Goldsmiths Impact Report 2012

CNCL / 9212 / 485

2

for

mo

re in

fo r

egis

ter

@ G

OL

DS

MIT

HS

SU

.OR

G

Goldsmiths Students’ Union Impact Report 2012

WELCOMEThis report summarises the impact of the huge range of achievements, services and opportunities we offered in a year in which the Union was busier than ever before.

We agreed a new Strategic Plan and revised our Mission Statement to the following:-

“GSU exists to inspire and empower students to change the world.”

We are central to the experience of students at Goldsmiths and work hard to represent all sections of our diverse student body. Like the College, we have a strong sense of our values, and the work we do stems from these core beliefs.

One behalf of the Trustee Board I would like to thank all of those students & staff who contribute to making GSU what it is – a compaigning organisation committed to continual improvement and a Union to be proud of.

REPRESENTING STUDENTS EFFECTIVELY

DELIVERING DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES

AN EXCELLENT ETHICAL UNION

ENSURING FINANCIAL STABILITY

James Haywood - President 2011-12

Goldsmiths Students’ Union Impact Report 2012www.goldsmithssu.org 3

CONTENTS

04/05/06/0708/0910/1112/13/14/15

PAG

ES

PAG

ES

PAG

ES

PAG

ES

To achieve this we aim to:• Provide exciting opportunities for the expression of student opinion and actively

represent the interests of students;• Act as an effective channel of communication between Goldsmiths students, Goldsmiths

College and other external bodies;• Promote the welfare of students at Goldsmiths College;• Facilitate the social, recreational and educational needs of Goldsmiths students, providing

them with services and support;• Working with other students’ unions and affiliated bodies in the interests of Goldsmiths

students.

In addition to these aims GSU ensures the diversity of its membership is recognised, valued and supported and has established departments and services to achieve these aims.

These include Representation and Democracy, Sports, Societies, Volunteering, Media, Advice, the Nursery, The Stretch and the G-Shop. GSU Officers sit on almost every University committee and meet with other providers of public services to students to ensure effective representation of Goldsmiths students to all interested stakeholders.

KEY OBJECTIVESOur Mission:

4

for

mo

re in

fo r

egis

ter

@ G

OL

DS

MIT

HS

SU

.OR

G


ACHIEVEMENTS

To increase election turnout to 26%.

To improve communication with members.

To pass the Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative assessment (an externally assessed kite-mark to ensure continuous improvement).

To achieve ‘Best Bar None’ status again, which recognises the quality of our licensed services.

To maintain GSU’s high national profile through officer and staff volunteer involvement in student organisations such as NUS and NUS Services Limited.

To increase the provision of advice and support for students searching for accommodation.

To obtain “Gold” in the Green Impact Awards, proving we lead the way on environmental and ethical work.

To ensure the refurbishment of as many parts of the Union as possible.

We passed the reassessment and received very positive feedback from the assessment.

Not achieved. Turnout dropped to 16%

We launched a new website which has received excellent feedback and strengthened our social media presence.

We were accredited with a prestigious Bronze award.

We achieved a silver award, putting us in the top 20 unions.

We were hosts to NUS’s first Activist Conference and have several full time officers and staff elected onto NUS and NUSSL Committees.

We utilised social media to help students with advice and finding accommodation. We also organised several successful ‘Speed Housemating’ events.

We maintained our Gold standard in environmental and ethical practices.

• Refurbished The Stretch & Common Room

• Installed a new reception with new frontage & windows

• Refurbished the main Union toilets • Significant development of the gym

changing rooms

To pass our Investors in People reasseement


REPRESENTING STUDENTS EFFECTIVELY

Effective, evidence-based representation is crucial for GSU as we believe that student views should shape the future of Goldsmiths. We believe that communication is fundamental to representation as we understand it is impossible to represent anyone unless you can understand their issues.

GSU represents students through two systems - the Department Student Coordinators and our democratic structures. These systems are open to all Goldsmiths students. Some key achievements in this area are on the next page.

The full time elected officers 2011-12

6

for

mo

re in

fo r

egis

ter

@ G

OL

DS

MIT

HS

SU

.OR

G


16%VOTERTURN OUT

1221VOTERS

TOTAL NUMBER OFCANDIDATES

24

1798FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS

=100 LIKES

33%INCREASE

1650.13%

£315 325, .00

OF THE OVERALL EXPENDITURE INVESTED IN REPRESENTATION


DELIVERINGDIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES

There is no single ‘student experience’, but many student experiences. We have a significant impact on the lives of students through the delivery of diverse opportunities, enabling our students to make the most of their time at Goldsmiths.

We do this by placing equality and diversity at the heart of our culture and activity.

8 Goldsmiths Students’ Union Impact Report 2012

for

mo

re in

fo r

egis

ter

@ G

OL

DS

MIT

HS

SU

.OR

G

76INVESTED INTO STUDENT STAFF

£119 726,23%

INCREASE

ACTIVE SPORTS & SOCIETIES

HAS BEEN MADEA LOT EASIERBY BEING A PART OF

MY TIME AT GOLDSMITHS

GOLDSMITHS SU

“

””GOLDSMITHS SU”GOLDSMITHS SU JESS

SH

AR

MA

N -

STU

DE

NT

STA

FF

52 55ACTIVE SOCIETIES ACTIVE SOCIETIES

2010

-20

11

2011

-20

12

474SPORTS MEMBERS SOCIETY MEMBERS

1629Goldsmiths Students’ Union Impact Report 2012www.goldsmithssu.org 9

AN EXCELLENTETHICALUNIONWe operate in a competitive environment where students enter higher education with increasingly high expectations. GSU has high standards and we are always working hard to improve our processes and to be more effective at what we do. We have several external accreditations we are proud to have achieved.

