Welcome to this week’s instalment of keeping you as up to date as possible with all the great work we have going on over at the Union. We would like to thank everyone for continuing to observe the government guidance to keep yourselves, those around you and the wider University community as safe as possible. If you need any advice or are experiencing significant hardship at this time, our advice service remains ready to help in any way they can.
Welcome to this week’s instalment of keeping you as up to date as possible with all the great work we have going on over at the Union. We would like to thank everyone for continuing to observe the government guidance to keep yourselves, those around you and the wider University community as safe as possible. If you need any advice or are experiencing significant hardship at this time, our advice service remains ready to help in any way they can.
It has been another week of effective collaboration and some great progress towards better outcomes for all students to aid you through these unprecedented times.
Fees
The open letter we published last week that can be viewed on our website, urged our local members of parliament to forward the concerns of students onto the Minister of State for Universities. Our colleagues from across the sector also wrote to their local representatives and collectively our voice was heard in Government.
This morning (2/2/21) the Government have announced an additional £50 million to help students experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and we anticipate a further announcement from Government regarding students at University in the coming weeks.
Student Feedback
The Union chairs a Student Affairs Committee in which we bring key concerns of the student body to members from across the University and discuss potential concessions and changes to enhance the students experience.
The meeting hosted discussions around effective student feedback and empowering students to come forward and have their views listened to and acted on. For example, our part time officer for students that are parent/carers came and presented the concerns of their cohort and received direct responses from the University of support for those students affected. Please continue to share your experiences with us through our representational structures.
Events and Services
One week of Refreshers down, one week to go! Please head over to the derbyfresh website to book your place on any of the events. They are all completely free!
This month is our LGBTQ+ celebration month and Emily, your Vice President (Welfare), with colleagues from across the Union has put together a comprehensive package of events for all.
- We have teamed up with Unions from across the country to deliver a series of webinars. There will be two a week looking at a multitude of topics from across the LGBTQ+ community, from adversity through to challenges.
- There will be a myth-busting panel which will look at the lived experience of our students from the LGBTQ+ community. If you have any questions, please submit them for us to use.
- Foundation Stones is a charity that brings people together who with to honour and/or remember those who have lost their lives to a global cause or on a more personal level. They will be running a workshop for you to take part in, just sign up online.
We hope you can join us for some of these liberation events throughout the course of the month and the full schedule can be found on our website.
Our Keddies shop remains open to ensure that access to sandwiches, snacks, and drinks is available to those students with lessons on site or visiting the library. In addition, Starbucks is staying open for hot takeaway drinks. We will continue to monitor the number of visitors to these buildings over the next few weeks and communicate with you again once Blends is ready to reopen. Thank you for continuing to support Union outlets during this challenging time, we will be back serving you our amazing fair-trade coffee and hot chocolates again very soon!
We remain here for you and will continue to represent you and support you in the best way we can. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Stay safe. Stay well. Stay connected.
Corey Beck
Union President