Your Officer Team 2011/12
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► What is Student Advice?
Student Advice is a volunteering project made up by student volunteers. We provide a referral and information service in the Advice and Representation Centre (ARC) and support the ARC Advisors, the VP Welfare, the VP Housing and Community and the VP Education and Access. We also hold regular socials so members of the society can meet together and interact.
What do we do?
- Staff the ARC helpdesk - this is the first port of call for students. Volunteers give initial advice on a range of issues from housing problems with landlords, to academic problems such as mitigations. Volunteers can also choose to help out with bEAT or the Housing Clinic.
- Volunteers can run topical campaigns; this depends on the volunteers agreeing on a specific campaign and the time commitment necessary for its success.
- Represent you at Guild Council, debating policy which will impact on the life of every student in the University.
- Work with other Welfare Groups such as Niteline, the Liberation Associations and the Student Mentors
- Help students to get the most out of the University and raise awareness of the Guild’s facilities and services on offer.
- Student Advice volunteers aim to make a difference. If we don’t know the answer, we’re sure to know someone who does!
How are students prepared for their role as Student Advice Volunteers?
Good training is vital to ensuring confident knowledgeable volunteers. All volunteers receive an intensive induction before they begin volunteering on the ARC helpdesk, and additional compulsory training sessions supplement the initial induction. The initial training covers all aspects of the services that the ARC provides, including transferable skills such as customer care, active listening skills and teambuilding. Until training is completed volunteers are regarded as probationary volunteers and are closely supervised by a senior volunteer or committee member. After students have successfully completed the training and assessment there are opportunities to undertake further training in areas such as Housing and Eating distress.
Student Advice Committee
The work of Student Advice volunteers is coordinated by a team of 9 elected committee members, which includes a Chair, a Treasurer and a Secretary, who are in turn coordinated by the ARC Staff. These 9 students plan the activities of the society, which include the Freshers Fair to welfare campaigns, i.e. No Smoking Day.
All committee members attend intensive training in the Summer Term. The training covers motivational theory, leadership skills and planning activities and campaigns for the year ahead. This is a fantastic opportunity to bond as a team, and gain more confidence and skills to perform our roles to the best of our abilities.
