Worc Hard Play Hard 2 30/05/17

WORC HARD, PLAY HARD. Brought to you by Hemaka Pathiranage and Worcester Students’ Union

Hi. I’m Hemaka Pathiranage, Vice President Student Activities.

I am delighted to present the second issue of Worcester Students’ Union’s student achievement magazine, the publication which was one of my manifesto aims at the start of the academic year. The title ‘Worc Hard Play Hard’ was a suggestion by students under which they could share their amazing stories.

This issue includes articles written by students chronicling their achievements in different areas such as sport, societies, volunteering, as StARs, Institute Reps, at Partner Colleges, special awards and much more.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who contributed pieces and to the University Press Office for adding stories they have collected throughout the year.

Finally, to the Students’ Union’s student designers, Student Engagement Co-ordinator, Student Engagement Manager, Sports Co-ordinator and Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator, thank you for your time and energy that has made Worc Hard Play Hard the success it has come to be.

Keep writing about your successes throughout the year as we continue to publish each semester. The submission deadline for the next issue will be in January. For more information, please visit www.worcsu.com/worchard playhard/ Hemaka Pathiranage VP Student Activities

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SPORT

SPORT

American Football Royals Host Alumni in Charity Match.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Worcester, a number of ex-Royals made their way back down to the Moors from all over the country for the annual charity match against the current Worcester squad. It was a day to celebrate being part of the Royals family and to raise money for two fantastic causes. This year the match was in aid of both the MS Society and Smile for Joel both charities close to the hearts of current and former players.

The game continued to be an even contest, however a mistake on the snap saw the Royals lose the ball and Alumni player Joel Long run the ball in for 6 points. A successful two point attempt saw the score rise to 14-6 in favour of the Alumni to the final whistle.

A word from the team Second year linebacker and committee member Ben Talbot commented, “It was a great occasion for a great cause. It was a lot of fun seeing some familiar faces and taking part in a competitive yet enjoyable game played in great spirit.”

Post-game celebrations After the game the players spent the evening taking part in a Royals dedicated quiz and enjoying a few well deserved drinks. There was a lot of time to catch up between players and even get a photo of 5 generations of Worcester Royals Chairmen. The game was a huge success in raising money, with a total of around £500 split between the two charities.

by Josh Doick

Contact worcester-royals@hotmail.com

Royals vs. Alumni The game was a close encounter throughout with some good and some not so good football played. The first score of the game came from the Alumni; a short yard reception by Carlo Richards saw him score the first points of the game with an unsuccessful two point attempt. The Royals would then tie things up as quarterback Matt Cole threw a short pass to Mike Harris that saw the score draw level after another unsuccessful two-point attempt.

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Business Graduate Receives Award from Ancient Trade Guild A Business graduate from the University of Worcester has received a special award from one of the City’s oldest organisations.

“One of the key planks of the Clothiers’ Company Foundation is the support for entrepreneurs; after all, the original Clothiers themselves were traders and merchants. Rowena is a real role model for young entrepreneurs with a fabulous

business that she has run whilst at university and has created her own career path. I’m so impressed, I’ve done some of my Christmas shopping on her website.”

Rowena Simmons is the third recipient of the Clothiers Company of Worcester Charitable Foundation’s Annual Award.

The Foundation was formed in 2014 with one of its objectives being to support the education of young people in Worcestershire. The Clothiers Company is Worcester’s ancient trade guild which was granted a Royal Charter

by Queen Elizabeth I in 1590.

Rowena, from Droitwich, was chosen as the third recipient of the award, which was this year given to the Most Promising Entrepreneur. During her Business degree, Rowena grew her successful jewellery business, Franco Florenzi, into an award-winning, global concern.

“I am so pleased, and surprised to have won this award,” she said. “It’s so lovely to get this extra recognition on top of my degree. It’s been a fantastic year, personally and professionally.”

Ian Smith, Trustee of the Clothiers’ Company Charitable Foundation and Partner of Bishop Fleming LLP, said:

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Inspirational Student Receives Vice Chancellor's Medal A student who returned to university, just months after an horrific car accident left him with life-changing injuries, to successfully complete his degree, has been recognised with a rare award.

Mo Tariq has been awarded the University of Worcester Vice Chancellor's Medal in recognition of his inspiring determination and courage.

Mo, from Perry Barr, Birmingham, was left blind following the crash in April 2015, during the second year of his studies at the University. He also suffered multiple broken bones, collapsed lungs and was in a coma with doctors initially saying he had only 24 hours to live.

However, he made an amazing recovery, beating doctors’ later prediction he would be hospitalised for six months, by being discharged after nine weeks and returning for the final year of his degree that September. Incredibly, he managed to adapt to his loss of sight, caught up with his studies, and graduated with a degree in Physical Education and Sports Studies, on time with all of his friends, in November 2016. Mo has since returned to the University and is now studying for a Master’s in Education (Special Inclusive Education pathway).

The Vice Chancellor’s Medal is only awarded in exceptional circumstances when a student has shown incredible courage in the face of adversity.

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“It is an amazing feeling to receive this medal,” said 23-year-old Mo. “I was not expecting it at all. It was thanks to all the support I received from my family, friends and the University that I managed to get through the rest of my degree and look to the future. This is a true honour.”

Conferring the medal on Mo, Professor Sarah Greer, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Worcester, said: “We are all incredibly proud of Mo and his amazing resilience. His determination to complete his degree and use his experience to help others is truly inspiring and humbling for us all. He is such a worthy recipient of this award.”

Mo said he was hoping to pursue a career as a disability support officer in the future.

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Cheerleading Worcester Sinners bring home four first place wins and set themselves up for a strong 17/18 season.

Worcester Sinners are extremely proud to announce that we have had an exceptionally successful season, bringing home a well-deserved second place from Legacy Cheer and Dance, and a massive four first place wins from Future Cheer University Nationals, BCA University National Championships and BCA Open National Championships (hitting zero deductions in our routine), alongside our accomplished win at Varsity 2017.

Without these two fantastic leads, we could not have achieved such success throughout this and prior seasons.

As a team, we have arranged multiple fundraising events such as an extremely successful cake sale, to help towards competition funding. Cheerleading competitions are notoriously expensive to enter. Several dance and fitness based events, are also planned for the upcoming months in preparation for our 17/18 season.

Our committee members have been working constantly and consistently to provide opportunities for both competitive squad and social members to interact and come together to enjoy one another's company, prepare for tour 2017 and to celebrate our successes as a club.

Although we have managed to achieve great things as a club this season, multiple squad members have also

achieved remarkable accomplishments in terms of skill and technique within the sport, becoming competitive athletes of which we are extremely proud.

Worcester Sinners aim to continue to raise their profile throughout the 17/18 season and enjoy every second of training and social events.

A huge well done to every member of our 16/17 squad - You truly smashed it!

1, 2, 3... SINNERS!

by Worcester Sinners Committee

Contact sinnersworcester@gmail.com @uowsinners

Throughout the season, we have been working extremely hard, training for a minimum of 5 hours per week since September. We train under the eyes of our admirable and ever-supportive external voluntary coach, Beth Marson and post-graduate University of Worcester student, Alice Daniels.

