s license ⃣ University acceptance letter ⃣ Accommodation contract ⃣ Prescription medication (and the paperwork if it’s a repeat prescription)
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Societies
Societies Find your people with...
By Daniel Lawrence
Looking to enhance your university experience participating in something you love? Then why not join one of our many societies we have on Weoffer!have a total of 23 societies which you can join ranging from physical activity (Latin Dance, Running), societies linked to your courses (Aviation, Nursing, Mooting) and common interest (Alt Music, Anime & Cosplay, Chess). This is only a handful available to you, so for a full list visit bucksstudentsunion.org/activities/ socs
All of our societies are preparing for your arrival and have some fantastic plans in the works to engage you and get the most out of your university life. Each society is led by a committee who have been in your shoes and know exactly how you are feeling. Feeling nervous, no need to worry, our societies will help you settle into university life by helping you meet new people and gain some friends for life and this is only some of the amazing feedback we received last year! Is there something you are interested in which we do not offer? Why not set up a society of your very own, all you need is 3 people. You will get the full support of us here at the Students’ Union to help you get going, ranging from help with the initial paperwork to providing you with some funding to get the society up and running. Leading a society is a great way of enhancing your CV, providing organisation and communication skills which will help you in any career. For further information on how to set up a society contact susocieties@bucks.ac.uk or you can message Daniel Bucks on Facebook. Or, you can find us on Instagram @bucksstudentsactivities
Daniel Lawrence Student and(RecreationalCoordinatorActivitiesSportSocieties)
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There's plenty more to come, so keep an eye on our socials for up to date details and events to be revealed as Freshers' is in full swing! You're best off following us on Instagram
WHAT'S GOING ON?
@bucksstudentsunion, or Facebook: Bucks Students' Union
FRESHERS’
Sunday 18 Moving in weekend All day - halls UV White T-shirt night 9pm - The Venue Monday 19 School welcome talks All day - your campus of study wXved 10pm - The Venue Tuesday 20 School welcome talks All day - your campus of study Student leader training All day - Students' Union Sports quiz 2–4pm Music and Audio social 4–5pm Relax with Rusty: Games Night *alcohol free atmosphere* 6pm - Beats Live Music Night 7.30pm - The Venue Wednesday 21 School welcome talks All day - your campus of study Uxbridge Freshers' Fair: Popcorn cart and more! 3pm - Uxbridge Musical Theatre society karaoke noon–1pm Frat House: Love Island 9pm - The Venue Thursday 22 School welcome talks All day - your campus of study High Wycombe Freshers' Fair: Candyfloss, photobooth and more! 3pm - High Wycombe Relax with Rusty: Top Gun *alcoholMaverickfree atmosphere* 6pm - Beats Comedy Night 7pm - The Venue Friday 23 School welcome talks All day - your campus of study Hockey trials TBC Zorb football TBC - Events Hall TFIF: Bucks Balls Bonanza 10pm - The Venue Saturday 24 Bingo Lingo The Venue Sunday 25 Quizzy-oke: General Knowledge 7pm - The Venue Monday 26 Women students' mixer 4pm - Beats Unlocked 10pm - The Venue Tuesday 27 Mature students' mixer 11am - Beats Part-time and Postgraduate students' mixer 4pm - The Lounge Relax with Rusty: Board Game *alcoholBash free atmosphere* 6pm - Beats Oktoberfest 7pm - The Venue Wednesday 28 Sports Specific First Aid course TBC Students with disabilities' mixer 11am - Beats International students' mixer 4pm - The Lounge Frat House: Toga Party 9pm - The Venue Thursday 29 LGBTQ+ students' mixer 4pm - The Lounge Relax with Rusty: Lightyear *alcohol free atmosphere* 6pm - Beats HMV Live and Local 7pm - The Venue CRASH 10pm - The Venue Friday 30 BAME students' mixer 11am - Beats TFIF: The Big Cheese 10pm - The Venue Saturday 1 Freshers' Ball 9pm - The Venue
SUNDAY THURSDAY1822TUESDAY27 MONDAY 19 FRIDAY 23 SATURDAY 24 WEDNESDAY 28 TUESDAY THURSDAY2029
TUESDAY 20 SUNDAY THURSDAY2529 THURSDAY 22 TUESDAY SATURDAY271 WEDNESDAY 21 MONDAY 26 FRIDAY 30 YOUR 2 WEEK FRESHERS' GUIDE!SUNDAY 18 SEPT – SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER
Student Representatives Student Reps are the leading voice for their class and peers and are the first point of contact for students with positive feedback, issues, or concerns. They are democratically elected by their course mates each year. Student Reps are supported throughout the year by the Students’ Union and are rewarded up to £100 for their contribution. Reps also have access to additional developmental opportunities, such as our annual Rep Conference, Leadership Academy, and much more. Student Reps also have the possibility of receiving an invitation to some of our biggest events, such as our annual Union Awards. Each year group of every course should have a Student Rep. All courses need representing, so why not put yourself forward and ensure your peers have a say in their University experience, all whilst boosting your CV?
