Student Life Zone (21st February 2017)

Apologies were received from Louise and Alex.

The minutes from the last meeting were approved. 

Action   - Take Prevent action further in the New Year. – The university has set up a working group who will present on Prevent at the next Equality and Diversity action group. 

Action - All members of the committee to promote the open places available ahead of the next zone meeting. – This has not necessarily gone well.  However Tirzah who was elected Senate representative is welcome at the next Senate meeting.

Action- President to take the matter to Halls Committee Board. – Alex to update on this at the next meeting.  Elliot informed the group that this issue (price increase in Halls) was raised at the Student Forum, and the VC is currently looking at this.   

Action- To bring the new revised proposal for changes to the zone to a future zone meeting. – David outlined the possibility of Equality moving to the Student Life Zone and Diversity staying in Communities, however once the full groups review has taken place David will bring the paper to the next meeting. 

4.1. Nightline Officer:

Tirzah reported that the new intake has been trained.  The current top 3 trends are Relationships, Sex and Academic Stress- Tirzah will look at the trends in more detail.  The committee are attending the National Nightline Conference in a few weeks.  Tirzah will also take this opportunity to promote becoming the next Nightline Officer.  The Instant Messaging service is now going well after the coverage issues over Christmas. 

4.2. Housing Officer:

David updated the group in Louise’s absence. The housing fayre went well with a variety of services invited including Southern Water, Sassh, LAYM and the Advice Centre.  Our Insight manager is currently looking at Housing in Winchester, with this information it would be possible to take the Fayre to WSA next year. 

David updated the group on his current projects/plans.

The variety of healthy options of food available:  Allergens are not well described on Union food and there is only one vegan hot meal option.  David is currently gathering information at the moment and will be working with the university on healthy food options.

The Wellbeing and Equality and Diversity Action groups will be combined as one, as it is generally the same people attending both.           

David is also working with Movem – a housing review website, so students can leave good or bad reviews about landlords. 

Burst the Bubble - This is being launched in March and will be centred on what it feels like to be in your own bubble and isolated.  The campaign will talk about feeling isolated, how and where to seek help, or encourage friends to seek help. 

There will be a video shoot which involves someone in a zorb suit (stuck in a bubble) in halls.  David will also be vlogging once a week, there will be a series of posters showing someone in a bubble stuck in lectures, during sports and on a night out.  There will also be physical events at the sites/ halls, with bubble machines and the zorb suits, support services will also be promoted such as Peer Support, Nightline, the Advice Centre and the LAYM scheme.  All posters etc will be linked to the support services.  The idea is around action not awareness.

George reminded the group that it was the University’s Mental Health day on 2^nd March, Peer Support would be in attendance, and it would be good to have a Nightline presence as well.                

Unfortunately the bigger events did not come off however the smaller events went very well, including the Researchers Café, the Punchbag and Power Teas. The MedSoc Power Tea was a great success, in collaboration with Medsoc, teas and coffees were handed out after the first year medics exam.  The group discussed some options for the next YAMT including gathering input from the PG committee about suitable events and times potentially in August for PG students.  The YAMT team will discuss at their next meeting.       

Each zone is to come up with an award for the EVAs for example, outstanding group or zone volunteer award.  The group discussed potential names for the award, including The Student Life Zone Award for: the Best Student Support, Positive Contribution to Student Wellbeing or the Benjamin Trunklin memorial award for student life. 

David informed the group he will be meeting with Giles with regard to PGR issues.

There has recently been a complaint about a society event, around inclusion and code of conduct. David will be working with VP Sports Development and VP DCI on firming up the code of conduct.  David is also looking at creating a group to look at the current rules/guidance and what is not tolerated.  Currently the rules are quite vague and need to be made more concrete, but also clear and simple and perhaps linked to disciplinary hearings.  The group discussed this.