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SPORT Dance Saints Dance Club reect on a year of successes.

As the year draws to an end and we look back over our achievements the Saints Dance Club can do so and be proud.

This year we have been able to run a wider variety of teams and dance styles than ever before and we hope to continue this into the coming year. We competed at the University of Northampton dance competition, Take the Stage 2017, taking 3rd place in the Novice Ballet and 2nd place in Novice Street categories. The Saints also won the Best Overall Team Support trophy.

Possibly the biggest accolade of the Saints year was winning the Dance Varsity for the third year running, maintaining our clean record with no losses to date. The Saint’s gained points in ballet, street and contemporary.

The passion of the members has been incredible this year and the club cannot thank them enough for all their hard work. The team has come a long way from the start of the year and I cannot wait to see what we can achieve next.

GO SAINTS!

by Liam Turner

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Archaeology Archaeology visit Stonehenge and welcome new committee.

The Archaeology Society has had a wonderful year. We have had some fantastic trips and socials. We have been on a trip around Herefordshire looking at beautiful churches from the medieval period and had a great social indulging in yummy pizza, whilst our members let their creative sides loose, making their very own Roman inspired mosaics.

The biggest event of the year for the society was the Stonehenge trip in March; a fantastic opportunity with special, up close access to the stone circle itself. Our members were in awe of these stunning monuments made thousands of years ago! We had an amazing day, visiting the villages of Leigh, Woodhenge and Durrington Walls on route to Stonehenge. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this very rare opportunity to get within touching distance (but not touch) the stones themselves!

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New Committee Our treasurer and membership secretary, Becky and Vicky, will be leaving us at the end of this year and we wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours. The whole society would like to thank them for their commitment during the years they have been with us. Thank you for doing such an amazing job.

Finally, congratulations to the new committee for being voted in for next year, good luck and enjoy!

by Samantha Lynch

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SOCIETIES Societies contribution to Red Nose Day It Was A Blast From The Past!

On Red Nose Day, 24th March, the Forensic Society teamed up with the Nature, Biology and Worcester Worldwide societies to host a nostalgia-filled event. With help from SU staff Eleanor York and Chris Greaves we managed to work together to pull it off.

The 80s/90s night was held in the Pear Tree alongside the Lip Sync event that evening. It was a huge success, raising

almost £100 selling raffle tickets to win prizes including Easter eggs, bubble swords, toys and more. We sold a range of pick ‘n’ mix sweets such as parma violets, love hearts, Chewits and party rings. We also set up a photobooth and

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charged a small donation for people to have their photo taken, they could choose from a myriad of items which people could dress up in including hats, glasses, funny objects and of course, red noses! The money we raised contributed to the massive £612.55 that was raised over the duration of Red Nose Day making the event a complete success.

by Forensic Society

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Fitness Competition Fitness competitions take passion, commitment and sacrifice, but pays dividends for Worcester student.

My passion for fitness started more than 5 years ago, when I got my first gym membership. At that time I was still studying in Slovakia. After months of training and learning about health and nutrition I found out that fitness means something more to me. I spent my spare time doing research, browsing the internet for new information, watching videos and following athletes from the professional scene.

However, it was a challenge something I naturally, constantly look for.

Then after few years of training, I decided to step a level up and do my first bikini fitness competition. At that time I was participating in an Erasmus Exchange program in Paris so the decision to compete back in Slovakia after finishing the program suited me perfectly. I competed for the first time at Championships in Slovakia where I got 8th place. For some, 8th place is not success, but for me it was. I was proud of what I have been able to bring to the stage at that time, with only my own knowledge and no previous experience.

The most important thing was discovering that passion, that feeling on stage was amazingly rewarding and I knew that it was not the end, but only the beginning.

I have to admit fitness competitions are not easy. You have to follow a strict diet and put the most into your trainings and cardio to be able to step on that stage.

Combined with the pressures of being a final year student it was a struggle sometimes. There were times when I lacked energy, I was stressed and I wanted to give up, but I did not. Martin Burford from Legends Gym where I train proved to be a huge support for me, giving me advice and helping me throughout my preparations.

In the end it was all worth it, I cannot express the feeling on the stage when they said my name. I thought I was dreaming. It started at FitCon Qualifier in Olympia London where I competed in 2 categories. I took 2nd place in the Junior Bikini under 23 years old. In this category there is no height restriction and as competing with much taller girls can be extremely tough, I went there

After a much needed one-year break from competing, to make important improvements and work on my weaknesses, I decided that it was time to compete again. I missed the stage so much, but I was also curious to know if the hard work during my yearlong ‘improvement season’ would pay off. My university deadlines in the UK did not allow me to go home to compete, so instead I found a way to compete here. I knew it would be so much harder for me as I do not have my family here and am not familiar with how fitness competitions work here.

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EVENTS with no expectations. Then in the afternoon, I competed in my height class and I again took 2nd place! What I felt?

Hard to describe. Excitement, gratitude, shock, everything together.

At these shows I received invitations to represent the UK at Amateur Olympia, Arnold Classic and Diamond Cup in both categories.

The day after I competed at the South Coast Championships in Portsmouth.

There I won Junior Bikini and qualified for the British Championships.

That weekend was probably the best and the worst of my life. All the travelling, dieting and stress got to me, but then I could say to myself it was all

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worth it. I brought 3 trophies and 7 invitations home with me. Those months of discipline paid off. Yes, I had to give up many things to be able to step on that stage. I had to manage university responsibilities with training and cardio twice a day plus meal prepping and a strict diet, and sleep of course, as I had to take care of my recovery. Yes, I had almost no social life. I could not remember the last time I went out. This sport is sometimes about the extreme. I found a passion for it and it is a huge part of my life now. And I am still not satisfied, there is more to come.

by Rebeka Tunegová

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Fencing Fencing at the BUCS Individual Championships and £5000 grant from Sport England.

This year Fencing had 3 individuals entered into BUCS individual championships, 17-19th February. Friday the 17th saw Sophie Tapp compete in the Women’s Sabre. Sophie did very well in the poule finishing with 4 wins and 2 losses 4-5 and 2-5. Leaving her 20th after the poules. In the first round of direct eliminations (DE’s) Sophie won 8-15. This took her through to the next round where she faced the number 13.

Unfortunately, Sophie lost this match and finished the day in 20th place. This was an improvement on last year’s results where Sophie finished 30th.

place. Maarja won her first DE 8-15, taking her through to fence the number 4 seed. After a close start to the match Maarja began to gain an advantage and won 15-9, taking her through to the top 16 fencers. In the next DE Maarja faced a fencer from Bristol Uni. Unfortunately Maarja lost this match and finished 12th overall, having been knocked out by the fencer who went on to finish second to a 2016 Rio Olympian.

Maarja did well in the poule and had 4 victories and 2 losses, leaving her 20th after the poule. Yassena had a more difficult poule, as a result of suffering with a sprained ankle, but managed 2 victories and 3 losses of 4-5, 3-5 & 4-5.

