Executive Officer Report - 13th February 08

To ensure the provision of financial support for those sports teams which do not currently receive support from the Sports Centre and to lobby on their behalf throughout the year.

The Sports Centre attended Refreshers’ Fair and gained a significant amount of interest which was shown by the list of contact details they obtained on the day. Hopefully this interest will turn in to actual sign ups when the students receive further information from the Sports Centre. With more students signing up and an increase of income, there will be an increase of expenditure on resources for sports teams.

The Sports Centre felt it was a success for them and are keen to attend future Freshers’ and Refreshers’ Fairs.

To arrange a RAG week either in Semester 1 or Semester 2 involving not less than 100 students as active participants and to increase the amount of money raised for charities compared to previous years.

I am currently sending out emails to get volunteers to help with this week!

RAG week will take place between Monday 10^th March and Friday 15^th March.

As I’m sure most of you are aware, the Brookes School Musical event has been postponed and will now kick RAG week off on Monday 10^th. As it is now a RAG event we will be holding a tombola which we will sell tickets for throughout the evening. I will be taking an afternoon this week to go to town to accumulate prizes from local shops and businesses.

I am going to book stalls at each of the campuses so we can hold cake sales during the daytime.

On Wednesday, the Sports Centre have agreed to let us use the astro-turf and main courts for a novelty, old school sports day. This will be open to all at a fee of £5 per team (£1 each). The sports centre will be working on increasing the participation of the sports teams. We will be encouraging students who take part in this event to carry on to Peachy in the evening where we may be able to sell lollies for a small profit.

On Thursday, SPAM has agreed to hold a novelty night with competitions such as an eating competition and a human auction. This will also be the “send off” party for students participating in the Brookes Jailbreak.

We have discussed the Jailbreak and have agreed that the morning of Friday 14^th is the best time for it to start. It would end on Saturday 15^th at 9pm. The aim is for students (in teams of at least 2) to get as far away from the Union as possible in 36 hours. We will be providing them with T-shirts and hopefully a small survival pack if we can gain enough sponsorship. The Sales and Advertising Coordinator is working on gaining sponsorship for this event.

For insurance we will be asking each student to get a European Insurance Card which is available from the Post Office for £2. Each student will receive a disclaimer from the Union regarding further insurance.

We will also send the students with a letter on SU headed note paper to prove that they are on a charity expedition and not just trying to get free lifts!

RAG week will end with a RAG Rave at Pleasuredome where we will be selling glowsticks.

To increase participation in student union activities by 20% by the end of my term of office

Refreshers’ Fair took place on Monday 4^th February. Although it was inevitably not as busy as Freshers’ Fair in the first semester it was still a successful day. We had a number of newly affiliated societies who were able to gain interest and sign up new members, increasing the number of active participants in the Union. The general flow of students through the Union throughout the day was good, with an obvious increase when Dominos brought out the free pizza!

At lunchtime there was an Open Mic (Night) Day which encouraged students to stay and sit in Harts Bar while they ate their lunch.

In the afternoon we went to Gipsy Lane to encourage students to come over to the Venue to see what was on offer. This was effective as we saw many of the students we had spoken to over at the Union.

To support the STAX project by attending at least 2 monthly meetings and working closely with Student Advice And Activities Manager on student volunteering

I attended a meeting with the Volunteer Coordinator regarding the National Student Volunteering week in March. We discussed how to increase the number of volunteers. The volunteer coordinator will be sending me an email to forward to all societies. I will also ask the other Sabbs to forward the message once I have received it.

On Monday 11^th February I am attending the “Friends of Oxford Mela Event” with the other Volunteer Coordinator. The evening will be an opportunity for people to find out about the event and how they could get involved.