INFORMATION PACK An accreditation scheme designed to support development, identify success and reward achievement
Welcome from your Activities Officer I believe our sport clubs and societies are one of the most vibrant and exciting movements on our campus. Whatever walk of life you come from there is something for everyone at Huddersfield. Everyone has the opportunity to participate and experience the positive impact sport and other society can have on your university experience. I feel privileged to work with the clubs and societies we have and this year my team and I will do our best to ensure that our activity groups are gaining the credit they deserve for their commitment to making student life better! The SU's aim is to provide educational social opportunities for our students and the 'Activities Quality Mark' is an accreditation scheme that has been introduced to support our sports clubs and societies, whilst identifying areas of success and rewarding achievement. Good Luck! Dilara Changis Activities Officer 2016/17
Activities Quality Mark Why introduce it? The Activities Quality Mark is an accreditation scheme aimed at supporting sports clubs and societies through providing opportunities for development, identifying success, and rewarding achievement! The ‘Activities Quality Mark’ provides a structured way of assessing student activity groups, highlights areas for improvement, but most importantly allows success to be identified and rewarded! The scheme encourages sports clubs and societies to get involved with a wider variety of activities throughout the year, encouraging groups to step outside of their comfort zones and do things that will benefit larger amounts of our students and even reach out to the community. How does it work? Activity groups can aim for Bronze, Silver, or Gold status through fulfilling the set criteria - which has been broken down into seven key categories. These categories are broken down as follows: Engagement – This category recognises your commitment and engagement with procedures, policies and the democratic structures of the Students’ Union and additional opportunities provided by the Students’ Union. Participation – This category recognises your commitment to equality and diversity, in addition to exploring your ability to engage with students and widen participation. Activity – This category recognises your ability to fulfil your activity group’s own aims and objectives, as well as assessing the quality of opportunities your group provides for students. Community – This category recognises your commitment to the wider local community through volunteering and fundraising opportunities. Committee – This category recognises your ability to effectively complete operational tasks associated with running your activity group. Marketing – This category recognises your ability to promote your own group’s activities, utilising the marketing resources provided by the Students’ Union. Finance – This category recognises your ability to successfully plan and manage your budget as well as the steps you take to ensure the financial sustainability of the group. There are four possible levels per category which activity groups may submit evidence for, and within each level there are a number of bullet points. Essentially these bullet points are goals in which activity groups should aim towards to earn their accreditation status.
Community
Activity
Participation
Engagement
Framework
Level 1
Level 2
- All committee members attend Basic Committee Training - Two committee members present at Annual General Meeting (AGM)
- Group holds a stall during Freshers’ Week & Refreshers’ Week - All Committee members present at AGM - One member present at Activities Forums
Level 3
Met Level 2 criteria as well as: - Group hosts interactive and engaging activities during Freshers’ and Refreshers’ week - All committee members and 10% of all none committee members present at AGM - Committee members attend one additional training session i.e. How to run committee elections. - Group has set up a - Group maintains Met Level 2 criteria as membership fee. membership number well as: - Group commits to the in comparison to - Group increased their SU policies on Equality previous academic membership by 10% in and Diversity as part of year comparison to the Health and Safety - Group demonstrated previous academic Pack. support to the SU year campaign focused on - Group volunteers and participation actively gets involved in SU campaign focused on participation - Plan of activities - Groups holds regular Met Level 2 criteria as submitted as part of activities for their well as: the Ratification and members directly - Group organises a Grant Pack. linked to the group’s one off big - Aims and Objectives aims and objectives event/campaign set up as part of the - Groups utilises the SU targeted at their Ratification and Grant website to sell tickets members Pack. - Group holds a Give it - Group organises their a Go session. own GIAG session outside of GIAG week.