This left Yassena in 53rd place after the poule. In the first round of DE’s Yassena was to face a highly seeded fencer. This was a well-fenced match by Yassena and was very close, but was eventually lost 13-15 leaving Yassena to finish in 53rd

The Fencing Club have also just received the fantastic news their Sport England grant application for £5000 toward electric kit has been approved! This sum will allow this new club to improve and grow at a much faster rate than would otherwise be possible. We hope to see even bigger improvements in results and membership over the next year.

Contact

@uowfencingclub

Sunday 19th saw Maarja Konrad and Yassena Markova compete in the Women's Épéed.

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SPORT Futsal Men's 1st Team This season in the Futsal Club, has seen huge positive change in results and performances within the BUCS divisions.

The Men's 1st team has enjoyed an extremely successful year within the Midlands 1A Division, pushing both Loughborough and the University of Nottingham close right until the concluding weeks of the league. The 1s achieved an historic 6-5 win away against Loughborough, becoming the first University of Worcester Futsal side to do so against the full time Futsal programme run in conjunction with International Futsal Academy and headed by England Futsal Manager Mike Skubala. A narrow 4-5 defeat was also recorded against the eventual 1A Champions, the University of Nottingham, who also have great resources and structure including a current FA Super League Futsal club in addition to the former Benfica head coach Rodger Augusto.

Fortunately, our club is now able to compete with the likes of Loughborough and Nottingham as a result of our close working partnership with Worcester Futsal Club, Worcestershire's leading FA National League club. A Portuguese ex-professional, Bruno Simoes, regularly delivers free coaching sessions for our 1st team members, consequently translating his great experience and knowledge within the sport to our developing Futsal players here at the University. Many of this season’s 1st team players have even been called into the Worcester Futsal Club squad and have also represented Worcester on a national scale within the elite levels of Futsal within the UK.

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The year was capped with a great Varsity event on the main floor at the University Arena for the first time in the club’s history. Over 650 spectators were reportedly present during the day’s Varsity event, in addition to pre-match and post-match reports published by Futsal Focus who have an audience of over 70,000 active Futsal followers worldwide. This enhanced coverage of Futsal within Worcester can only help to assist with the development of the club and of the sport as whole.

of Futsal. A steady mid-table finish and a good cup run ensured a successful year overall. A number of 2nd team players were also given opportunities to impress within the 1st team after excelling at training and match days. As a club we are always looking to develop our new members in particular, both on and off the court in order to ensure a positive future for the sport and ultimately, a positive future for the club.

by Paul McHugh

With all current members being in their 1st or 2nd year of study, we look forwards to next season with much expectation and excitement, with a focused aim to reach the BUCS cup super 8’s, in addition to another title challenge within Division 1A.

Men's 2nd Team

Again within a tough division, our Men's 2’s had a very positive season considering the majority of the team were 1st year students new to the sport

Contact @uowmensfutsal

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Intergenerations Worcester Friendship and free accommodation with the Inter Generations Worcester scheme.

I was looking for somewhere affordable to stay in Worcester whilst studying for my postgraduate degree when I heard about Inter Generations Worcester. I thought the scheme, that involves providing support to my elderly householder in return for free accommodation, would suit me well. I had my questions about getting along with someone I’d never met before, and it wasn’t like I was sharing a house with people of my own age or background.

But in a short time we developed a strong bond of friendship based on respect, understanding and helping each other out, and this bond was not just with the householder but also with his family who live in other cities.

My householder’s wife died a year ago.

Since then his son and daughters would come to visit on weekends, and during the week he had carers coming to the house to provide support. He was very isolated as the nearest shop was 25 minutes walk away and due to the inabilities old age brings he would spend most of the time at home with no company.

Inter Generations Worcester evaluated both me and my householder separately and thought we would make a good match. They arranged an introductory

meeting where we got on well, after which I moved to the house. Once I moved in, the IGW team were very supportive and would get in touch every week asking how I was getting along. I was confused at first as I have never provided support to any one before and I was not sure how this whole “home-sharing” was going to work, but as days passed we started adapting and understanding each other’s needs. We would eat our breakfast and dinners together, watch television, go for drives as my householder loves sightseeing, we would do shopping together and we shared the housework. The carers still visit during the day but the time they need to stay with him has decreased significantly.

and satisfaction to help him and his company is not only educational but also fun as it is a lifetime experience.

The home share has increased my understanding of English culture as I am living and experiencing it, and my English language fluency has improved.

All this, plus I live in a very big house with my own study and rest space while only contributing towards a portion of the household bills.

Living in the home share has immensely increased my sense of responsibility and my life is well planned because of my householder’s habit of having breakfast and dinner at an exact time every day. I have adapted to his habit of waking up early in the morning and going to bed early. It gives me so much happiness

If you are interested in the Inter Generation Worcester scheme, please get in touch:

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None of this would have been possible without the Inter Generations Worcester scheme, and I can see first-hand how the project has benefited my life and that of my householder.

by Haseeb Sayed

01562 733136 IGW@vestia.org.uk www.vestia.org.uk/intergen /

@intergenworcs

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EVENTS Manchester Marathon Racing for a personal best at the Manchester Marathon.

On the morning of Sunday 2nd April, I embarked on my biggest challenge to date, the Manchester Marathon. This is my second and most important marathon so far. For two years I have aimed for a sub four-hour marathon, previously missing out on the opportunity in Nottingham. I knew I had an almighty challenge on my hands when I entered the Manchester Marathon at Christmas. I ran for the charity MIND and managed to raise over £150.

I was fortunate to have family members with me at the start line on the sunny morning as 10,000 runners amassed.

After showing our appreciation to Doctor Ron Hill, the record holder for most consecutive days running, 52 years, we were off. Twelve minutes after the gun I made it past the starting banner where I began my 26.2 mile journey.

Throughout the course the crowds were overwhelming, with members of the Manchester community coming out to cheer on the 10,000 runners that braved the challenge of one of the best marathons in the UK. The course was flat, no hills to worry about. The first 13 miles were very enjoyable, taking in the crowd support and random people cheering my name. It was here that my race plan would start to kick in.

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From mile 16, the pace began to differ by about 10 seconds a mile, my race predictor had dropped from 03:30 to 03:45 in a matter of miles. It was not looking hopeful for a sub four-hour race, but as I said the crowds were phenomenal, and somehow I managed to keep the predictor at 03:45 for another 5 miles.

As in any race, at mile 21 I hit the wall, I took on a lot of water at this point along with one of my isotonic gels and managed to keep a steady pace through to the last two miles. From mile 24 onwards there was a lot of pain in my legs and upper body. I just wanted it to finish. There were a few people lying down at the side of the road and I did not want to join them this close to the finish. My predictor was now at 3:55.

Into the last half mile I knew I had to keep a good pace, turning the final corner I could see the finishing line, it looked so far away but the crowd did their job and got me across the line in 3:56:10. I am thrilled! Two years of hard work has finally paid off.

