Rag chair impact report 2013 14

RAG Chair Impact Report 2013/14 RGU:RAG is the fundraising arm of Robert Gordon University Students Association, organising a number of charitable events throughout the year, with all the proceeds going to local, national and international charities. RGU:RAG is an entirely student led group, supported by a student elected Chair and in-house elected committee. These core committee members assist in the organizing of the overall running and support for the fundraising efforts of students and staff throughout the academic year.

RGU:RAG has been established at RGU since 2003. As RAG has continued to develop over the last eleven years. Following the expansion from being a society to becoming an arm of the students union and open to all members of the student body, RGU:RAG has achieved greater awareness as well as increased involvement in our activities and volunteering opportunities.

Objectives for 2013/14 •

To increase the knowledge of RAG across the student body and encourage student volunteering and fundraising to grow RGU RAG

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To encourage more local volunteering and community engagement in promotion of RAG “Give Time Not Money” campaign.

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To develop the number of international challenges and volunteering projects available to students to provide unrivalled experiences.

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To focus on RAG recognition for student volunteers and fundraisers and promoting students to track their volunteering efforts.

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To continue the relations with other RAG’s and charities we work with to build on these as well as create new relations to ensure RAG is represented at a national level.

Achievements for 2013/14 •

RGU RAG raised £25,145.38 raised for local, national and international charities.

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4 local charities

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7 national charities

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2 international charities

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Food Drive for 1 local charity including; 2 cuppa soup packs, 3 tins of soup, 5 misc items, 5 tins of beans, 6 ready meals, 8 pasta/rice, 8 tins of veg, 11 cans of meat, 14 sweet treats

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RGU RAG continued with their overseas challenges – 3 students visited Morocco for a Big Build Volunteering Project, 1 student will visit Tanzania in Climb Kili 4 Kids and 1 student to Morocco in Operation Sahara.

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RGU RAG Chair won Outstanding Individual at the First National RAG Awards at the Birmingham RAG Conference 2013

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RGU RAG won Best Newcomers at Childreach International’s Awards Ceremony in Nottingham with eight members attending the event.

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RGU RAG won the Students Association award of Consistency and Excellence for the 4th consecutive year

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Three RAG members received Half Scarlet’s at the Student Achievement Awards Ball.

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First cross campus fundraising campaign with Movember involving staff, students, sports teams and societies to come together in fundraising.

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Introducing the first campus wide onsite challenge event – Bungee Jump – to allow students to take on the challenge without having to travel or pay high registration costs.

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RGU hosted the first Scottish regional National Student Fundraising Association meeting (NaSFA) with four other universities represented, chaired by NaSFA committee member Anna McGivern (York RAG)

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Continued relations with AUCC by sitting on the Torcher Parade Stakeholders meetings

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Received internal and external news coverage; Internal coverage in the bulletin, nexus and online news stories. External, local and national press and charity recognition – including a feature in first NaSFA newsletter.

Representing RGU by attending; •

Leading Active Student Involvement (LASI)

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RAG Conference 2013 in Birmingham

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Lease handover event for Ruthrieston Community Centre

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Inchgath Community Centre AGM

Growing RAG •

In support of the SUEI report and to continue the growth of RGU:RAG, I complied the RGU:RAG constitution along with running guidelines to be reviewed by the incoming RAG Chair and to be voted upon in an EGM in the next academic year.

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Proposed a fourth sabbatical within the student union to focus upon non sporting student activities to support societies, fundraising and volunteering within the students union – this was passed at the AGM however lack of funding has resulted in this role not becoming available in the next academic year.