The ACEs

Congratulations to Lara on being nominated in a number of categories at the ACEs Awards. The panel were particularly impressed with her dedication and commitment to her role of Burnley Rep and wanted to acknowledge her hard work with this Union Recognition 2024 award. Nominations mentioned how “tenacious and passionate” she is about what is needed for her “peers at Victoria Mill whilst being empathetic and compassionate towards students who need support.” That she has “demonstrated passion, knowledge and effective communication with both elected officers and the union” throughout her role, and she has helped students “with having [their] voices heard with issues on campus and with studies.” Thank you for all you do Lara!

Congratulations on winning The Rising Stars Award 2024 for Floorball! Despite only starting up in October 2023 they have gone from strength to strength; they have a paid, committed player membership of 19 and rising, and by Easter 2024 they have had almost 40 sessions, with over 100 different players attending a session. They are a friendly, diverse, mixed-gender club that have more exciting things in the pipeline such as being included in the Wellbeing Wednesday program, hosting Durham University in June for their first friendly varsity fixture, and also they’ve started planning for UCLan Floorball to host the first round of the national University Floorball League fixtures next season. We’re all looking forward to see where they go from here. Well done UCLan Floorball!

Congratulations to the Baseball & Softball committee on winning The Committee Excellence Award 2024! They have displayed exceptional team work, planning and organisational skills this year, as well as brilliant problem solving skills when the baseball and softball nationals event was cancelled last minute. The way they divide up tasks so that each member takes responsibility for a different area means their recruitment drives and events go smoothly and are as successful as possible. This has resulted in being able to field two softball teams, a baseball team and win the northern conference in both softball and baseball this year. Well done and keep it up Baseball & Softball

Congratulations to Cassia on winning the Student Staff Member of the Year 2024! She had multiple nominations for the award mentioning how helpful she’s been to staff with their training, how they never felt silly for asking questions, and how she puts them at ease. Nominations also spoke about how she is respected and welcomed throughout the union, and how she’s “incredibly kind, always there for a chat, and just downright fantastic.” She can always be counted on to give the team a much-needed lift, even during some difficult periods this year, and managers have felt reassured having someone like Cassia running shifts and representing the management values. Well done and keep doing what you’re doing Cassia!

Congratulations to Harley on winning Council Member of the Year 2024! As the Arts and Media School President with Council Seat she doesn’t only represent voice and opinions of Arts & Media students; she has been an active member of student council and involved herself in as many opportunities as possible. As well as sitting on the Academic Quality and Standards committee to ensure that student voice is heard, she submitted a Big Idea to End Period Poverty across the university and supported and raised awareness of other Big Ideas and campaigns. She also regularly meets with the SU staff and students to discuss different issues and ensure that all issues are communicated as effectively as possible. Thank you for all you do Harley!

Congratulations to Yan-Ching (Lucy) on winning Committee Member of the Year! She had multiple nominations in her role as Co-Chair of the Undergraduate Medical Research Society talking about how the impact she has had has affected the entire school of medicine and dentistry. She has worked alongside the president for the school of medicine to identify and address the lack of research opportunities available for students; she has organised many events to support the years below her in preparing for the academic years ahead; as well as collaborating with other universities on events. Nominations mentioned her “unwavering dedication, strategic leadership, and transformative impact” that have “not only enriched the academic experience of [her] peers but have also made a lasting difference in the broader academic community.” So well done Yan-Ching!

Congratulations to Nisha on being picked out for a special mention award in the Student Staff Member of the Year category. The panel were so impressed with everything she has done for the SU this year in her Engagement Assistant role that they wanted to make sure she got the recognition she deserves. Her work on the Great Donate, which has raised hundreds of pounds to help combat the Cost of Living Crisis for students, was mentioned in the nominations she received, as was how efficient, organised and proactive she is. She was even described as a “student staff super human”! Thank you Nisha for being so passionate about the Union and always being happy to lend a hand.