I dedicated this marathon to my sister who has been a huge inspiration to me over the last two years. I would also like to thank many members of University staff and friends who have helped me through a tough stint leading up to the marathon.

If you would like to show your support and donate to MIND please visit my Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/A-mara thon-with-Adventure-and-Motivation

by Connor Allen

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Karate Championships Gold medal in Kickboxing for student Aston Cook.

So far 2017 has been a great competition year for me, kicking off the year with the European Cup, in Venice (Italy) securing myself a Gold medal in my senior weight class division.

I finished 2016 feeling very disheartened after losing in my first fight against Greece in the European Championships in November. I had trained solidly for 6 months in preparation for the event and losing a very tough first fight was not what I had trained so hard for.

track and my fighting ability had improved. After winning the European cup in Italy I felt I was well prepared for my next event; the Irish Open, the largest and most prestigious Kickboxing event in the world seeing over 2,000 competitors from all over the globe. The event itself is held in Dublin during the first weekend in March. After beating some very tough opponents I secured myself a bronze medal out of a possible 60 fighters within my weight division.

This weekend I am competing in Austria and in May I am competing in Hungary.

Both being large sporting events and the standard of the event being very

high with some of the best fighters in the world competing I do not take anything for granted and I am hopeful for winning success.

Since writing, Aston achieved Gold in the individual event in Austria and came away with Bronze in the team event.

by Aston Cook

Contact @uowkaranddef

Having left behind 2016 and gone in to 2017 with a much better attitude, I found that my confidence was back on

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SPORT Ladies’ Hockey Ladies’ Hockey win promotion in the BUCS League.

We wish massive congratulations to the University of Worcester Ladies’ Hockey 1st team for winning the BUCS Hockey 2016-2017 Midlands 2A league. The Worcester team battled throughout the season fighting hard for every single point, eventually being crowned league champions.

Thoughts from team coach Tom Howard: Last week the Ladies’ Hockey team achieved something that no other team before them had done. They won promotion into Midlands 1 BUCS league through an emphatic 8-1 victory over Loughborough. The club had previously won promotion into Midlands 2A during the 2005/2006 season and there they stayed for the following 12 years.

I stepped into the role as team coach back in 2015. It is always a privilege to work with a team, but to work with a team who have the drive, enthusiasm and desire to push themselves in the way this team have is the greatest privilege of all. This special group of players only ever had one goal and that was to win.

It is always easy for a team to say they want to win and will work hard for it, but you tend to find enthusiasm quickly drops with the sound of the 6am alarm getting you up for training, but not with this team. Early starts, late nights, wind, rain and hail, this group of players turned out, pushing themselves harder

each week. It has not always been plain sailing by any means; we have had our challenges and tough times too! This team has achieved what they set out to do, but the most exciting prospect is that we have only seen a glimpse of what this team is capable of and how far they could go.

I have been lucky to work with a group of individuals this focused and am thankful to everyone who works with us on a weekly basis, from the instructors at the arena gym to fellow coaches and supporters.

Keep up with the Ladies’ Hockey Club:

Contact @officialuwlhc officialuwlhc

by Tom Howard

I ask all students at the University to get behind this group of players and show your support in what promises to be an exciting new chapter for the Hockey Club. If anyone is interested in joining us or believes they may be able to support the club, please get in touch.

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Men’s Football Men’s Football Win the Cup! The first cup game of the season was a nice break from the league. Away at Bournemouth University, no one knew what to expect. A solid 4-2 result with goals from Ash Bunn, Jummane Meggoe, Arnold Chaponda and Matt Fusco set the pace for a positive cup run.

The second cup fixture was an away day trip to the University of Essex. Leaving at 8am to arrive in time for kick off, the lads were determined to carry on the cup form. A 2-1 win in normal time was on the cards after an audacious chip from Captain Matt Fusco. The score remained the same and Worcester went home happy after confirming a position in the quarter final.

A trip to Oxford awaited us in the Quarter Final. A frustrating 0-0 meant penalties would decide who progressed.

The boys remained composed with the penalties and pen-saving heroics from Bren Bunn left us with a battle against Cardiff in the final!

Worcester on the 3G, remained confident against Cardiff with the home crowd cheering the boys on. Both teams showed their defensive capabilities with the cagey affair heading to penalties once again! A theme started to emerge and Worcester, yet to miss a penalty, finished with a calmness inspired by player of the tournament, Bren Bunn’s ability to save penalties for fun.

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Contact

@uowmf

The Final Awaits…

On a rainy day in Bath, Worcester arrived to play in the Men's BUCS Trophy Final. Worcester took centre stage against the University of Strathclyde. Spirits were high as the men knew it was a chance to make history. Pitch conditions were not ideal but Worcester were in control from the off. Worcester dominated the game with Strathclyde unable to produce anything in front of goal. Despite not being able to convert the success into a goal, the boys knew that this was theirs to lose.

The match finished 0-0 with Worcester being left frustrated at not being able to convert in the 120 minutes. Experience led to a classy penalty display, scoring from the spot became almost normal and Worcester won the Cup!

by Matt Day

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Men’s Rugby A Busy Season for U.W.S.R.F.C. It’s been a real journey for UWSRFC this season. At the start of the season the club faced the prospect of 4 overnight trips to Scotland and the North of England in the newly restructured BUCS league system. Although it was an disappointing season overall in terms of results, the team pulled off some monumental performances against strong opposition. Most notable was the last game of the season against an undefeated Edinburgh side who needed only a point to secure promotion. The boy’s determination came shining through as we stormed to a nail biting 15-13 victory in front of a captivated crowd to spoil Edinburgh’s party.

We have also had success on the international and professional scene this year. Several former and current members including Michael Vasili and Sam Buckthought have represented their countries in Rugby Union and Rugby League respectively. Former member Sam Thompson who graduated three years ago, also now plays for Glasgow Warriors in the Pro12. With these massive achievements coming on an annual basis we look forward to our next major success story.

Our hard work has not only been a feature of training and game days, but also at charity events such as Movember and taking part in a Zumbathon for Comic Relief. The boys have enjoyed not taking themselves too seriously while raising money for some great causes.

Perhaps the most positive aspect of the season is the closeness of the group.

This year has seen freshers right through to final years regularly meet up with each other and socialise leading to one of the most united cohorts that the club has ever seen. These bonds will form the building blocks of successful upcoming seasons. We look forward to this continuing in the years to come.

by Euan Morrison

Contact @uwsrfc

The Tahs (second team) maintained their position in their league in a season blighted by injuries. The highlight being a demolition of Warwick in our final game of the season. The run of form saw the club win 3 of the final 4 games and provide their best performances of the year. With many of the players at the club returning for next season it is looking very positive for the club going forward.

A number of players have also represented their region and or county this year. A special mention also goes to Jake Thompson who has represented the Worcester Cavaliers this season in the Aviva A-League.

