We all know that our student groups offer a wide range of activities and events for our students; opportunities to make friends, relax, have fun, try new things, learn, grow and achieve.
The range of opportunities on offer is incredibly broad, from academic mentoring to zombie fighting. With such a wide variety of activities and events on offer it’s difficult to categorise all of our student groups, however many of our groups frequently demonstrate the key attributes that we wish to see in our clubs, societies and network's provision, so we have introduced Student Group Badges to recognise these achievements which demonstrate commitment from the group leaders, opportunities for their members and pride in their community.
The badges are awarded at the end of terms one and two, where a group has demonstrated on two or more occasions, the traits of each badge theme, with the awarded badges feeding into the end of year student group recognition awards. When advertising events on the What’s On page, groups can identify which badge their event relates to, which also allows students to recognise where that particular event fits into the framework. Groups that have been awarded badges will retain those titles into term one of the following year, so that new students in September can see how well the group has performed in the previous academic year.
The Students’ Union has been really pleased to see how well the groups have embraced the initiative and we’re proud to present the first of the Student Group Badges:
For sharing opportunities, ideas and resources with other groups and harnessing each other’s creativity
The following groups have been awarded the Collaboration Badge:
African Caribbean Society, Cheerleading Society, Christian Union, Cosplay and Convention, Cosy Club, Cue Sports, Femboy Society, Folklore Society, Myth Society, OMG Radio/Staffs TV, RAMS, The Coven, Top Deck.
Aspiring groups: The following groups are on their way to achieving this badge:
Anime and Manga Society, Fight Club, Nursing Society, Paramedic Society, Pokemon Society, Project Earth, Staffs Smash.
For consistently demonstrating inclusive practice, providing a variety of ways for students to engage or working alongside our networks (or for networks, working alongside another student group outside Rep Council).
The following groups have been awarded the Inclusion Badge:
African Caribbean Society, Cheerleading Society, Cosplay and Convention, Disabled Students’ Network, LGBTQ+ Network, Myth Society
Aspiring groups: The following groups are on their way to achieving this badge:
Christian Union, Cosplay London, Game Development Society, Mental Health and Wellbeing Society, OMG Radio, Project Earth, The Coven.
For hosting or participating in two or more sustainability themed activities.
The following groups have been awarded the Sustainability Badge:
Cosy Club, Project Earth.
Aspiring groups: The following groups are on their way to achieving this badge:
Cosplay and Convention, Cosplay London, Disabled Students’ Network, Femboy Society, The Coven.
For contributing to or supporting events benefitting the wider Staffs community such as group representation at University Open Days, Move-In or other University or Union led events.
The following groups have been awarded the Supporting Staffs Badge:
Cosplay London, Cheerleading Society, Disabled Students’ Network, LGBTQ+ Network, Life Drawing London, OMG Radio/Staffs TV, Race & Cultural Inclusion Network, Top Deck.
Aspiring groups: The following groups are on their way to achieving this badge:
Anime and Manga Society, Christian Union, Cosplay and Convention, Fight Club, Idol Society, Press Start, Re-enactment Society.
For delivering a wide variety of events showing consideration to member preferences and aiming to overcome barriers to engagement, celebrating member’s achievements and/or encouraging all members to achieve their potential. Encompassing the ethos of a place where students feel they belong.
The following groups have been awarded the Community Badge:
Cheerleading Society, Christian Union, Disabled Students’ Network, LGBTQ+ Network, Race & Cultural Inclusion Network.
Aspiring groups: The following groups are on their way to achieving this badge:
African Caribbean Society, Anime and Manga Society, Believers Loveworld Campus Ministry, Christian Union, Cosplay and Convention, Cosy Club, Folklore Society, Life Drawing London, Myth Society, OMG Radio, RAMS, SUL Sports, The Coven.
For active contributions to making positive change in the local or wider community such as group representation at Better Staffs Forums or Student Group Executive Committee meetings (or for networks, a contribution to Rep Council), charity fundraising or awareness campaigns.
The following groups have been awarded the Make A Change Badge:
African Caribbean Society, Cheerleading Society, Cue Sports, Disabled Students’ Network, LGBTQ+ Network, Race & Cultural Inclusion Network.
Aspiring groups: The following groups are on their way to achieving this badge:
Airsoft Society, Am Dram, Anime and Manga Society, Chess Club, Christian Union, Cosplay and Convention, Cosplay London, Femboy Society, Fight Club, First Aid Society, Game Development Society, Genshin Impact Society, Knit and Natter Society, league of Legends Society, Mario Kart Society, Mental Health and Wellbeing Society, Mountaineering Club, Re-enactment Society, RAMS, Splatoon Society, The Coven.
As busy student leaders, with many demands on their time, it is not an easy task for our committees to consistently incorporate the badge attributes into each of their events. Recognising that studies must always come first, for those groups which have achieved Student Group Badges in term one, so early in the implementation of the new award framework, it really is an achievement to be commended. Congratulations to all of the badge winners so far.
With many additional groups being so close to achieving badges, we are really looking forward to awarding more badges at the end of term two and seeing which groups are in the race to receive the end of year student group recognition awards. Each any every student group makes us Proud To Be Staffs.