IfRepresentationduringyourtimeatUniversity
Here’s what some of our Officers who held these positions over the past few years have had to say about the role: “I loved my role as Women’s Officer because it gave me more opportunity to make real change and be part of something that really matters.” Kia Wing, Women’s Executive Officer 2019-2021. “I feel a big achievement this year was the Facebook Group, we got lots of members and good engagement.” Amy Pile, Mature Executive Officer 2021-2022.
Student Trustees: We have four Student Trustee places who sit on the Students’ Union’s Trustee Board alongside the Four Sabbatical Officers and Four external Lay Trustees. One of these four positions is held for an Uxbridge student. This position is a unique opportunity and gives you the opportunity to shape and influence the academic and social life for students at BNU in pursuit of the Students’ Union’s mission to ‘Make Life Better for Students at Bucks.’ You will also influence as a Trustee at Union sub-committees including EDI, finance, governance, and planning.
Executive Officers Executive Officers are part-time elected roles to ensure the Students’ Union represents all members and is inclusive and accessible for all, we have Executive Officers who represent eight student groups and are democratically elected by the students they represent.
The final four Officers are based on entry criteria when applying for university: Mature (aged 21 or over at the start of their degree); Part-Time and Commuting (part-time programmes and commuting students); International (paying international fees); and Postgraduate (postgraduate Theprogrammes).following
School Officers:
StudentBucksThe18
Please feel free to contact us at any of the following if you are interested in the roles: Email: surepresentation@bucks.ac.uk
Facebook: Bucks Rep, Bucks VPEW & BucksUxAyls Twitter: @BucksRep @buckssu Instagram: @Bucksrep @bucksstudentsunion
Nomination?
Executive Officer positions are still available and will be open for nominations on Monday 19 September and closing on Friday 7 October: Women’s; Students with Disabilities; Mature; and Part Time and Commuting.
Executive Officers are offered an extensive package of benefits, including Leadership Academy application support, additional free skills and training sessions, personalised one-to-one support, and are rewarded up to £350 for their work. Four of the Officer roles are self-defining: Women’s; Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME); Students with Disabilities; and LGBTQ+. Students who wish to stand or vote for these positions must self-define before doing so.
By Tash Neal
you are looking to get more out of your experience, gain and develop career-enhancing skills and make life better for students at Bucks, you may be interested in taking on one of the many leadership positions available to BNU students.
The positions we have available for this year are...
How do I submit my Rep Nominations for 2022/23 Student Reps open on Monday 19 September and close on Friday 7 October 2022, with Rep Elections taking place the following week. If you are interested, please email surepresentation@bucks.ac.uk with any questions or the following details to submit your nomination: Name, student ID, course name, year of study, preferred email
Having Charity Trust on your CV is a real bonus on a students’ CV that will highlight just how involved and engaged they have been whilst at University. We currently have one vacancy for this role opening on the 19 of September. If you'd like to find out more about this role, email surepresentation@bucks.ac.uk
Here’s what Heidi Thorne Student Trustee 20202022 had to say about being a Student Trustee for the Union: “To be one of the voices of my peers to the University is rewarding. I represent them in meetings to make sure their voice is heard.”
Your voice, just louder... Representation
As a Student’s Union we hold nine School Officer positions across the seven Schools. School Officers are students within that particular School who 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. We are still recruiting for the 2022/23 School Officer for Health Care and Social Professions as well as the School Officer for Nursing and Midwifery (February Cohorts). If you are interested in learning more about this role or would like to apply, please email surepresentation@bucks. ac.uk expressing your interest.
