Active@Brunel Placement Role: Student Engagement in Physical Activity, Study notes of Voice

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ACTIVE@BRUNEL

STUDENT PLACEMENT

Updated April 2018

Job Description and Personal Specification

Introduction

The Union of Brunel Students is a democratic, student led organisation and is crucial to the experience of the students at Brunel University. Our aspiration is that every Brunel Student is free to develop within and enjoy every aspect of University life and we see this role as pivotal in achieving that aspiration.

We are recruiting for a placement student to help us to grow and deliver our social sport programme called Active@Brunel. The role will involve developing a programme that engages more students and staff in physical activity, and achieves the project’s objectives surrounding participation.

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, personable and organised individual to really develop and integrate this programme into campus life. The successful candidate will have a passion for physical activity and the many benefits it can offer to students, and will be able to use their communication skills to enthuse others to get involved, try something new and make it a habit.

Reporting to the Student Activities Manager, the Active@Brunel Placement role will work closely with NGB development officers, Student Activators and internal staff to administer and develop a busy and varied programme of activity.

About the Union of Brunel Students

As part of the Strategic Planning process we redefined our Mission, Purpose and Values.

Our Mission We deliver on our core purpose through 4 main areas of operation:

1. Advice and support - helping individual students find solutions to personal challenges and overcome barriers to getting the most from their time at university.
2. Student voice – ensuring that the views and needs of students influence decision making at the university and beyond.
3. Student led activities – encourage and enable students to establish and join active communities based on shared interests and values.
4. Commercial services – delivering financially sustainable social experiences that reflect our values, increase our self-sufficiency and make everyday life better for students. Generating income through external partnerships and investment to support our activities.

Our Purpose The Union exists to ensure that every Brunel student has the opportunity to enjoy, challenge, influence and benefit from all aspects of their studies and the wider student experience.

Our Values Membership Driven, Ambitious, Empowering, Accessible and Integrity

Core Union Activities

Advice and Support The ARC (Advice and Representation Centre) is our free, independent and confidential student advice service. We offer support and guidance on a wide range of issues: pastoral such as housing, sexual health and finance; institutional – disciplinary and appeals. In 2011/12 we helped and supported over 1,200 student clients.

Student Voice We work to ensure that democratic values are at the heart of all we do – we are a truly student led organisation. The central aspects of this are student leadership through four full time Student Officers and 10 student Chairs, plus the Student Representative System. We recruit, train and support the Student Reps from all levels of study across all academic schools. These Reps ensure the student voice is heard in the development and improvement of their courses.

Student Led Activities From facilitating over 140 Sports Clubs and cultural Societies to opportunities to work in the local community, the Union devotes significant time and resource into empowering and enabling our membership to lead pro-active, purposeful and enjoyable lives outside of their academic work. Combined Sports and Societies membership was over 5,500 this year taking part in a wide range and variety of competitions and events. Recent successes have been achieving Beacon Status by the Lawn Tennis Association, Mens’ cricket promotion to the Southern Premier League and coming 2nd highest ranked London University in the BUCS League (British University College Sport- national and regional leagues). We also host the major campus engagement activities from the traditional Freshers’ Week to One World Week.

Commercial Services The Union provides quality pub, dining and nightclub facilities with strong ethical principles and safety standards at the heart of all our operations. Our audience is diverse and our events programming aims to reflect that. We also trade on-line and we work closely with external clients to promote their products or services to our members through our print and on-line media. These activities provide a valuable income stream and provide great value deals for our membership.

Events (^) AdministrationCentral

Business Development

Resources &^ Human Development Communications

Student Voice

Contracted Services

Venues

Student Activities

Advice & Representation

Union Departmental Structure

Director of Finance Director of Membership Engagement Operations^ Director of

Chief Executive

Job Context

Reporting to the Student Activities Manager this is an exciting role where you will help to develop and deliver the social sport, Active@Brunel programme at Brunel. The role will involve growing a programme that engages more students and staff in physical activity, and achieves the project’s objectives surrounding participation.