Our belief in collectivism ensures we embrace our responsibilities beyond the walls of Goldsmiths. GSU believes that the pursuit of ethical and environmental excellence throughout the organisation and active lobbying for it beyond will ensure we meet our responsibilities and become a sustainable organisation.


for

mo

re in

fo r

egis

ter

@ G

OL

DS

MIT

HS

SU

.OR

G

SILVERBESTBARNONEAWARD

GOLDGREENIMPACT

AWARD

COMMENTS ON THEADVICE SERVICE

I saw you last week on Thursday in regards to an appeal. Thanks again for all your invaluable help and insight.

Once again thank you so much for listening and for giving me your support. It’s now all over as a new life just begins.

Since receiving your advice, I’ve managed to persuade them to give me the late summer resits without going to the Ombudsman. Thanks again.

I don’t think I could have got the result I wanted without your help

I submitted the appeal, that you helped me with, and fortunately I got part of the fees paid (£800) back in compensation for the experience I was complaining about. I have accepted the settlement and the case is now closed. Thank you

ADVICE SERVICESince receiving your advice, I’ve managed to persuade them

resits without going to the

I don’t think I could have got the result I wanted without your the result I wanted without your

I submitted the appeal, that you helped me with, and

I have accepted the settlement and the case is now closed.

I submitted the appeal, that you helped me with, and fortunately I got part of the fees paid (£800) back in

ADVICE SERVICEOnce again thank you so much for listening

I saw you last week on Thursday in regards to an appeal. Thanks again for all your invaluable help and insight.I saw you last week on Thursday in regards to an appeal.

BRONZESTUDENTS’ UNION EVALUATION INITIATIVE BRONZE AWARD


ENSURINGFINANCIALSTABILITYIn uncertain times it is more important than ever that GSU manages its finances carefully and builds reserves (savings used in exceptional circumstances) in line with the policy set out by the Trustee Board. In 2011-12 we generated a surplus of over £9,000, broadly in line with our budget. It was particularly pleasing that the nursery generated only a small loss, given the fact this was the first year of operation and it took time to build numbers and fill the spaces. And we were delighted the College chose to invest £250,000 in a refurbishment of the gym changing rooms, as the state of the old rooms was a major issue for members. GSU has now generated surpluses in eight of the last nine years and our reserves have grown significantly during this time. However, we recognise that GSU needs to continue to build its reserves to levels capable of dealing with an unexpected problem or further downturns in trading turnover, particularly as we are now running the nursery.


for

mo

re in

fo r

egis

ter

@ G

OL

DS

MIT

HS

SU

.OR

G

£7,622UNION NET ASSETS 2007

UNION NET ASSETS 2012

£287,519£183,741

UNION INCOME INCREASED FROM 2O11 BY

CLUBSSTUDENT DEVELOPMENTBARENTERTAINMENTSCOMMUNICATIONSNURSERYVENUE & BUILDINGCENTRAL STAFFINGGENERAL ADMINREPRESENTATION & DEMOCRACY

50.3%

11.8%

10.1%

9.3%

4.9%6.7%4.2%

NETEXPENDITURE

2011-12Goldsmiths Students’ Union Impact Report 2012www.goldsmithssu.org 13

Our plans for 2012-13 are linked to our new Strategic Plan and based around our two pillars and the two foundations:-

Pillar 1: Representing Students Effectively• We will work closely with the University to produce a new student engagement and

experience strategy• Increase the number of candidates and turnout for our elections• Maintain GSUs high national profile by involvement of full time officers, volunteers and

staff on national campaigns, committees and organisations.• Campaign against cuts, fees and the marketisation of Higher Education • With trade unions campaign against public sector cuts• Empower and support student representatives to raise and resolve issues at the

departmental level• Raise awareness of work opportunities and ways in which students can improve their

employability during their time at university.

Pillar 2: Delivering Diverse Opportunities • We will ensure better training and support for sports clubs and societies• Increase the number of volunteering opportunities and improve engagement with the

local community• Increase the numbers of students GSU provides advice to, by seeking to involve

volunteers in providing basic levels of advice on housing and other matters• Investigate the possibility of academic credit for extra-curricular activities

Foundation: An Excellent, Ethical Union• Achieve an “Outstanding” report in the coming Ofsted inspection of the nursery• Produce a strong business case for the College to fund a major refurbishment or

replacement of the Tiananmen Building• Review our Constitution• Use the Student Union Evaluation Initiative feedback to improve key union areas.

Foundation: Financial Sustainability• Generate an overall surplus of £12k• Review and improve our financial systems and procedures• Review and agree a new reserves policy

GOING FORWARD


for

mo

re in

fo r

egis

ter

@ G

OL

DS

MIT

HS

SU

.OR

G

www.goldsmithssu.orgGoldsmiths Students’ Union

Dixon RoadNew Cross

LondonSE14 6NW

Goldsmiths Impact Report 2012

Documents

Transcript of Goldsmiths Impact Report 2012