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Paranormal Society City Campus Charity Ghost Walk Raises £1377.57 On Saturday 4th March, the University business group ‘Syndicate’ joined forces with volunteers from the University and from the Paranormal Society to run a series of Ghost Walks around City Campus. The tours lasted approximately 30-40 minutes and included stories from the old underground tunnel which led to

the gaol, to body pits found on the grounds, the Chapel, and stories of the resident spirits, including those of Jenny Lind and Dr Bates, which date back centuries. It was incredible to hear stories from people on the tour who used to be nurses, or work at the hospital in some capacity, about the strange goings on they observed while working in the building. Syndicate were overwhelmed with interest and unfortunately could not provide tickets for everyone who wanted to come along.

Another walk is being organised in the near future. In total, Syndicate raised

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an incredible £1,377.57 which was donated to the Fort Royal Community Primary School for children with special needs. The Paranormal Society would like to thank everyone who attended and all members who volunteered to help.

by Molly Blackmore, Paranormal Society

Contact @uowparanormal

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SOCIETIES

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SOCIETIES

Psychology SANE Black Dog Campaign Mental Health Workshop.

The Psychology Society, in co-operation with the Psychology Partnership Panel, organised a workshop with the charity SANE on 1st March. This ďŹ rst workshop was aimed largely at the psychology student population; however, it is our hope that further workshops will branch more widely around the University.

The Black Dog campaign was created by SANE as a tool to reach out to young people in schools and universities and help educate them, so should they encounter mental health issues themselves or through their friends, they are better equipped to deal with them. SANE believes that educating young people is one of the key methods that will help end the stigma around mental health at a point in time where mental health is being talked about and receiving recognition.

During the workshops students were involved in discussions about mental health and the views they held. The leader of the workshop, TJ, challenged beliefs and helped educate the students further. The workshop was largely practical with bits of group work, poster making and other activities. Having the workshop in the Pear Tree made for a much more relaxed atmosphere and enabled students to feel comfortable talking about somewhat sensitive subjects in a safe environment.

It is our hope that we will be able to put on more workshops within the University and reach out to different groups of students. From September, we hope to take this further and have

students trained to deliver the workshops themselves which will lead to a SANE hub being created in Worcester!

This will then enable us to branch out to other local schools and increase the local population’s understanding of mental health and mental illnesses!

by Zoi Sevastopulo Read more about the Psychology Society here: https://www.worcsu.com/sports_activities/ societies/psychology/

Contact @psychsocworc

The workshop itself aimed to educate students about stigmas and realities surrounding mental health conditions.

Various topics were covered such as; the difference between Mental Wellbeing and Mental Health; Stigmas and Realities of Depression, Anxiety, Bi-Polar and Schizophrenia. By looking at the assumptions and actualities of these conditions the participants were able to learn more about these disorders with the hope of being able to help peers or themselves in the future and better understand those with these disorders.

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Netball Netball 3rds win second consecutive league title unbeaten.

On Wednesday 15th March, the University of Worcester Netball Club 3rd team completed their unbeaten League run for two consecutive seasons!

The team were successful in gaining promotion in the 2015/16 season, finishing 1st in the Midlands 6A. Now in Midlands 5A the 3rd team began preseason feeling nervous about facing a higher standard of opposition and playing a higher level of netball. This nervousness was not helped by the team being altered from last year with new faces and players entering the mix and it taking time for the players to get to know one another.

beat 44-25 and Harper Adams 2nds winning 46-5.

The last game the 3rd team lost was in a Cup game against Warwick 1sts who play a full 3 divisions higher, however the 3rd team showed they were able to compete against such strong opposition and never gave up, eventually losing 39 – 61. The team had only two games remaining to complete their second undefeated season and take promotion once again however, the team faced a new struggle, as there had been a number of players lost to injury.

Despite this on Wednesday 22nd February against Staffordshire University, the 3rd team won and then on Wednesday 15th March against University College Birmingham 2nds the 3rd team won and completed their remarkable season with an emphatic 72-20 win! All at University of Worcester Netball Club are very proud of the 3rd

However, despite these challenges the 3rd team did not let their high expectations of each other and the 2016/17 season drop. The team had not lost a single league match in 2015/16 and they wanted to keep that run going.

They were aiming for another undefeated league season and another promotion!

team’s achievement which has been made possible by their hard work and determination.

We would like to thank our club sponsors, InterHigh School, McDonalds of Worcester and Tramps Nightclub, Worcester.

To find out more about the University of Worcester Netball Club please follow us on twitter - @UWNetball and Instagram @uw_netball for updates and news!

The countdown to next season and a possible three-year undefeated league run begins!

by University of Worcester Netball Club 3rd Team

Contact @UWNetball @uw_netball

The team made sure they used preseason friendlies to help prepare them and maintained a high intensity in all of their training sessions, even though they were without a coach. This perseverance has so far paid off and the 3rd team have secured 7 wins from 7 league games! Their best score has been against Wolverhampton 2nds which they won 68 – 9 and other notable wins have included Warwick 3rds who they

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SPORT Pole Fitness Pole Fitness Club climbing high as the club develops, increase fundraising and competition activity.

Pole Fitness has continued to increase their promotional activity throughout the University and Students’ Union during semester two. The main aim of the club has been fundraising. We raised £70 on a Valentine’s Day stall, which sold roses, cards, cakes and biscuits. The club also held their first showcase in association with Pole Effect, raising over £100 for Macmillan Cancer Support. The showcase was a great opportunity for the members to show off and perform a routine that they had self-choreographed to an audience and to develop their confidence. The event also encouraged interaction and networking with members of the pole community, showed us what they have achieved, allowing the club to create new goals.

The level of difficulty has risen with the majority of members on levels gold and platinum.

allow more involvement with the Students’ Union.

committee for the next academic year, who are looking forward to implementing new ideas for the club’s development. Pole fitness are also planning to purchase an X-Stage pole to enable the club to perform at University events.

This is a very exciting opportunity for the club, particularly because it would

As with any club or society, there have been some hiccups this year. Earlier this semester Worcester was forced to cancel a scheduled friendly competition with Swansea University due to low competitor turnout. Next year the club plans to have competitions with other universities including Birmingham and enter the Midlands inter-university competition. The club has had a great year and massively increased promotion of the club and club’s status within the Students’ Union. We hope for this to continue throughout next year and years to come!

by Lucy Miller @phoenixpole15

Socially the club and members have been busy, having a number of joint socials with other clubs and societies, daytime activities and more casual evenings to develop friendships. Pole fitness is very excited to be going on tour to Italy for the first time with the Students’ Union. A lovely chance to spend time with the members, have a great time and create memories for life.

The club has elected a new and exciting

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Swimming Waterpolo friendly against Gloucester.

The University of Worcester Swimming Club went to Gloucester a week before their Varsity event to play a friendly game of water polo, as Gloucestershire have a combined Swimming and Water Polo club, taking 23 members along for the game.

The game took place in an effort to reduce the amount of antisocial behaviour at Varsity events, and to give

the freshers an opportunity to get used to the new pool environment. As Gloucestershire have a dedicated water polo team, we played with mixed teams to make it an even, fair and fun game.

The team was given a quick lesson in the rules of water polo, and Gloucestershire was warned to go carefully with the amateurs! There was no nervous start, and soon both teams were communicating, socialising and playing a safe and enjoyable game.

