Student Representative Council, Angus College – community projects
This case study was written by a member of the Angus College Student Representative Council.
Our very successful Student Representative Council consists of twenty-two individuals that have devoted their spare time (alongside studying, working and parenting) to improve college life for all students and to make their mark on the local community. Here are just some of the activities that we have led:
- Language translation through a buddy scheme for Eastern European students
- Multi-Cultural Christmas party
- “A Day in the Life of…” - a video to show new students with mobility difficulties how easy it is to get around campus
- A learning and teaching research project that looks at helpful and hindering behaviours of staff and students - a tool to be used at the College’s Staff Development Day
- Sexual health and contraception weekly drop-ins - a partnership with the NHS
- The first student magazine to show how all students can enhance their student experience
- Essential Skill posters- demystifying Essential Skills in the words of our students
- The setting up of various social groups to encourage a fully inclusive campus including LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender), Pagan and Football
- Raising over £3,000 to help various charities including Special Olympics, Student Crisis Fund, etc.
|
“Being involved has taught me very useful life and working skills i.e. organizational skills, team work and how to process ideas into reality.” “I’ve learnt how to organize and lead a project- I couldn’t even organize myself before.” |
The organization has definitely benefited because these activities have brought the College to life. When you are walking around the campus there is a real buzz around the place - there are always students taking part in some activity or demonstration, having fun or raising awareness. Because of the variety of activities that we offer, we feel that many people have benefited from our work. For example, our Disability Officers who created the “Day in the Life of…” video have had their confidence increased as they were given the responsibility to do something that would make a difference to future students with mobility difficulties. Our LGBT Officer has provided a constant weekly drop-in for over two years, again raising awareness and educating the student population about celebrating differences. This experience has had an overwhelming effect on our officer, whose life has flourished!
We feel that we are an important cog in the College wheel and that our efforts, and our multi-coloured hoodie enterprise, have certainly enhanced and brightened up the environment.
Team members: Tatiana Zorina, Judyta Sadowska, Julia Smith, David Dean, Chris Milligan, Murdo Mcdonald, Yasmine Pinner, Leigh Swan, John Horsburgh, Kirsty Soutar, Fraser Brunt, Ian Mckechnie, Elizabeth Addison, Bradley Martin, Bradley Kelly, Lewis Mccagh, Laura Henderson, Hayley Allan, Vanessa Gorlas, Rachel Fenton, Stacey Ross, Stacey Stranock, Katie Mews, Louise Martin, Ian
Learning by Volunteering Awards 2011: The judges’ comments included “This inspirational team has clearly accomplished a huge amount of work and an impressive variety of projects in a short space of time. An amazing piece of volunteering and team work shines strongly from this entry. A very inclusive student led activity team clearly demonstrating how they worked together to raise a substantial amount of money and made a real difference to the community.” |