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WELCOME This report summarises the impact of the huge range of achievements, services and opportunities we offered in a year in which the Union was busier than ever before. We agreed a new Strategic Plan and revised our Mission Statement to the following:“GSU exists to inspire and empower students to change the world.” We are central to the experience of students at Goldsmiths and work hard to represent all sections of our diverse student body. Like the College, we have a strong sense of our values, and the work we do stems from these core beliefs. One behalf of the Trustee Board I would like to thank all of those students & staff who contribute to making GSU what it is – a compaigning organisation committed to continual improvement and a Union to be proud of.
James Haywood - President 2011-12
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REPRESENTING STUDENTS EFFECTIVELY DELIVERING DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES AN EXCELLENT ETHICAL UNION
ENSURING FINANCIAL STABILITY
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Goldsmiths Students’ Union Impact Report 2012
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CONTENTS
04/05/06/07 08/09 10/11 12/13/14/15
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KEY OBJECTIVES Our Mission:
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To achieve this we aim to: • Provide exciting opportunities for the expression of student opinion and actively represent the interests of students; • Act as an effective channel of communication between Goldsmiths students, Goldsmiths College and other external bodies; • Promote the welfare of students at Goldsmiths College; • Facilitate the social, recreational and educational needs of Goldsmiths students, providing them with services and support; • Working with other students’ unions and affiliated bodies in the interests of Goldsmiths students. In addition to these aims GSU ensures the diversity of its membership is recognised, valued and supported and has established departments and services to achieve these aims. These include Representation and Democracy, Sports, Societies, Volunteering, Media, Advice, the Nursery, The Stretch and the G-Shop. GSU Officers sit on almost every University committee and meet with other providers of public services to students to ensure effective representation of Goldsmiths students to all interested stakeholders.
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Goldsmiths Students’ Union Impact Report 2012
ACHIEVEMENTS To pass our Investors in People reasseement
We passed the reassessment and received very positive feedback from the assessment.
To increase election turnout to 26%.
Not achieved. Turnout dropped to 16%
To improve communication with members.
We launched a new website which has received excellent feedback and strengthened our social media presence.
To pass the Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative assessment (an externally assessed kite-mark to ensure continuous improvement).
We were accredited with a prestigious Bronze award.
To achieve ‘Best Bar None’ status again, which recognises the quality of our licensed services.
We achieved a silver award, putting us in the top 20 unions.
To maintain GSU’s high national profile through officer and staff volunteer involvement in student organisations such as NUS and NUS Services Limited.
We were hosts to NUS’s first Activist Conference and have several full time officers and staff elected onto NUS and NUSSL Committees.
To increase the provision of advice and support for students searching for accommodation.
We utilised social media to help students with advice and finding accommodation. We also organised several successful ‘Speed Housemating’ events.
To obtain “Gold” in the Green Impact Awards, proving we lead the way on environmental and ethical work.
We maintained our Gold standard in environmental and ethical practices. •
To ensure the refurbishment of as many parts of the Union as possible.
• • •
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Refurbished The Stretch & Common Room Installed a new reception with new frontage & windows Refurbished the main Union toilets Significant development of the gym changing rooms
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REPRESENTING STUDENTS EFFECTIVELY
Effective, evidence-based representation is crucial for GSU as we believe that student views should shape the future of Goldsmiths. We believe that communication is fundamental to representation as we understand it is impossible to represent anyone unless you can understand their issues.
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GSU represents students through two systems - the Department Student Coordinators and our democratic structures. These systems are open to all Goldsmiths students. Some key achievements in this area are on the next page.
The full time elected officers 2011-12
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Goldsmiths Students’ Union Impact Report 2012
VOTER TURN OUT
16
TOTAL
NUMBER OF
24 % CANDIDATES
1221 VOTERS £315,325
50
.00
.13%
OF THE OVERALL EXPENDITURE INVESTED IN REPRESENTATION
1798 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS
=100 LIKES
33
% INCREASE
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DELIVERING DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES
There is no single ‘student experience’, but many student experiences. We have a significant impact on the lives of students through the delivery of diverse opportunities, enabling our students to make the most of their time at Goldsmiths.
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We do this by placing equality and diversity at the heart of our culture and activity.