The swim team thoroughly enjoyed themselves, were in good spirits post game and were looking forward to Varsity!

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Speaking with the team and Gloucestershire committee there were great signs for the potential to turn it into an annual friendly, or even a Varsity event in the future!

by Emily Callard-Weller

Contact @worcswim

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SPORT

SPORT Taekwondo Team Worc’s Taekwondo Club bring home silver and bronze.

In March, five members of the Taekwondo Club competed in the National Student Taekwondo Championships run by the British Student Taekwondo Federation, held at the University of Worcester Arena. For four of us, this was the first competition we had ever entered so we were very nervous, but looking forward to the experience.

In the morning, Maresha Grewal, a black belt, competed in the Patterns category, making it to the final and completing a variety of long and complex patterns to an exceptional standard and coming away with fourth place. As we watched all the competitors in the patterns category, the nerves started to kick in as

it got closer and closer to the sparring matches.

Find out more about Taekwondo at Worcester here:

Some of our fights were against people of a higher grade than us and unfortunately one of our members had to retire from the competition due to an injury. Peter Rickard, in the heavyweight category, fought exceptionally in his match, gaining a bronze medal in the competition, demonstrating a wide variety of the kicks and combinations we had been practising for so long.

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In the final of the yellow belt lightweight category, fellow Team Worc members Georgia Young and Megan Butler, came head to head and after a very close match Georgia won. Maresha then made it to the final of her black belt category and with the eyes of everyone at the competition on her, came away with an amazing silver medal. The competition was a great experience and we cannot wait for the next one! Let’s go Team Worc!

by Taekwondo Committee

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Student and Lecturer Shortlisted for Top Nursing Awards A Nursing student and a long-serving Nurse educator at the University of Worcester have both been shortlisted for a top award.

Andrew Jesson, a third year student, has been shortlisted for Student of the Year (Adult Nursing), and Steve Wilding has been shortlisted for Educator of the Year, in the Student Nursing Times 2017 Awards.

The prestigious Nursing Times awards pay tribute to students who have demonstrated the academic achievement, clinical prowess and personal qualities that will make them brilliant nurses. The Awards also honour those who are committed to developing new nursing talent as mentors, lecturers and providers of placements.

wanted to help other people; it’s something that is a huge part of my life.”

Steve Wilding has worked as a Nurse Educator at the University of Worcester for more than 10 years, following 33 years as a mental health nurse and senior manager in the NHS. His passion for the profession and unique methods of getting students to empathise with their patients were just two of the reasons he was shortlisted, and attracted a wealth of testimonials from his students.

“I feel so proud to have even been nominated, let alone getting to the shortlist,” he said. “I enjoy every aspect of my job. I tell students it is a privilege to be a nurse; well, I feel it is a privilege to teach student nurses.”

students, staff and the pre-registration programme itself all being honoured.

Robert Dudley, Head of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Worcester, said: “It is wonderful to have both Andrew and Steve shortlisted in these awards. Andrew is a first-class student who will make a most excellent nurse. Steve is a truly inspiring colleague who gives everything to his students and the nursing profession. We couldn’t be more proud of both of them.”

The winners will be announced at the Student Nursing Times Awards on Thursday 27 April at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

This is the seventh year the University of Worcester has been shortlisted in the Student Nursing Times Awards, with

Andrew has impressed both his lecturers and fellow students through his commitment to the nursing profession and helping others, which is why he was nominated for the Award. He has been involved in numerous fundraising events as well as high profile conferences around the world, including a UN conference in Brussels and the General Practice Nursing conference earlier this month.

On being shortlisted he said: “I am really humbled; I did not expect to get this far in the awards.

“Before I started my degree I spent a long time working with people with learning difficulties. I have always

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UNIVERSITY NEWS University Students' Designs to Be Used in The National Archives Children's Book Graphic Design students at the University of Worcester have been involved in a major project with The National Archives to develop a new online children’s book.

Students were commissioned to come up with ideas for a project looking at notable figures in British history, including Elizabeth I, NHS founder Aneurin Bevin, code breaker Alan Turing, nurse Florence Nightingale and Allied Second World War secret agent Noor Inayat Khan.

Genevieve Oheneampong, 19, added: “I’ve never worked on a real life project before so it was good experience. I found it interesting because I got to experiment with other materials and it was a lot of fun thinking how children would act and what they would respond to.”

Lauren Willmott, e-training manager, and Katie Fox, a Modern Domestic Records Specialist, both from The National Archives, visited the University to see the final concepts from the students.

“It’s not often we get graphic designers in to use The National Archives’ wonderful documents and bring them to life in such a way, but it’s something we hope to see more of in the future,” said Miss Willmott.

Their work will be used in an e-book, downloadable from The National Archives’ website for distribution to classrooms nationwide.

As part of their research, the students, all studying on the Children’s Book Design module, visited The National Archives at Kew where they met Education Officer Annie Davis and were able to handle unique and priceless artefacts and documents linked to the historic figures.

Student Charlotte Halliday, 20, said: “It was a bit daunting to begin with but the people from the Archives were very friendly. I don’t think it would have been the same if we had not gone to the Archives. It put it into perspective.”

The collaboration stemmed from a First World War e-Cookbook designed by the University's Children's Book Design students, which was used at a family event at The National Archives last year.

Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design, Andy Stevenson, who initiated and developed the live brief with the Archives, said: “This has been an invaluable experience for our students to get to work with live briefs and real clients and particularly with such a prestigious national organisation. It’s fantastic that our students’ Children's Book Design outputs could soon be entertaining and helping to educate schoolchildren all over the country.”

Miss Fox added: “It’s been a pleasure to work with the University of Worcester in creating a resource that will not only be a brilliant addition to the education resources on our website, but one that will inspire a new generation of young historians. The students’ work is absolutely fantastic. There is a real range of activities and some amazing designs.”

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My Experience of The Student Council The Student Council is an important part of student representation at the University. Comprising the full-time officers, the part-time officers and several representatives of student groups and interests, the council is your voice on a range of issues.

Valuable experience This has been my second year sitting on the Student Council and I have really enjoyed my time doing so. I decided to run for the position of SU Sports Rep (BUCS sports) on the council after the former Vice-President Education, Lewis Arnold, encouraged me to. Although initially a little apprehensive about taking up the role I ended up really enjoying the experience. Having a platform to be involved in the issues and

decisions that we face at university has been very rewarding and is one of the reasons why I decided to run for Vice-President Education.

Looking forward to next year I am looking forward to continuing to work for the Student Council next year but this time under my new role as Vice-President Education. It was a great experience running in the SU Elections and I am extremely grateful to all who showed enough faith in me to vote. It was a busy week for everyone involved and a big congratulation to all the candidates for their efforts that week.

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Thank you and goodbye!