Congratulations to the Islamic Society on winning the Community Award 2024 recognising their positive, meaningful impact on the wider community. They raised a huge £8,644.67 during their Charity Week Events for local Preston Charity: Withy Trees Welfare and Education, as well as working alongside the new Palestine Society to raise £2,136.26 for SKT welfare. Additionally they raised over £300 for an emergency earthquake appeal earlier this year. They have also made arrangements to provide iftar for students and staff on campus including the provision of water, dates, fruit and a full meal to reduce the costs for students and foster a greater sense of community. Thank you ISoc for making a difference to many different communities.

Congratulations to Lloyd on winning Project Volunteer of the Year 2024 for his amazing contributions to the Craft & Food Fair over the past 2 years. This year he has taken on a lead role for the Craft & Food Fair project and has been responsible for the management of the main paying businesses that attend. The amount of work he puts in from the initial contact, to ensuring all paperwork is received, to making sure the stallholders turn up and have a positive experience, is second-to-none. One nomination said “In meetings he is excellent at bringing ideas to the table and helping create an event to be proud of. On the day, he is engaged and eager to help. He puts great effort into problem solving and being available when needed.” As well as being “a pleasure to work with” – which we all agree with! Thank you for all you’ve done Lloyd, you’ll be missed when you graduate.

Congratulations to Jodie on winning the Wellbeing Award 2024, and by ‘wellbeing’ we are thinking about ‘the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy’. Jodie’s nominations mentioned their “outstanding contributions as the first Care Experienced Representative at UCLan SU” and how they are a “beacon of strength and advocacy for the care experienced community.” In their roles they have opened more healthy, less stigmatised discussions around mental health as well as organising the first care experienced event, focussed on taking time out from the pressures of being a care experienced student in higher education. Congratulations on your “unwavering commitment and remarkable achievements” Jodie!

Congratulations to Jan on winning the Extra Mile Award 2024 – this award recognises someone that has overcome significant challenges to volunteering or group involvement and has still gone above and beyond. We heard his story and we know that despite personal difficulties this year he has done amazing things for the members of the Filipino Society. In the nomination it describes how he uplifts the society members if they feel low, always reaching out to them and building a great community. The nomination states: “I think every single person can say they have had a memorable interaction with Jan Andrada, he has really touched the hearts of every single person in Filsoc.” Congratulations Jan!

Congratulations to Miguel on winning the Collaboration Award 2024 for your work growing UCLan's Filipino Society through collaborations with other groups. He was nominated for collaborating with the Korean Society, UCLan K-Sports and Japanese Society to arrange an “amazing” Sports Day, as well as working with multiple Filipino societies in the North West for the 'Big Manny Meet', a Christmas event where members from different University's Filipino Societies teamed up in groups to do a scavenger hunt. This was described as “meticulously planned” by Miguel and the events were all described as “amazing” in multiple nominations. Well done to Miguel and the whole of the Filipino Society and keep up those collaborations!

Congratulations to Kayla and the Afro-Caribbean Society for winning the Development Award 2024 for giving students chances to develop their confidence, gain new skills and have new experiences. Their nomination mentioned the society’s innovative initiatives which have significantly enriched the experiences of members and promoted meaningful dialogue on pertinent issues. These initiatives include the establishment of braiding and natural hair classes, round-table talks on a range of issues from the fairness of international student university prices to the importance of men's mental health, and the implementation of "Black Out Wednesday" during Black History Month. Through these initiatives, Kayla, with the help of the committee, has demonstrated a deep commitment to promoting understanding, empowerment and learning within the community. Well done to all!

Congratulations to Avery on winning 3 awards! The first one is the Opportunities for All Award for helping to break down barriers and make the Students’ Union a more inclusive place. Nominations specifically mentioned how she played an instrumental role in implementing a preferred name policy at UCLan, and her campaign to ban conversion therapy. She’s also won for her volunteering at many LGBTQ+ events and discussing the issues the community faces openly, as well as her leadership within the trans society, providing vital support and community for trans students.