SPORT It's WINNING time...
specialFreshers'19Competitive sport
Competitive
This year our sports teams competitively were at their strongest with three league wins gaining promotion in our Men’s Football 1st and 2nd team along with our Men’s Futsal team. Our Men’s Basketball and Netball 1’s narrowly missing out on promotion finishing second in the league, at the end of each competitive year we celebrate our teams successes at an Athletic Union Awards awarding, Team of the Year, Captain of the Year, Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, Club of the Year and so on! Sport at Bucks is something that changes your University experience for the better and an area that you should absolutely get involved in, we asked students what sports meant to them and from our Men’s Rugby President Tim Cunningham: “Taking part in the sporting aspect of the students union has allowed me to create connections with a diverse group of students, allowing me to garner experiences that without using the students union I would never have been able to access”
If you have any questions relating to competitive sport prior to starting at University and know which sport they are for, please visit the Students’ Union website and visit the individual sports page in order to find the relevant contact details. If the questions are more general or pertain to a sport we do not appear to offer, please contact sports@bucks.ac.uk Or, pop into the Students Union office in September.
Here at Bucks we offer something not many Universities do, Competitive and Recreational Sports for FREE! Thanks to The Big Deal you can train and compete each week and not pay a Wepenny.have eleven different clubs that you can be apart of ranging from Basketball to Rugby, majority of our teams play on a Wednesday afternoon anywhere within the South East Region, we also offer the opportunity to individuals who compete in individual sports the chance to represent us in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS). Over the last few years we have sent boxers, swimmers and fencers to their chosen competition. If you are an individual competitor pop down to the SU office and we’ll do everything we can to get you competing in your chosen sport! If the conventional sports isn’t for you we also have Cheer and Dance clubs, they train weekly throughout the year to compete all over the country against a range of universities.
By Seana O'Reilly
StudentBucksThe20 Sport for Fun Keep active, try something new, and meet new people!
With the increase in interest in Cycling, we are launching Bucks Bike Scheme. As part of this we offer bike hire throughout the year, where for a small deposit you can access the bikes for any purpose that suits your needs, whether this be commuting to uni/work or for general exercise. We will make you aware of local clubs, should you wish to partake in group cycles, but this is something we would be looking to run regularly here at Bucks. When you hire a bike, you will also be made aware of local cycle routes so you can further explore the beautiful Chiltern Hills and get to know the local area better.
Bucks Bike Scheme
Daniel Lawrence Student and(RecreationalCoordinatorActivitiesSportSocieties)
What can I get involved in? We have an action-packed programme for you this year with a mixture of weekly activity such as Badminton, Basketball, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Snowsports and Yoga. Throughout the year we will also be running lots of fun trips which you can get involved in, Go Karting, Rush Trampoline Park and Ice Skating to name just a few, so be sure to keep track of our social media channels for all the latest information. If there is something we currently do not offer and is something you would like us to do, do not hesitate to get in touch.
SFF Ambassadors
We are looking for student leads for several sports so, if you have a passion for any sport and would like to enhance your CV whilst at university by gaining valuable leadership, organisation and communication get in touch. This is a volunteer role but we will reward you for your work by paying for a coaching course if this is something you wish to do. How do I get involved? If you are interested in participating or would like further information on any of the upcoming events, contact sport@bucks.ac.uk. Oh, and don’t forget to follow us on all our social media! Keep up to date with our social media; Facebook – Sport for Fun Bucks New Uni Twitter - @BucksSUSFF Instagram - @bucksstudentsactivities
We are ready to welcome you to Bucks whether you are returning student or coming for the very first time. Do you want to be active but not compete in sport? You can with our recreational sporting programme. With Sport for Fun you can try a variety of sports regardless of your ability. There is no commitment and the majority of our activities are free of charge and take place on different days, so there is always something for you to try. Sport for Fun gives you the opportunity to take part in sports you may not have previously tried, all in an enjoyable, non-competitive environment.
Volunteering opportunities are very varied and there is definitely something for everyone, from six month internships to one-off volunteering opportunities selling poppies for the British Legion. There is always an opportunity to get involved with that will fit around everyone’s busy university schedule and individual passions.
If you reach your platinum volunteering award, you will be invited to our annual Union Awards dinner evening to be presented with your Thiscertificate.academic year we are introducing volunteering bundles! If you reach 30 community hours, you will be able to collect your very own volunteering kit which includes a T-shirt, hoodie, backpack, portable charger and more! We want you to be kitted out in volunteering stash ready for any opportunity you may want to get involved with! There is only 50 bundles available so be quick and get logging those hours!
• Bronze award, 50 hours
Here at Bucks Students’ Union we are always encouraging students to volunteer as there are so many great benefits that you gain. Volunteering looks great on your CV and also provides you with many experiences and skills which will be great for after university life. Volunteering can be extremely rewarding and enjoyable and it is also a chance to meet likeminded people and make new friends.