For those who have served on the Student Council and are now leaving university, it’s been a pleasure to work alongside you and good luck for whatever your future holds. To those students who are returning next year, I really encourage you to get involved with Student C ouncil. It’s a great experience and you will not regret it!

by Euan Morrison To find out more about how you can get involved in the Students’ Union check out the Your Voice section on our website: www.worcsu.com/yourvoice

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STUDENT’S STUDENTS’ UNIONUNION

Elected Officers Being a full time officer at Worcester Students’ Union.

The position of full time officer is one many students may not fully understand. The Students’ Union’s strategic goal of “representing and supporting students to develop and achieve” is a good place to start.

After three years at University, achieving a B.Sc. in Sport and Exercise Science, I wanted to give back to the Union that had offered me so much throughout my time at Worcester. From Advice and Support to Sports and Societies, the impact the Union had upon my experience was what pushed me to be a part of the bigger picture.

After having my eye on the positions for a while, gaining information on the roles on offer, I decided I would run in the elections. More specifically for the position of VP Education, due to my personal interest in this field. Following a rigorous week of debates between 6 strong VPE candidates and intense campaign promotion, I was fortunate enough to be elected to lead the Union alongside the VP Student Activities and President.

a variety of methods. The Union has a small but focused full time team, each member tasked with looking after different areas of the Union. The team wholly supports each other in every aspect of working life, with students at the forefront of every action taken.

Furthermore, you become a trustee of the SU registered charity, when elected.

This is a superb position to be in, gaining exposure to high level committees, representing the student perspective. This is also replicated on the University side of the role. As a key member of the Students’ Union, you work in collaboration with the University throughout your time in office. Part of this is being a member of the Board of Governors, the University’s senior committee helping to discuss and employ strategies to enhance the University. This relates specifically to procedures surrounding the strategic direction of the University. On top of this, as officers we are asked to attend many sub-committees to provide student specific viewpoints on a variety of matters. As VPE this relates specifically to student experience as well as academic standards and quality. The committees the officers are asked to

attend relate to the role in which they have within the Union.

Being an officer is something I would recommend to any student! It has provided me with many transferable skills putting me in the best possible position when searching for future employment. Throughout the role you are exposed to many senior committees, which ordinarily you would only attend after many years within an organisation.

Away from the procedural side of officer life, you are also part of a front line service. You are part of a tightknit team, aiming to provide the best time for students whilst at University. During this year I have had the time of my life and would encourage anyone to stand in next year’s elections, as it is something I will never forget and certainly never regret.

James Gunther

As a full time officer you are trusted with leading the Students’ Union, achieving goals that progress our five year strategic plan. The main focus is enhancing what is on offer to students, improving student experience and developing our services to best support our students. This is achieved through

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Tennis Tennis Club ace in their progress and development.

Club Development

The Teams

This year has been an exciting year for the UoW Tennis Club as there have been many changes, which have benefitted the club’s development.

It’s been a tough year for both the Men’s BUCS and Hereford and Worcester teams due to injuries and player’s work commitments. We hope to recruit new players next year and strive for promotion. Unfortunately, the boys lost Varsity 5-1 to Gloucestershire, but will come back fighting next year!

Also, due to the increased number of female members we are now in a good position to set up the club’s first women’s team to enter the Hereford and Worcester Tennis League.

Overall, the club has increased in numbers and great friendships have been formed. With a strong committee in place for next year we hope to develop even more and plan more club trips and events!

Firstly, we have moved from Boughton to Hallow Tennis Club, resulting in our membership reducing from £80 to £45. The effort and hardwork put in by the committee has helped the club reach record numbers and made the year enjoyable for all. Also, the election of the first female committee member (Vice-Chair), has helped to increase the number of female members.

Socials We all enjoy playing tennis, but also love to socialise off the courts! We enjoy socials on Wednesday nights.

This year’s themes have included; Army, Emergency Services, and Centurion! We also enjoy meals out.

Our favourites being Slug & Lettuce and especially Creams!

@UOWTennisClub

Social Tennis We welcome men and women of any standard. Social tennis is a great way to try out a new sport or dust off a racket you have not held in years.

These sessions run on Wednesdays 1pm onwards. The courts are available at anytime for members to go down for a hit!

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SPORT

SPORT

Wheelchair Basketball Wheelchair Basketball University Championships.

In March, the University of Worcester wheelchair basketball team travelled to the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester to claim Bronze at the University Championships 2017.

But the journey getting to that point was not the easiest… A fundraiser was needed to cover the costs of a trip to Manchester. Thanks to the wonderful efforts of Emma Graham, a sponsored push event was organised and held in the SU on the 24th February.

Specialised wheelchair treadmills were brought into the SU and collectively, with the help of some other teams from around the University we were able to push the distance of 120 miles to Manchester. Through this event, we raised a grand total of £1,426 that covered the cost of getting us to the championships and provided a donation of £200 to Red Cross.

of the weekend 24-12, taking us through to the Semi-Finals.

The Semi Final was an extremely challenging game against the southern team from the University of East London. Despite putting up a battle and playing high level Basketball, we lost 31-25. This was still an achievement as we only lost to them by 6 points after bouncing back from a 10-point deficit, making this the University of East London’s closest game so far.

On a personal note, my first University Championships was an enjoyable experience as I got to share the weekend with fantastic teammates. I would also like to thank our coaches and our third years; Ella, Emma, Kayla, Kirsty D, Kirsty R, Ollie, Pete and Tom. You will be greatly missed by the club and I wish you the best of luck for the future

by Dylan Cummings @UoWWheelieBall

The final game of the tournament, saw us face the University of Bath for the bronze medal. We played a very composed game, and managed to finish off with all of our third years playing the final minutes of the match. We came away victorious, leaving Manchester with some silverware.

None of this would have been possible without the hard work of Emma Graham in organising our fundraiser, and Dale Ryan for driving the van up to Manchester with all our Wheelchairs in.

A massive thank you to them both!

On the 4th March 2017 the team, captained by fresher Rob Whale set off to a flying start in Manchester. Our first game was against the University of Brunel who we beat with a score of 20-16. Later that day, we went on to comfortably beat the Irish team from Ulster 33-2.

The next day, the team was up bright and early and feeling confident to challenge old rivals, Nottingham Trent, where we managed to gain our third win

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University of Worcester Wheelchair Basketball Club

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Student Wellbeing Champions The Student Wellbeing Champions are a small group of students who promote wellbeing at the University of Worcester.

Their aims are to contribute to the work of the Student Support and Wellbeing Service and play an active role by promoting wellbeing through campaigns and events.

The team is made up of Alexandra Martin, Eleanor Brant, George Sherrard, Meg Trinder and William Westwood.

They study a range of subjects including Drama, Biology, Psychology and Social Work. The current champions are very different, but all have a passion for the wellbeing and happiness of students.

Some of the Student Wellbeing Champions are part of a society, some are parents, and others volunteer. There are a mix of undergraduate and postgraduate students with some living on campus and others not.

freebies and a competition with a £20 voucher up for grabs. The event was a success and feedback proved it was well liked and made people smile.

Although the Student Wellbeing Champions were only established earlier this year, they have made themselves known, largely through social media.

They currently have a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram page. Here you can get to know the students a little better outside of their job role. You will also find useful healthy recipes and other information about events going on around the University and Worcester in general.