- Group submits plan of opportunities for students to get involved in as part of the Ratification and Grant Pack
- Group participates in one volunteering opportunity* (recorded in Activities in the Community Log*) - Group participates in a RAG organised fundraising initiative*
- Group participates in more than one volunteering opportunity* - Group participates in more than one RAG organised fundraising initiative*
Level 4 Met Level 3 criteria as well as: - Group members volunteering during SU events - All committee members and 20% all none committee members present at AGM - Committee members attend two or more additional training sessions (i.e. How to Run Committee Elections) Met Level 3 criteria as well as: - Group increased their membership by 20% in comparison to the previous academic year - Group sets up and runs their own participation campaign
Met Level 3 criteria as well as: - Group provides opportunities for members to gain professional qualifications - Group receives recognition outside the Union or University - Group collaborates with other groups on campus - Group sets up a reoccurring volunteering initiative* - Groups organise a regular (at least once a term) fundraising initiative*
Committee Marketing
- Grant and Ratification Pack; Health and Safety Pack and Committee Notification Pack submitted - Information and logo submitted for group website. - Committee Members have been elected democratically - Group keeps their website up to date - Group has their own unique logo
Finance
- Budget request submitted as part of the Grant and Ratification Pack
- Committee attends 1to-1 meeting with VP Activities. - 50% of members vote in the Committee Elections
Met Level 2 criteria as well as: - Committee provides the SU with evidence of handover documents - 70% of members vote in the Committee Elections
Met Level 3 criteria as well as: - Committee shares minutes/notes from key meetings with their members and the SU - 90% of members vote in the Committee Elections
Met Level 2 criteria as well as: - Effectively engaging with the SU social media i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram - Group produces news stories for one off campaigns and events. - Group effectively Met Level 2 criteria as generates income from well as: membership fees and - Group secures ticket sales sponsorship, including discounts for its members
Met Level 3 criteria as well as: - Group effectively engages with Student Media - Group produces creative and innovative marketing campaigns and materials Met Level 3 criteria as well as: - Group makes the effort to secure external funding through submission of quality bids written in partnership with the SU - Groups generates income through innovative and enterprising activities
- Group effectively uses at least one social media platform. - Group uses SU website to promote their event and activities
Scoring Points will be awarded as following: Meeting all the bullet points in a criteria box at level 1: 1 points Meeting all the bullet points in a criteria box at level 2: 2 points Meeting all the bullet points in a criteria box at level 3: 3 points Meeting all the bullet points in a criteria box at level 4: 4 points Total Score Your overall score will be calculated by adding up the points your group accumulates. Ratification = 7 – 11 points Bronze = 12 – 17 points Silver = 18 – 23 points Gold = 24 points +
Accreditation To ensure all Activities Quality Mark submissions are judged fairly and consistently, the Students Activities Executive (SAE) will meet at the end of each term to approve applications or to propose suggestions on how activity groups can strengthen their application. The judging panel will consist of: Exec Officers: VP Student Activities & VP Comms + Democracy Student Reps: Sports Rep & Societies Rep Staff Reps: Student Activities and Events Manager & Head of Membership Engagement The judging panel will consider each application based on receiving a completed “Activities Quality Mark Application Form” along with the submissions of any relevant/additional evidence to it. Additional evidence could include (for example) recorded attendance levels, photo evidence, screenshots of online activity, etc. Incentives Not only will achieving Bronze, Silver, or Gold status improve your activity group’s reputation and ability to recruit new members; there are also a number of other rewards and incentives available to achieve, including: Bronze • Bronze Activities Quality Mark logo to use on all materials for the academic year • Bronze Activities Quality Mark status in all SU materials • Bronze Activities Quality Mark logo on website • Access to student designers/photographer for one hour • £35 towards banners for the group or equivalent marketing material Silver • • • • • •
Silver Activities Quality Mark logo to use on all materials for the academic year Silver Activities Quality Mark status in all SU materials Silver Activities Quality Mark logo on website Access to student designers/photographer for two hours £75 towards banners for the group or equivalent marketing material £50 towards developmental activities
Gold • • • • • • •
Gold Activities Quality Mark logo to use on all materials for the academic year Gold Activities Quality Mark status in all SU materials Gold Activities Quality Mark logo on website Recognition at the Annual SU Awards Access to student designers/photographer for three hours Bid for up to £500 for developmental activities Prioritised consideration for Freshers’ week bookings
Contact For advice on how to improve your activity group’s Activities Quality Mark application, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with su.activities@hud.ac.uk or come and see us at the help desk of the Students’ Union.
Activities Quality Mark Application Form Your Group’s Details Activity Group: Committee Members: (Names & Student Numbers)
Activity Group Contact Email:
Congratulations on reaching this stage of activity with your group! Applying for accreditation through the Activities Quality Mark demonstrates the positive impact you have been having on your members and the general student population. Please use this opportunity to detail how you believe your activity group has fulfilled the criteria for each category, along with stating what level of criteria you believe your activity group has met for that category and please also provide evidence where possible (Please attach any evidence and reference this within your application). Engagement This category recognises your commitment and engagement with procedures, policies and the democratic structures of the Students’ Union and additional opportunities provided by the Students’ Union. Comments and any evidence... Level we believe our group has achieved for this category = _____
Participation This category recognises your commitment to equality and diversity, in addition to exploring your ability to engage with students and widen participation. Comments and any evidence... Level we believe our group has achieved for this category = _____ Activity This category recognises your ability to fulfil your activity group’s own aims and objectives, as well as assessing the quality of opportunities your group provides for students. Comments and any evidence... Level we believe our group has achieved for this category = _____
Community This category recognises your commitment to the wider local community through volunteering and fundraising opportunities. Comments and any evidence... Level we believe our group has achieved for this category = _____ Committee This category recognises your ability to effectively complete operational tasks associated with running your activity group. Comments and any evidence... Level we believe our group has achieved for this category = _____
Marketing This category recognises your ability to promote your own group’s activities, utilising the marketing resources provided by the Students’ Union. Comments and any evidence... Level we believe our group has achieved for this category = _____ Finance This category recognises your ability to successfully plan and manage your budget as well as the steps you take to ensure the financial sustainability of the group. Comments and any evidence... Level we believe our group has achieved for this category = ___