• Silver award, 100 hours
Students who volunteer their time get rewarded by being awarded with certificates based on the hours they have put in. The hours are:
Volunteering at University can be so beneficial for you and can easily coincide with your studies. Volunteering can be anything from being on committee for a club or society, to giving back to the community either by helping with a river clean or working in a charity shop. Volunteering is anything in which you give up your own time to give back to something or someone else.
Volunteering
Last year our students volunteered over 7,000 hours in the community, running clubs and societies and through our internal Students' Union projects! Our students also managed to raise an amazing £18,677 last year for RAG.
• Platinum award, 400 hours
• Gold award, 200 hours
Volunteering
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Find a way to give back with...
Already planned for the first term we have a Bournemouth beach clean and Brighton Beach Clean during Give It A Go Week fortnight. Weekly visits to One Can Trust and a one-off visit to a goat centre to help look after the animals is also scheduled for the start of term 1! There are so many volunteering opportunities already in place for the year, if you want to see what we are offering visit the Bucks Students’ Union website and visit the volunteering portal where all the opportunities are kept.
Budgeting
Welfare benefits
TOTUM TOTUM (used to be called NUS extra card) gives you great discounts and savings. Visit totum.com to get your card now. Useful websites Money Saving moneysavingexpert.comExpert
• groceries £30 • daily travel £15 • socialising £40 • course costs £5 • takeaways £15
MONEY ADVICE
If not everyone is a full-time student then come to us for advice as it is complicated.
Council Tax If everyone living in a house is a full-time student then it is exempt from Council Tax. However, the Council will need proof and this can be obtained from The Student Centre.
We can’t recommend this website enough. It is full of helpful information about all things money. Particularly check out the budget planner, information on the best student bank accounts, the special deals and information on student sponsorships and grants. turn2us.org.ukTurn2us Turn2us is a national charity helping people when times get tough. A good website if you are a single parent on benefits, a section on studying and has a grant search. £133 For more information visit bucksstudentsunion.org/advice
Arriving at university without enough money will make your life very tough and can impact on your ability to pass your course.
Whilst we hope your time at University is all plain sailing and smiles, the Advice Centre is always here should that not be the case. We are the Advice Centre, here to listen to, advise and support students by providing a professional, independent and confidential service, which is accessible and welcoming. We will use our experience and knowledge on student issues to influence University thinking to make life better for students at BNU.
If you are on any welfare benefits before you start your course you must inform the relevant agency that you are now on a full-time higher education course. If you are eligible for student funding some of it is counted as income for benefit purposes.
Anyone on a low income can apply for help with health costs. To apply for help you will need to fill in an HC1 form and we have these in the Students’ Union Advice Centre.
Visit gov.uk for information on benefits.
To give you an idea of how much money you will need, here are some figures of what an average student might expect to spend in a week:
The total average spend in this example, is £238 per week. Obviously this does not mean that this will be your weekly spend, so it is important to work out what your budget will be for the year and plan accordingly. The money you may receive in loans from Student Finance and any other grants or bursaries, will probably not be enough to meet all your expenses, so money from a part-time job or from parents will be needed. It is also important to prioritise your expenditure, for instance making sure that you have enough money to pay your rent, bills and for food before you spend your money on other less important things.
2022-23 Guidance
Hopefully by now you have sorted out your finances for this academic year, and know what you’ll be getting in terms of student support or if you’re not eligible for student support, have enough money available to see you through. If you haven’t, you need to get this sorted as a matter of urgency.
The majority of full-time students in higher education are not eligible for any welfare benefits, but some are.
StudentBucksThe22 Advice Centre - Money guide
• rent
Health care costs
For eligible healthcare students only if you started your undergraduate healthcare course on or after 1 August 2017 or you are a postgraduate student that started a course on or after 1 August 2018, you may be eligible to apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF).
Studentstudentfinancewales.co.ukStudentsaas.gov.ukStudentstudentfinanceni.co.ukFinanceScotlandFinanceWalesFinanceEUteam
The NHS Learning Support Fund
If you want to apply for BNUHF or for more information, please make an appointment to see an advisor in either Advice Centre.
Advice Centre - Money guide
Social Work Bursaries, PO Box 141, Hesketh House, 200220 Broadway, Fleetwood, FY7 9AS tel: 0300 330 1342 Twitter: Facebook:@SWB_NHSBSA/socialworkbursaries
Applications can take some time to process, so you are strongly advised to apply before you run out of money if you are in financial hardship. The fund does not have to be repaid.