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, personable and organised individual to really develop and integrate this programme into campus life. The successful candidate will have a passion for physical activity and the many benefits it can offer to students, and will be able to use their communication skills to enthuse others to get involved, try something new and make it a habit.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

• Acts as an advocate of the Active@Brunel programme to students, staff and stakeholders, developing a recognisable and creditable brand across campus.
• Develop, deliver and promote the new social sport programme across campus to ensure the project achieves its aims and objectives.
• Create, develop and coordinate the Active@Brunel offer and special one off social sport events.
• Responsible for the assignment of activators to sessions, being their point of contact and providing instruction as to session delivery and the administration required.
• Deliver Active@Brunel sessions as appropriate, providing a fun, engaging experience that encourages participant retention. This includes the delivery of a large scale intramural football programme.
• Develop and deliver an Active@Brunel launch programme, for delivery in freshers week.
• Recruit and retain participants on the programme – with particular attention given to attracting the project’s target groups.
• Prepare and distribute publicity and promotional campaigns for each new social sport activity or event.
• Work within the set budget for social sport.

Person Specification

E E E E E E E E E E E E E E

The following criteria are required to successfully fulfil the position of Design Intern:

NB. E = Essential to the role. D = Desirable for the role.

Aptitudes/Approach

Ability to demonstrate an interest in sport

Understanding of current and future student issues

Ability to plan and support delivery of projects and campaigns

Ability to work in a fast paced environment

Calm, courteous and professional manner with colleagues and students alike; demonstrable ability to work under pressure

Flexible in approach to work

Ability to carry out multiple tasks with varying time pressures

Ability to demonstrate commitment to the values and aims of Union

Prepared to take responsibility for their work and its impact

Ability to work some evenings and weekends when required

Skills

Demonstrable organisational skills

Efficient administration skills

Confident with regards to supporting the delivery of sessions and refereeing

football matches (refereeing qualifications not required, just knowledge of game).

Able to effectively prioritise workload and adapt to change as required

Strong team player but also able to work with minimum supervision Good communication skills, across a diverse range of staff and students

E

E

Knowledge and experience

Experience of setting up new sporting activity E

Evidence of supporting, empowering and motivating volunteer involvement in sport structures

D

An understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities E

Demonstrable experience of working to deadlines while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail

E

Experience of operating within budgets and keeping accurate records D

Experience of planning and coordinating events E

The Union also reserves the right to change or offer alternative Pension Schemes when deemed as appropriate.

Employee Assistance Programme

All staff have free access to the www.workplaceoptions.co.uk Employee Assistance Programme which provide a range of support and advice services including telephone and face to face counselling; health assessment tools; debt advice; dependent care coaching; parenting; childcare; disability and illness; immigration; consumer rights; bereavement and loss; maintaining a work-life balance.

Working on Campus at Brunel

Employees of the Union of Brunel Students enjoy, along with University staff, a wide range of benefits and have access to excellent facilities whilst working on campus. From sport and artistic endeavours to personal development opportunities, the campus is a hive of activity and interests that foster a genuine sense of community, friendship and support for all staff. The University actively encourages staff engagement and is explicit about this in the outcomes specified in the “Brunel 2012 Vision”:

• More volunteering and work placement opportunities for staff and students
• More staff and students regularly taking part in sport and physical activity
• An increase in the number, quality and variety of events for staff and students to engage in on campus.

Underpinning the University Strategic Plan these outcomes are fundamental to fulfil the objective of building a strong sense of belonging to a community: where we can all reach our potential and of which we can all be proud.

Sport at Brunel

The University’s sporting excellence means that there are additional benefits for staff as well: Brunel has extensive indoor and outdoor sports facilities and provides a variety of competitively priced activities:

Badminton, Basketball, Futsal, Climbing Wall, Cricket Net, Exercise Studio, Netball, Squash, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Football, Hockey, Athletics, Zumba and Yoga Classes.

You can join “Active Brunel Staff” for £10 per annum and as a member you can take advantage of free swimming, aerobics classes and gym sessions and access to a variety of reasonably priced sporting activities, along with “have a go” sports sessions where you can try out a new sport or exercise.

There are also complimentary therapies available at the Sports Centre, such as Reiki, Massage, Reflexology, Aromatherapy and specialist Sports rehabilitation and massage therapies on site.

You may also want to gain sporting qualifications whilst at Brunel and the Sports Centre runs accredited courses such as Football Coaching, First Aid and Safeguarding and Protecting Children.