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Goldsmiths Students’ Union Impact Report 2012
76 ACTIVE SPORTS & SOCIETIES
23
%
INCREASE
£119,726 JESS SHARMAN - STUDENT STAFF
INVESTED INTO STUDENT STAFF “MY TIME AT GOLDSMITHS HAS BEEN MADE
A LOT EASIER
BY BEING A PART OF
52 55 2011-2012
2010-2011
GOLDSMITHS SU”
ACTIVE SOCIETIES
ACTIVE SOCIETIES
474 1629
SPORTS MEMBERS www.goldsmithssu.org
SOCIETY MEMBERS
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AN EXCELLENT ETHICAL UNION
We operate in a competitive environment where students enter higher education with increasingly high expectations. GSU has high standards and we are always working hard to improve our processes and to be more effective at what we do. We have several external accreditations we are proud to have achieved.
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Our belief in collectivism ensures we embrace our responsibilities beyond the walls of Goldsmiths. GSU believes that the pursuit of ethical and environmental excellence throughout the organisation and active lobbying for it beyond will ensure we meet our responsibilities and become a sustainable organisation.
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GOLD SILVER BRONZE GREEN
IMPACT AWARD BEST
BAR
NONE AWARD
STUDENTS’ UNION EVALUATION INITIATIVE BRONZE AWARD
COMMENTS ON THE
ADVICE SERVICE Once again thank you so much for listening and for giving me your support. It’s now all over as a new life just begins.
Since receiving your advice, I’ve managed to persuade them to give me the late summer resits without going to the Ombudsman. Thanks again.
I don’t think I could have got the result I wanted without your help
I submitted the appeal, that you helped me with, and fortunately I got part of the fees paid (£800) back in compensation for the experience I was complaining about. I have accepted the settlement and the case is now closed. Thank you
I saw you last week on Thursday in regards to an appeal. Thanks again for all your invaluable help and insight. www.goldsmithssu.org
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ENSURING FINANCIALSTABILITY
In uncertain times it is more important than ever that GSU manages its finances carefully and builds reserves (savings used in exceptional circumstances) in line with the policy set out by the Trustee Board. In 2011-12 we generated a surplus of over £9,000, broadly in line with our budget. It was particularly pleasing that the nursery generated only a small loss, given the fact this was the first year of operation and it took time to build numbers and fill the spaces. And we were delighted the College chose to invest £250,000 in a refurbishment of the gym changing rooms, as the state of the old rooms was a major issue for members.
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GSU has now generated surpluses in eight of the last nine years and our reserves have grown significantly during this time. However, we recognise that GSU needs to continue to build its reserves to levels capable of dealing with an unexpected problem or further downturns in trading turnover, particularly as we are now running the nursery.
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Goldsmiths Students’ Union Impact Report 2012
UNION NET ASSETS 2007
£7,622 £287,519
UNION NET ASSETS 2012
UNION INCOME INCREASED FROM 2O11 BY
£183,741 4.2%
6.7%
4.9% 9.3%
10.1%
11.8%
50.3%
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CLUBS STUDENT DEVELOPMENT BAR ENTERTAINMENTS COMMUNICATIONS NURSERY VENUE & BUILDING CENTRAL STAFFING GENERAL ADMIN REPRESENTATION & DEMOCRACY
NET EXPENDITURE
2011-12
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GOING FORWARD Our plans for 2012-13 are linked to our new Strategic Plan and based around our two pillars and the two foundations:-
Pillar 1: Representing Students Effectively • • • • • • •
We will work closely with the University to produce a new student engagement and experience strategy Increase the number of candidates and turnout for our elections Maintain GSUs high national profile by involvement of full time officers, volunteers and staff on national campaigns, committees and organisations. Campaign against cuts, fees and the marketisation of Higher Education With trade unions campaign against public sector cuts Empower and support student representatives to raise and resolve issues at the departmental level Raise awareness of work opportunities and ways in which students can improve their employability during their time at university.
Pillar 2: Delivering Diverse Opportunities • • • •
We will ensure better training and support for sports clubs and societies Increase the number of volunteering opportunities and improve engagement with the local community Increase the numbers of students GSU provides advice to, by seeking to involve volunteers in providing basic levels of advice on housing and other matters Investigate the possibility of academic credit for extra-curricular activities
Foundation: An Excellent, Ethical Union
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• • • •
Achieve an “Outstanding” report in the coming Ofsted inspection of the nursery Produce a strong business case for the College to fund a major refurbishment or replacement of the Tiananmen Building Review our Constitution Use the Student Union Evaluation Initiative feedback to improve key union areas.
Foundation: Financial Sustainability • • •
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Generate an overall surplus of £12k Review and improve our financial systems and procedures Review and agree a new reserves policy
Goldsmiths Students’ Union Impact Report 2012
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