The LSF provides eligible student’s access to the Training Grant, Parental Support (PA), Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE), and the Exceptional Support Find (ESF). The Training Grant is a non-means tested grant of £5000 paid each academic year in three installments. An additional £1000 is paid to students on specific courses including mental health nursing. You will need evidence of eligibility in the form of your Student Finance letter to apply. The PA provides full-time students who have responsibility for dependent children under the age of 15 (17 if the child has special educational needs) on the first day of the academic year. Eligible students will receive a non-repayable grant of £2,000.
Ridgway House, Northgate Close, Middlebrook, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 6PQ tel: 0300 330 1345 Twitter: Facebook:@NHSBSA_Students/NHSstudentbursaries Social Work nhsbsa.nhs.uk/studentsBursary
The funding is paid in three instalments (£500 in term 1, £500 in term 2, £1,000 in term 3). If you are a part-time student you may be eligible for pro-rata funding, please contact the NHS directly for more details.
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The TDAE allows you to apply for your travel and dual accommodation claims. Eligible students are entitled to have some of the additional costs of attending placement reimbursed. The ESF is an additional non-repayable hardship fund and it is available to eligible healthcare students only.
telephone: 0300 100 0607 Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm Saturday and Sunday, 9am-4pm Text relay (Relay UK) (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone) 18001 then 0300 100 0607 Student Finance Northern Ireland
Bucks Students’ Union Advice Centre High Wycombe Campus tel: 01494 603 016 suadvice@bucks.ac.uk Uxbridge Campus tel: 01494 605 180 bucksstudentsunion.org/advice
UKCISA (The UK Council for International Student ukcisa.org.ukAffairs) tel: 020 7788 9214 Monday to Friday, 1-4pm Contact for advice and information on all overseas student issues, including funding and immigration. Financial help for disabled students in higher gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsaseducation
The Buckinghamshire New University Hardship Fund (BNUHF) can offer support if you are in financial hardship. Each application is assessed by The Student Centre following the BNUHF guidelines. If you receive a payment it will be based on the assessment. Each student’s reasons for applying and financial situation will differ from each other. You are eligible to apply if you are a ‘home’ full time or part time student. You must be in receipt of all funding that you are eligible for prior to applying to the fund. EU students who continue to be funded by Student Finance can apply to the BNU Hardship Fund, you will need to provide evidence of your Tuition Fee Loan. If you are a part-time student you must be studying the equivalent of 50% of a full-time course. Certain categories of students fall into priority groups for financial help from the Bucks Hardship Fund. Payments are given as grants which do not have to be repaid.
Useful contacts Student Finance gov.uk/student-financeEngland
Buckinghamshire New University Hardship Fund
telephone: 0141 243 3570 from outside the UK: +44 1412 433 570 Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm NHS Student nhsbsa.nhs.uk/studentsBursaries
For more information on the Learning Support Fund and to check your eligibility, please visit: nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund
GET INVOLVED WITH... CLUBSSOCIETIES SPORTS coming at you over the next few pages »
BNU Ladies Football have had a great 21/22 season, playing our first friendly fixture in years as a team and winning 4 - 0 against University of Reading ladies team. We have also maintained regular training every week on Thursday evening, because of this we were able to gain more friendlies and opportunities to represent Bucks New Uni. We have hosted much more socials this year as a club such as mini golf and Trampolining which has encouraged new and old faces to join the club/team. Last season the ladies' team worked closely with Coach Sim who developed our team cohesion as well as us individually to be confident in our abilities to join the league for next year. Going forward we have a very strong 22/23 committee that is working towards getting the club accredited as well as taking part in more collaborative projects with other clubs and societies.
By Amy Cowper
Ladies football is back!
Tune in. Listen up. Catch us live on the Bucks Students’ Union website 24/7.
specialFreshers'25Ladies Football
BNU Our students say...
Being involved in sports helped me make a lot of friends and helped me focus on my fitness, I am part of the BNU Swans All-star Cheer squad and Bucks Men’s Volleyball. Through these sports teams, I found family and now share a really close bond with them; just from being apart of both clubs in my first year now going into my second I am Captain of both BNU Swans AND Men’s Volleyball!
Welcome to the 'cheer'iest community in all of BNU!
We are BNU Swans Cheerleading, which is Bucks’ own cheerleading team. The team comprises of 3 competitive teams which are: All-star, Pom, and Jazz. Cheerleading as a sport relies heavily on team spirit and teamwork, which is not really a problem as we love supporting Lasteveryone!yearwas a great year, we had a handful of boys on our team, and considering that some of us were completely new to this, we have achieved good results, with one of the team placing 1st in one of the competitions. We also had the chance of performing in the boxing club’s fight night, which is a really good experience! Cheerleading is great for making friends, keeping on top of your fitness, or just blowing off steam. We encourage everyone to try it as it is a sport for everyone, no matter your gender nor experiences, whether you can do a backflip or a cartwheel. We are a big family and we would love for new people to join! Go Swans!