The second award Avery’s won is the Change Award for having taken a lead this year and increased awareness of topics that have an impact on the student experience. She won for spearheading the transformative initiatives already mentioned that have had a profound impact on the campus and beyond. In addition, she also chaired the Big Union Meeting and facilitated dialogue on crucial issues facing the UCLan community, amplifying the voices of marginalized groups and advocating for meaningful change. She was described as “always putting the needs of others above her own and working almost too hard”!

The last, but definitely not least, award Avery has won is the ACE Volunteer of the Year 2024! This recognises her as the standout volunteer of the year who has made life better for students. As well as all the change she has made with her campaigning, she was also recognised for countering transphobia as a course rep, logging hundreds of volunteering hours as a course rep, trans rep, chair of the trans society, chair of the labour society and vice chair of council. As well as raising money for charity and generally making the university and union a more inclusive space for all. Please keep doing what you’re doing Avery and thank you for going the extra mile for UCLan students.

The Volunteering Award has been developed by UCLan Students’ Union to recognise the contributions of all our volunteers.

It is a thank you for the work, time and effort you put into volunteering with us, and will help you understand the impact your efforts have on both the SU, the people and communities you work with. It most importantly helps you to see how much you will have developed during your time volunteering.

Any student who has volunteered for the Students’ Union is eligible for the Volunteering Award, you just need to log your hours!

The award is structured in four parts – Bronze (30 hours), Silver (60 hours), Gold (90 hours) and Highly Commended (100+ hours awarded in your final year).

This year’s Gold Volunteering Award winners for logging 90 or more hours’ of volunteering with the SU are:

• Avery Greatorex
• Muhammed-Kabir Abdulwahab
• Gemma Sedgwick
• Lloyd Sakr
• Kristy Montalbo
• Alex Minchin
• Oscar Preston
• Rawan Jalal Dessouky Elgindy
• Harry Snelson
• Iain Simpson
• Zain Patel
• Jodie Roberts
• Lara Metcalfe
• kershaun Mathew
• Nisha Ogunrinde
• Lois Turley

The ABCD Award is for students who have gone ‘Above and Beyond the Call of Duty’ whilst volunteering with the Students’ Union. The award is nominated and chosen monthly by volunteer managers to recognise the great work that our student volunteers do. We are excited to announce the winners for this academic year:

Rainbow Mbuangi - Disabled Students Representative

Rainbow has long been a keen advocate for disabled students since he started at UCLan, and has gone above and beyond in his role as Disabled Students Representative by volunteering to deliver inclusivity training for Club & Society committees. Rainbow ran three fantastic sessions over three days of committee training the week prior to Freshers', educating almost eighty students about how they can be more inclusive to students with disabilities when running their societies by giving them a taste of what it can feel like to be blind. Rainbow's session was interesting and engaging, and has clearly had a significant impact, with many students saying it was their favourite part of training! Rainbow has worked incredibly hard to promote and advocate for Disability Sport within UCLan. He has ensured that there are options for students to engage with sports during Disability History Month ranging from sports like Goal Ball, Boccia to Wheelchair Basketball. Rainbow has work with the Team at Sir Tom Finny Sports Centre as well as the Inclusive Support Team, showing passion and enthusiasm.

Daniel Guest and Ester Blaxhall - Burnley Christian Union

They both held a Christian union coffee morning during welcome week, where they stayed on to help the Nursing students with their Macmillan’s coffee morning. Daniel and Ester sold cakes at our Big Hello and gave the proceeds to the Nursing students for the Macmillan charity. Absolute stars!

