Impact Report 2012

Welcome to our 2012 Impact Report.

In this report you can read about our achievements over the last year, demonstrating the impact that LiverpoolSU has had on the lives of its members from January to December 2012.

Academic Life

Corinne Carter Course Rep (DipHe) Adult Nursing During my time as a Course Rep, I have been involved in making positive change within the University, particularly the Nursing programmes, making me feel like I am really playing a part in improving things for myself and for future students. Talking to my peers and receiving feedback has been a really positive experience for me, giving me fantastic communication skills and confidence in my own abilities – two skills which will benefit me in my future career as a Staff Nurse. I also think that my time as a Course Rep for LiverpoolSU will increase my employability by demonstrating that I can embrace positive change, am dedicated and can communicate well with a broad spectrum of people.

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Social Life

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Work Life

Kylie Mills BA (Hons) Marketing Graduate 2012 I never got involved with LiverpoolSU until I started my placement as a Student Group Coordinator. While working in the organisation I witnessed first-hand the vital service that LiverpoolSU provides for LJMU students. Upon completing my placement I felt compelled to remain involved and was elected as Chair of the Better Union Forum and a Trustee for the organisation. Volunteering as a Trustee is one of the most valuable things I did whilst at University; I developed analytical skills that I never knew I had through scrutinising reports and finances, I learned how to command the attention of a room, I noticed that I was becoming more articulate and that I was learning to pull critical information out of discussions and feed into organisational development, for example when creating policies. I joined LiverpoolSU as a shy person and left as a confident individual with ambition to make change and the ability to stand up for what I believe in.

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Support Life Becci King Student Adviser, LiverpoolSU: Emily was in her 3rd year but had been suspended from her programme due to training needs arising on her placement. She was told she had to attend a Fitness to Practise panel and was really worried about being excluded from University so close to the end of her course and didn’t know what to say at the panel meeting.

We met with Emily at each step of the proceedings, and went to the pre-panel meetings and the panel hearing with her. We helped her to put her evidence in order and think about what questions the panel may ask and how she would answer them. We then met with her before the panel to make sure she was fully prepared and at the panel we ensured that the process was being followed correctly, and supported her whilst the panel deliberated.

Without the reassurance and help provided by our Advice Centre, Emily was considering withdrawing from University because she was so anxious about the Fitness to Practise process. With our support she was confident enough to go through the process and give her account of events.

The panel agreed that Emily should be allowed to finish her course, and has put in place learning objectives and support to help her through the last few months of her studies.

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Campaigns

Hidden Course Costs Campaign As a result of our NUS award-winning campaign against Hidden Course Costs, LiverpoolSU successfully lobbied LJMU to give a Virtual Purse contribution of ÂŁ50 to all students. @JessicaBriers: loving the free ÂŁ50 from uni for printing @LJMU @LiverpoolSU 6

Making it Happen

Jodie Pearce Course Rep and Mature Students Delegate Being a mature student can be quite isolating – my days of pub crawls and club nights are mostly behind me and I don’t live in halls so I was worried that I’d struggle to meet other students. The SU have co-ordinated several events that I’ve attended and are incredibly inclusive and welcoming – you genuinely feel part of a community and that your views are heard and acted on. I’m in the third month of my degree and I didn’t think I’d feel so comfortable and empowered at uni – the SU were a major aspect of this.

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To see our full Impact Report, visit www.liverpoolsuimpact.co.uk