I started at Bucks this year and being in a completely new environment without knowing anyone else was really daunting for me, and it will be for anyone else. However, being in a club helped me a lot – Going to Freshers Fair was the best thing to do if you want to get involved in sports but don’t know where to start, it is a day where all the sports committees almost advertise their club and you can sign up to anything and everything Bucks has to offer!
SWANS
StudentBucksThe26
By Raffy Pantaleon BNU
Swans
I also got the chance to be nominated as Fresher of the Year at AU Dinner, participated in Varsity, and went to Croatia on Tour. I’m glad I joined, and I encourage everyone to do the same.Raffy Pantaleon Cheer & Men’s Volleyball
The varsity experience against Roehampton was spectacular, coming off a great season and finishing second in the league, we were all determined to get a win in varsity. Sessions leading to varsity were fun, with all the hype and all the tension building up, we knew it was important to get a win built also to have fun together as it would be our last game of the season.
Treasurer: Chloe Hayes (2nd year Music Business) Welfare Liaison: Dee Whyte (2nd year Early Childhood and Primary Education)
The committee have been very busy over the summer organising very exciting opportunities for returning and new members. These include; volunteering, showcases, takeover, external performances and many more! This is just a little insight to our amazing year here at Bucks MT, and we can't wait to make it amazing once again! So if you want more information about what we do, come and have a chat with us at freshers fair, or pop us a message on our instagram, @bucksmtsociety! We hold sessions every Monday 7:30-9 in DS1. We’re so excited to welcome returning and new members to this society this year. Watch this space and keep an eye on our socials for updates about freshers week and the rest of the year! 2021-22 has been by far my best year at University, especially since joining the basketball team. It was great to meet guys that shared the same passion as me about the game, and we’re ready to play as brothers on the court. Even outside the squad, the great times we had with the amazing Student Union staff. They all contributed and helped us be the best players and students we could be.
AU dinner also fell on my birthday this year, I got to be around all my friends and my teammates for the annual sports awards. We were up for many awards that evening, both individually and as a group. It was great to see some of our hard work during the season, with volunteering and off-court activity, pay off at the end of the academic year –the SU even went to the length to surprise me with a birthday cake and the whole room singing Happy Birthday topping then night off.
Basketball has always been a part of my life, and to have a team at the university was an incredible experience for me. I met a great coach, who was involved with all his players off the court, as he was on the court. It was like we built a brotherhood and you could tell that every time we stepped on the court together, every one of us was ready to play with everything we had to ensure a win, and we were there for each other off the court too.
Wow! What a year Bucks Musical Theatre has had!
Our students say...
Captain & Secretary: Ellie Lee (3rd year Performing Arts)
From achieving a very successful takeover, Tropicana Nights, with Bucks Men’s Rugby, to getting Outstanding Society yet again, to an amazing end of year showcase, to our former Chair, Jessica Bradbury, winning Society Member of the year, to our biggest highlight winning Society of the year, after previously winning it back in 2019!
Social Secretary: Marissa Leyden (2nd year Sports Therapy)
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Leo Juster Men’s Basketball
Musical Theatre
Overall, it was the best possible year, I could’ve had to come off the back of the pandemic. I met a lot of people during the year who have become great friends and now I just look forward to next year which I know I’ll be much better.
Amidst all this success, we welcome in a new committee made up of: Chair: Tegan Arnott (3rd year Performing Arts)
By Tegan Arnott, Ellie Lee, Dee Whyte
By Maya Jones
• Advanced
In my first year, I auditioned for the Advanced Street Team, which I got into. Unfortunately due to covid, we were unable to compete that year however it was still a great experience to meet new people and share our creativity. Being surrounded by other dancers that I looked up to encouraged me to go for the choreographer position in my second year.
Starting at Bucks New Uni I initially started on the Dance course after doing further research into what I wanted for my future career I transferred courses to Sports and Exercise Science. With the support of lecturers, the student union and friends, I could continue dancing and competing by joining BNU Dance Club. By becoming more involved with the student union I was able to join other clubs such as ladies' football and take part in various volunteering Iopportunities.startedBucks New Uni moving to a new area and not knowing anyone, joining clubs allowed me to meet new people with similar interests and build my confidence. As a fresher, I was reluctant to join any clubs at first however at the end of the day we were all new once, and you never know you'll like something unless you try.