Training and Development Opportunities

Students’ Union Staff are welcome to apply, via their manager, to attend a comprehensive range of Staff Development Courses. The programme is set out each Autumn and covers practical skills such as Health and Safety Essentials, Risk Assessments and Fire Marshal Training, through to personal and professional development: Coaching skills for leaders, Absence Management, Equality Training, Presentation Skills, handling Difficult Conversations. The majority of courses are held on campus during working hours and all a relevant / tailored to the Brunel working environment.

Participating in University Focus Groups

The University welcomes input from all staff, Union and University, in a wide variety of focus groups. Recently these have covered areas such as Equality and Diversity and Women’s Issues and are part of the University Human Resources (anonymous) feedback loop. At these meetings staff are able to raise concerns in confidence and with support in a non-judgemental arena.

Additional Facilities

The campus houses an HSBC bank, pharmacy, Starbucks, Cost Cutter, Costa and Subway stores as well as the More Food hall and various small refreshment outlets. The University Computer Centre also houses a computer consumerables shop open to staff and students. At the centre of campus is the “Quad” where our major student festivals and events take place but which also makes a pleasant environment for outdoor lunches when the weather permits.

Local Facilities

The campus is conveniently located next to local shops and amenities: Uxbridge town centre; Cowley Post Office; Tesco Express and petrol station; Uxbridge outdoor and indoor swimming pool.

Transport/Directions

By Bus

From Uxbridge bus station (next to underground station):

• U3 (alight Cleveland Road)
• U1 to West Drayton, U4 and U7 (alight Kingston Lane)
• 222 and U5 (alight Cowley Road and use path via Zone A – see campus map)

From Heathrow Central:

• A10 Heathrow Fast, every 15 minutes, journey time approx 25 minutes (alight Hillingdon Road and use river footpath to campus) From West Drayton railway station:
• U3 (alight Cleveland Road)
• U1 (alight Kingston Lane)
• 222 (alight Cowley Road and use path via Zone A – see campus map)

By Underground (London Transport)

• Take the westbound Metropolitan Line to Uxbridge (approx 40 mins from Baker Street station).
• Or take the westbound Piccadilly Line to Uxbridge (approx 45-50 mins from Earl’s Court station)

You can then take a taxi or bus (see above for recommended bus services) to the Brunel campus. Alternatively you can walk to the campus, using the 1-mile walking route shown below.

By Rail

• West Drayton (First Great Western Link) is the nearest mainline station, approx 1.5 miles from the campus.
• Services run from London Paddington (approx 20 mins journey time) or from the West (Bristol). From West Drayton station take one of the following buses towards Uxbridge: 222 (alight Cowley Road), U5 (alight Station Road), or U3 (alight Cleveland Road).
• West Ruislip Station (Chiltern Railways) is the mainline service from London Marylebone (approx 20 mins journey time) and the North (Aylesbury, Banbury and Birmingham) and is approx 4 miles from the campus. From West Ruislip Station take the U1 bus (towards Hillingdon Hospital) and alight Kingston Lane.

Students’ Union Offices

The Union is housed on the ground floor of the Hamilton Building – the main Reception is on the Concourse. We employ up to 30 permanent and Fixed Term Contract Staff, one student Intern and approximately 100 casual worker student staff throughout the academic year.

Our main operations and departments housed in the Hamilton building are: Academy Nightclub, Loco’s Bar, Student Activities Department, Advice and Representation Centre, Communications, Finance, Democratic Support and Human Resources Departments, Offices for the Senior Management and Student Officers

We have a small staff kitchen with facilities for making drinks, storing food / lunches and a microwave oven. We have one meeting room of our own but make use of bookable University rooms and facilities as necessary throughout the year.

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle…

The Union is currently working towards the NUS Green Impact Award – Silver and so is very pro- active in supporting recycling initiatives and practices within our offices. We also ensure that we purchase Fairtrade products for office use.

The Culture and Working Environment at the Union

The Union has a relatively small number of permanent staff and we try to encourage an informal yet professional atmosphere on a day to day basis. The composition of the membership we serve is diverse, lively and at times challenging: we all endeavour to respond in a friendly, supportive and positive manner to members and colleagues alike.