Avery Greatorex - Students Council Member

Avery has been a member of Students' Council for 2 years, and this year was elected Trans* Students Rep. Whilst in this role, she has supported the Union on several Union based activities, including Student Trustee interviews. Avery has also launched 2 campaigns for a progressive preferred name policy at UCLan and for a Union stance in support of banning Trans conversion therapy in the UK. Avery has campaigns across campus on this, including spending her time at UCLan Pride behind the stall explaining to so many people why this is so important. Avery even gave her first ever public speech at UCLan Pride, which was powerful, informative, and called students and staff to action. She has huge plans to extend her campaigns further afield and is involved in every stage of the planning, ensuring it is right for the students she represents. She is a phenomenal representative, passionate to make people's lives better and we cannot wait to see her very bright future.

Iain Simpson - School President without Council for Engineering and Computing.

Nominated by our volunteer manager Stephanie Lomas, Iain has had an incredible start to his year in office and has made a big impact on the Student Voice regarding the Computing Side of the School. He made a conscious effort to liaise with staff members within the school to ensure that course rep elections were happening, give students insight into what that role meant and has communicated with his course reps to ensure that they attended training, whilst answering any questions that they may have. Iain is well known within the school for carrying a pack of sticky post its wherever he goes, consistently finding students to provide feedback and making sure that staff members know about it before it becomes an issue. He has also been doing work on the culture within computing studies and is working with the senior leadership team of both the school and the Students’ Union to ensure that students voices are heard and championed. All School Presidents have the opportunity to have one to one support sessions, and Iain is in my office weekly to discuss what is going on in his school, how he can communicate wider work to his course reps, feeding into/challenging the academic representation system itself – as well as feeding his post it notes habit. Iain has certainly made an impact on both his school and on the Students’ Union, and I look forward to seeing him go from strength to strength in the years to come. Certainly, a representative to watch!

Manya Raj - Student Council Member

Manya Raj is the Asian Students Rep at Student Council. She took the time to read over 1,000 nominations and scored them during exam and deadline season, as well as being vocal and articulate in advocating for shortlist and winners. Additionally, she represented the university at the NUS National Conference

Nisha Ogunrinde - Islamic Society

We wanted to nominate Nisha as Head Sister of UCLan Islamic Society for all the amazing work she does as leader of the society, and everything she's done to work with the Union to help us become a more inclusive space. It's been a tricky few weeks for ISOC and Nisha has bore the brunt of a lot of it but has dealt with everything with grace and maturity. The stall that ISOC had on the bottom floor of the Union was the most impressive stall we've seen in a long time, in how creative and engaging it was to anyone passing by. We could certainly learn from it ourselves! Nisha's 'Big Idea' around prayer rooms on campus has led to so many amazing changes both in and around the Union, and her constant collaboration with us on how we can better support Muslim students will mean that Nisha's legacy at UCLan will last long after she graduates.

Jodie Roberts - Student Council Member

In our newly created Care Experiences Representative role on Council, Jodie is thriving, navigating the SU to articulate the need of their community through a Big Idea, and a small get together to engage their community. Jodie has opened discussion around Students who are care leavers or care experienced and continues to work on them. Jodie exemplifies what an effective rep does to make change for their community.

Holi Celebration - National Hindu Students’ Forum, Indian Society, Malayali Society and the Tamil Society

This event stands out as a shining example of community cohesion, cultural celebration and creative collaboration. The Holi Celebration orchestrated by these societies was not just a festival, but a vibrant tapestry of colours, cultures and camaraderie. The organisers went above and beyond to ensure that the celebration was inclusive and welcoming to people of all backgrounds. Through engaging activities, performances, and food offerings, they fostered an environment where everyone felt a sense of belonging. The event was a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of the organizers. Every aspect of the celebration was thoughtfully curated to delight and inspire attendees. Beyond the revelry and merrymaking, the celebration served as an opportunity for cultural exchange and understanding. By showcasing the rich traditions and customs associated with Holi, the organizers promoted cross-cultural appreciation and dialogue among attendees. In conclusion, the Holi Celebration was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impact on all 150+ people who attended.

Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to aiding your communities, we hope you can inspire more to do the same.

To learn more about how you can get involved, make change, and represent students, visit https://www.uclansu.co.uk/get_involved/volunteering/