Our students say...
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For members who do not wish to compete we also offer technique and fitness sessions with all our choreographers so that you can build confidence and learn new styles. We also offer masterclasses weekly by industry professionals, this is a great opportunity for you to learn new skills and learn off of the best! All sessions are completely free and open to all abilities.
If you are interested in joining BNU Dance please come visit our Freshers Fair stall where you can sign up and ask questions about our club! You can also contact us through our social media pages. You can find us on instagram under @bnudanceclub
The team at the Students’ Union helped so much in supporting the role and keeping me fully informed about my duties and assisting me with the best way to carry them out whilst balancing training and my studies. There’s so much more on offer than simply ‘playing sports and it’s all down to the Students’ Union’s commitment to providing the Big Deal, which means all students can take part in any sport free of charge. It’s a fantastic offer that opens up sporting opportunities to everyone and removes so many barriers, and I would advise all freshers to take advantage of this and try their hand at any sport that interests them, it’s a once-in-a-lifetimeItalia-Cardaichance. Coote
StudentBucksThe28 Dance Club
Each year BNU Dance holds its own competition in the events hall. Whether you are part of the teams or not we encourage everyone to come along and support our event.
Novice Street Choreographer allowed me to share my creativity with others from teaching masterclasses to competing at multiple competitions and coming back with amazing results. I was also able to join teams within the dance club such as Jazz, Contemporary and Tap broadening my knowledge of the styles, whilst still being able to study my chosen course.
BNU
and
We had a great year and brought home loads of trophies! BNU Dance competed at 4 different competitions, Southampton, Surrey, DMU and our very own Bucks Comp. BNU Dance managed to place all routines over the whole competition season and brought home three special judges choice awards including Team Spirit, Casey Rolls won Best Female Dancer and Felix Swallow won Best male Dancer! We are unbelievably proud of all the achievements of all teams over our competition season, with a special mention to our Novice Ballet team choreographed by Paige Hamiltion, whose piece placed at all 4 competitions!
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• Advanced
Joining the bucks ladies team has been a journey of consistent training and game opportunities. Becoming part of the committee had additional responsibility however I was always able to come to anyone on the student union teams if I had questions. As social secretary, I was able to arrange trips such as Mini Golf, and Trampolining to encourage team building and meeting new people.
• Commercial •
We cannot wait to welcome all the new freshers and to host our annual auditions for BNU Dances Competition teams.
BNU Dance are SUPER excited to welcome all the new freshers in september we have so many exciting things planned!
This year our teams are: Novice ballet tap Novice contemporary contemporary jazz Novice street Latin And an opportunity for Solo/Duo/Trios
• Advanced
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More information about our competition teams will be available at the freshers' fair.
My second year of university was a very positive experience for me as I became the Novice Street Choreographer of BNU Dance Club and the Social Secretary of Bucks Ladies Football.
By Claire Sessions / Tash Neal society / Union Council
For more information about Union Council and how you can get involved, please speak to any member of the sabbatical team or email surepresentation@bucks.ac.uk Keep an eye on our What’s On page on the Students’ Union website to see the dates for this year’s Union Council or pick up a Wall Planner from the Uxbridge or High Wycombe desks which will have the dates scheduled in for you!
...did someone say FREE pizza?
Our four Sabbatical Officers also give a monthly update on what they've been doing and their plans for the upcoming month so students can scrutinise them and hold them to account around their campaign promises from when they were elected.
This year is an exciting year as we work towards launching our first ever pride event at BNU in June. The society currently meets every Monday evening where we play games, plan socials and have a chat. The visibility and inclusion for lgbtq+ students has been amazing to see and the launch of pronoun and pride badges has been a success. This year we plan to build on this by providing more educational material, working with the students union to increase visual inclusivity and more events around awareness days. We
LGBTQ+
Welcome to the LGBTQ+ society!
LGBTQ+
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Our four Student Trustees will give an update on the key areas of focus that they feel the student membership should be aware of so that students can ask questions, making sure that the student voice is heard at all levels throughout the Union. Additionally, our eight Executive Officers also provide reports on their work and raise any issues brought forward from the student groups they are responsible for. Free refreshments are provided at every meeting including FREE Domino's pizza. So not only can you have a major input on the student experience at BNU but you can also grab yourself some free pizza in the process - what's not to love?!
Union Council...
Union Council is the highest form of representation at the Students’ Union and is our senior representative body. The Council meets monthly during term time and was formed to represent the voice of the students. The Council is a platform that informs students about the changes to policies within the Union, and the opportunity to vote on University-wide issues and directs our lobbying approach.
