Student Parents & Carers

Check out what we have been getting up to as students, as parents, and as committe members of the Student Parents Society at the University of Derby!

Wednesday 2nd December 2015

Hey guys, just an update with how we are getting on. Well we got the grand total from our RAG event, and drum role please..............We raised a total of £209.52! We are very great full for everyone that helped out and to those who turned up in the day, bought raffle tickets and helped to support our event. We are very proud of our total and can't wait to put on another event like this in the future!

We also found out today that we have managed to reach the Bronze Award with the Society (yay!) As we have passed the 125 points mark. This has been an awesome achievement by the committee and the society and we are very proud :-). Onwards and upwards, we are now aiming for the 250 point mark so we can reach Silver, which means lots more activities coming your way guys! 

We have also been working on confirming a date for a parent only night out before Christmas, where we could go out for a meal (kids can join for this if parents are struggling to find an alternative) then we can go out for a few drinks and 'Let our hair down', and relieve all that stress of university and the kids! None drinkers will also be welcome, we know you don't need to get drunk to have fun, however I think a few would agree, at times it certainly makes you feel a little bit better ;-).

So on a whole, it's been a great week for the Student Parents Society and we are looking forward to everything that is around the corner!

Sarah Moore, President

Saturday 28th November 2015

Hey, Sarah here. So today we put on our big RAG Activity Afternoon. Started off a very busy morning, finishing all the prep and getting it up to university, waiting for the right taxi to turn up so I could get all the stuff there. I daresay somewhat of a nightmare. But we got there, got set up and ready for the day. There was an awesome soft play area, with slide, ball pool, shapes and even a blow up house with a kitchen.  It was brilliant, the kids loved it! The Cheerleaders were brilliant, they showed the kids some of their moves, got the pom poms out and did some awesome stuff with the kids. History Society brought along some horrible history activities. Kids coloured in their own pirates, my Ruby decided to call her pirate 'Peeter'. The Maths Society brought along some brilliant maths games which were loved by parents and kids, they even dressed up for us as a magician, a crazy scientist and a detective. There was crafts and cake decorating, giant games and a kids quiz and bingo. The kids loved it.

It's been a very long week putting final preparations together for the event, we have been selling raffle tickets over the last week, advertising, making posters and arranging all last minute bits, but it has all been worth it. The kids loved it, which is brilliant. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the kids smile and laugh and enjoying spending time with those they love, who are usually spending hours of their time working and studying to make better futures for their kids.

I see a lot from student parents, about how they feel guilty about how little time they spend with their kids, so it is events like this that I love the most. We do what we do for our kids to give them a better life, and being able to involve them in this part of our lives starts to break down that seperation. The kids get to make new friends, the families get to spend time together, we get to meet other parents and make friends,  we get some of that social life back that we lose from being full time parents and students. 

Anyway, back to it, today was great! We have raised lots of money for RAG, which we will find out the totals of on Monday so I will let you know how we have got on :-). Next event is next week, a cake decorating workshop, where kids can come along and make some Christmas themed cupcakes. We hope to see lots of you there!

Sarah Moore, President

Monday 23rd November 2015

Hi, and welcome to the Student Parents Society blog! I'm Sarah, President of the Student Parents Society. I'm a single mum of 2 children, a 4 year old boy called Hayden who is an absolute character, and a 6 year old girl Ruby who likes to be a girly girl and loves to learn. I am a second year Mental Health Nursing student at the university, which keeps me busy, but I love it. I also love that this year I achieved position of President of the society, so that I can help to work to create events for student parents and their kids.

As a student in my first year,  I didn't have much to do with my children, and university life was a completely seperate world, this is something I want to work towards changing. I find that my kids love being involved at university, and they love getting to spend quality time with me. This is what I want to create for other student parents. Since starting as President, it has been hard work, initially I didn't have a clue what I was doing, loads of ideas but no idea how to run with them, but since September we have been working as a committee to make the ideas a reality and start creating events for student parents. 

Up to now, we have held a film afternoon, a Halloween Party, a Frozen Sing Along and a Craft Club. We are currently finalising plans for our RAG Activity Afternoon on Saturday which the kids have loved getting involved in arranging and sharing ideas. We have held meetings, sent so many emails and spent a lot of time arranging what we hope will be a great event, but I love it, and if it makes just one extra student family happy to be having fun with their kids, it will be all worth it, because that's what I feel this society is about. 

Sarah Moore, President