The students are currently planning their next event. These take a lot of organising and everyone takes an active

role, such as contacting relevant people, printing posters, advertising through social media and face to face contact and buying supplies. It is obviously worthwhile and allows the Student Wellbeing Champions to influence decisions regarding wellbeing, and promote the importance of students looking after themselves.

Please support the Student Wellbeing Champions by following them on social media and attending their next event.

@studentwellbeingchamps @wellbeingchamps @studentwellbeingchampions

by Alexandra Martin, Student Wellbeing Champion

The variation of students works well and means they can all play an active role in deciding what events and campaigns take place at the University. Every week the Student Wellbeing Champions get together to discuss what they would like to promote and why it is important.

They enjoy holding events where students can get involved and learn more about general wellbeing. They recently held their first big campaign at St Johns Campus for ‘International Day of Happiness’.

‘International Day of Happiness’ was a great subject for a first event as it was all about what makes people happy and how to avoid stress. The students promoted the event through their three social media accounts and via posters put up around the University. They had a stand at main reception featuring information on wellbeing, happiness and mental health. They also had some

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EVENTS Varsity 2017 Elected Officers Varsity commenced on Wednesday 29th March 2017 with an all-day event in the Arena. Dance, Netball, Basketball and Futsal kicked off proceedings, with a large student crowd. Following a superb start and an 8-0 lead, the University of Gloucestershire, unfortunately, gained momentum and started to turn things around. Whilst a number of fixtures were close, Gloucestershire ultimately won the Varsity series 14-10.

In the build up to Varsity, all the captains from both Universities met to talk about the process of Varsity and the code of conduct for both players and spectators. Every student to purchase a ticket was given a copy of the code of conduct.

A joint press release about the BUCS #TakeAStand and rainbow laces campaign and was featured in the Worcester News on 30th March. Varsity is an important time for all of our sports teams who value of the privilege of taking part and, despite the result, we would still all much #ratherbeasauce!

The week ran extremely well. Meticulous planning from the SU staff team, combined with a joint Union effort with Gloucestershire, provided both players and spectators with a positive Varsity experience.

by Hemaka Pathiranage, VP Student Activities

In the process of organising Varsity, Sports Officer (Lauren) from Gloucestershire and I, worked closely to support British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) #TakeAStand campaign. #TakeAStand aims to make the university sport experience as inclusive and accessible as possible. You can have a look at the video created by #TeamWorc sports clubs to support BUCS #TakeAStand here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwVvIywDt1Y. On Friday 24th March #TeamWorc met #TeamGlos captains to sign a pledge to uphold the values of the BUCS #TakeAStand campaign throughout the competition.

Alongside this, we presented all the captains with rainbow shoelaces for their teams to wear during their events.

The rainbow lace campaign aims to raise awareness and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender players and fans. The FA and other national governing bodies are also supporting this fantastic campaign.

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Race Day On Thursday 11th May, Worcester Racecourse collaborated with the University of Worcester Students’ Union and the University to host the first ever Student Raceday. Just over 130 students arrived on the sunny day to watch the opening fixture of Worcester’s season.

Donations University of Worcester Men’s Rugby team and our own Vice President of Education, James Gunther, collected donations throughout the day from generous attendees, managing to raise an incredible £303.96 for Mencap, a fantastic charity that improves the lives of people with learning disabilities and their families, and fights alongside them for a better future.

Raise & Give Officer takes the lead This new raceday was devised by a 2nd year Sport Business Management student and Raise & Give (RAG) officer at University of Worcester, Harry Lonsdale.

In conjunction with Worcester Racecourse, Harry also orchestrated the majority of the promotional activity with the assistance of the Racecourse Marketing team and Worcester Students’ Union. Harry also got the opportunity to present an award to jockey Harry Skelton, for winning the 4th race of the day with horse, Whatdjazz.

Harry told Arena Racing Company: “Through my role as RAG officer for the Students’ Union we are always looking for new ways to raise money for our chosen charities, for this event our

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charity of the day will be Mencap so it is a real pleasure to indulge in my sporting passion as well as raise money for this worthy cause."

“Organising the event with the support of the University, the Students’ Union and working with Jenny and her team has given me invaluable experience, and we hope that this event will enhance the day for the racecourse."

Thank You We would like to thank Harry, the University of Worcester Men’s Rugby team, and all students that attended the event for their involvement in the organising and success of the raceday.

We look forward to future fundraising events!

by Jasmine Warne, Students’ Union

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EVENTS/SOCIETIES SOCIETIES

Worcester Worldwide Worcester Worldwide takes its first steps.

A New Society is Born January 2017 was the moment we started as a young and ambitious society! It was a great beginning for Worcester Worldwide, as we were preparing to learn about other cultures and always keep an open mind. Starting as a new society in the second semester of the year meant that we had to be fast-learners when it came to managing a society, but we, the committee members: Emma Viitanen (Treasurer), Agata Dziamka (Secretary) and Ana-Maria Iscru (Chairperson) were offered the help needed to start the society as soon as possible.

Our main goals are to bring together people of different nationalities (International and British students), people with different backgrounds and ideologies and create a ‘melting pot’, a society with open-minded people who share values and have the chance to understand other cultures.

session and the winner gets to choose the next country we will learn about. We bring tea and snacks!

Once every two weeks when we do not have official meetings on campus, we go to thematic restaurants in the city and try different traditional recipes. The process of understanding a culture is not complete without food.

Highlights of this Year The year is not over yet, as we try to make the meetings as diversified as possible. We helped organise the Red Nose Day charity event in the Pear Tree at the end of March, but will also have a couple of events of our own.

We also organised the Eurovision Night on 13th of May in the Pear Tree.

We are also making a Sing it Worldwide event at the end of May, bringing together different nationalities to sing a song in our own languages (look for the Sing it Worldwide-Worcester Worldwide Facebook event for details).

All in all, it was a great year and the next one will be even better!

Join our society for a chance to meet cool people and learn about other cultures!

by Ana-Maria Iscru

On 5th May we held a Cake Sale on the Cinco de Mayo Mexican celebration, with traditional Mexican, Finnish, Polish and Romanian sweets, in the Pear Tree.

It Gets Even Better We meet once every two weeks for our official ‘thematic’ meetings, where we focus on one particular culture (Italian, Icelandic, Bulgarian, Finnish etc.), see some key facts about their traditions, local food, language and principles, while avoiding stereotypes. We also make a culture quiz at the end of each

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ISSUE 2

Be a part of issue 3 Write to us about your achievements.

Whether you’re a staff member or a student, everyone in the University can write for Worc Hard Play Hard, the student achievement magazine.

You could write: About an amazing event you organised • About an award you received for your hard work • A story about your society’s success • A review of your sports club’s performance • An interview with a key volunteer or a committee member • A poem about your University experience 500 word limit, submitted images must be good quality and high resolution, it must be factual and the achievement must have been undertaken (or been completed) on or before 31st December 2017.

Please send all articles and images to studentsunion@worc.ac.uk

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