Why don't you give it a 'try'!
This year Bucks Men’s Rugby are looking to continue our success from last year’s season, in which we managed to win club of the year at the AU Awards evening. The boys also managed to put on a great display at Varsity after a year of developing a predominantly fresher team some of which had never even played Rugby before! As part of our club there are two training sessions a week on Monday and Friday at Marlow Rugby club which also provides the opportunity for more training sessions and games with Marlow. Aside from the Rugby we have socials every Wednesday which are a mixture of drinking socials and sober socials, we also have our Rugby Takeover to look forward to which was a great success at raising money for the Club this year. There are also volunteering opportunities that everyone in the club can get involved with.
StudentBucksThe30 Rugby
Overall, Bucks Men’s Rugby are hoping to improve on our successes last year and create a strong team to go and smash Roehampton at Varsity next year.
RUGBY Men's
By Ciaran Bond
Men's
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By Georgia Reeve BNU Hockey
Welcome to Buckinghamshire New University's Hockey Team, we are a fun and inspiring club open for all with both men's and women's teams.
Patrick Who recently joined Bucks Hockey last year stated that, “I wanted to join a sport that was both competitive and enjoyable and I found that bucks hockey was it. I was greeted really well amongst team mates and feel like I have settled in amongst the team. My favourite part of hockey was competing in Varsity, the biggest event in the University calendar. There was an amazing atmosphere from the supporters and coming together as a team putting all of our hard work into practise”
As well as making new friends, hockey at BNU is part of the BIG DEAL, which means all membership to all the sports including hockey is free! Which means you get 2 hours of training by a professional GB Level coach for free, as well as regular competitive games. All organised by students on the committee who also hold regular social events to bring the team closer together.
HOCKEYBNU I wanted to join a sport that was both competitive and enjoyable and I found that Bucks hockey was it!
Awards – including awards both nominated and won for AU dinner and Union Awards.
Skills – including all co-curricular training sessions and workshops undertaken with us. Member activities – including memberships of clubs and societies, recreational activities and sports for fun sessions.
Employment – including Freshers helpers, bar and events staff and others.
Volunteering Poppy selling – 8 hours Chiltern Rangers – 3 hours Smile Campaign – 3 hours Gardening at Wycombe Museum – 2 hours Brighton Beach Clean Up – 5 hours Good Deed Day – 1.5 hours Skills Autism Awareness Bullying Awareness
Did you know that we keep a record of everything that you get involved with at the Students’ Union? And that everything you get involved with can create incredible transferrable skills to the workplace? That is why we created the Bucks Award!
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Designed to give you a record of all your achievements and activities undertaken with the Students’ Union, we can provide printed copies of these to you at your request any time during the year. The Bucks Award is broken down into headings:
As employability has been ranked as a top priority for our students, we can also offer Bucks Award sessions to students at any time through the year. These are self-reflective sessions, where we help you understand what skills you have gained through your time with us and how you can effectively articulate these both in applications and interviews when applying for your dream job. These sessions typically last 1 hour and can be booked around your schedule, either online or in person.
OCD UnderstandingAwarenessDeafnessEndofLifeCareOnlineReputationManagementSignLanguagePublicSpeakingCookingLessonBeginnersScubaDivingCareersintheArtsTimeManagementSafeguardingandProtectingChildrenMakeUpMasterclassBusinessPathEndtheAwkwardPublicSpeakingPublicSpeakingLevel2 Employment Freshers’ Helper Bar Students’Staff Union Receptionist Leadership roles Course Rep RAG BadmintonAmbassadorTreasurer Memberships BadmintonRugbyCosplay&Craft Society Snowsoc Awards Big Deal Award for Engagement 2017 Membership Services Employee of the Year 2018 RAG Charity Fundraiser of the Year Nominee Student Rep of the Year Nominee Membership Services Student Staff Member of the Year Nominee BUCKS AWARD Acknowledging commitment & celebrating success John Smith Graphic Design | 2021 To request your Bucks Award, a Bucks Award session, or for more information on either of these please email us at sutraining@bucks.ac.uk. We hope to see you soon!
The Bucks Award can be used as an ongoing reflective tool to identify any areas you feel we can help you develop, maybe you will accrue many volunteering hours in your first year, but would then like to secure a leadership role, or maybe you will attend a number of skills sessions and would like to use those skills working for us!
Volunteering – the number of hours of volunteering you have delivered including a breakdown of whether this was community, committee, ambassador or other.
Leadership roles – including membership of the Leadership Academy, committee roles, representation roles and others.
