As the NTSU Exec Team elections are nearing, we got in touch with the three candidates running for the VP Opportunities role to help you decide who to vote for.
The VP Opportunities is the figurehead for volunteering, Give-It-A-Go and Raising and Giving (RAG) activities at the Union, as well as NTSU’s student societies.
They provide strategic direction for these groups and ensure they are included in the decision-making process of the Union.
Additionally, they will chair the Societies’ Assembly meetings and act as the societies’ representative on Student Council.
Here’s what this year’s VP Opportunities candidates had to say.
Abbey Carroll, LLM Sports Law
Why are you fit for the VP Opportunities role?
There is no one else better suited. I’m an extremely active member of NTSU and getting involved was the best decision. It has enriched my student experience so much, so I understand the importance of getting involved and the real change it makes to university life.
Two years as VP of the society of the year [LEX Law] shows I can lead a successful society and therefore know what societies expect from their VP Opps.
I have no doubts I am capable to meet and exceed expectations. I’ve organised so much for my society from networking dinners to socials and I love it to pieces, you can ask anyone, and they will tell you I have given 100 per cent and more.
I’m also the Opportunities Admin Assistant, already supporting our societies and students with all things opportunities. I helped coordinate GIAG and RAG Week and was selected by Opportunities staff for the knowledge I have.
Now, knowing staff procedures, I’m in a prime position to identify issues facing students and transparencies within the department to implement real change. I’m motivated, reliable, hardworking, and enthusiastic, with a drive to achieve, thriving in the chances to communicate with people. You can trust me as your VP.
It has been reported that a lot of societies have had very low / no members running for any committee roles for next year. If elected, how will you prevent this from happening this time next year?
This is always tricky, there is only so much the SU can do, however, I have learnt a lot of nominations are coming in on the last day. Therefore, if the nomination gets rejected, there is limited time to resubmit. Establishing better promotion such as video content, on how to nominate, rather than just signposting links may help.
Further providing a society nomination guide containing tips, suggestions on things nominees may like to promise members, and, of course, what not to include helps give extra support to those overwhelmed by submitting a manifesto.
However, I feel individual committees make a bigger impact. I would encourage building closer bonds between committees and members early on, letting them know that becoming a committee member is accessible to them.
Upon nominations, I had countless messages asking for advice about my role and the approachable nature of all my committee has allowed us to encourage nominations. It’s about committees offering that support and encouragement right from the outset.
But, some societies shouldn’t even be facing this, for example, academic societies. Everyone is here to study, so working with schools to better promote elections can entice unengaged students to nominate.
Name one idea you think would help NTU students engage with the opportunities provided by the SU and the University next year.
My manifesto tackles lots of topics, events, sustainability, societies, tackling accessibility in the cost of living, student voice & support. However, responding to the ‘Cost-of-Living’ with free or subsidised events will allow better access to societies and opportunities across the university.
Around 50 per cent of students aren’t engaged with societies, this can be due to several factors, whether that’s socioeconomic or just that it can be scary.
I will work to implement an Accessibility fund for disadvantaged students and a freeze on joining fees increasing where possible. There would be a criterion to reach after discussions with NTSU but ultimately providing better accessibility to societies is the goal.
I will utilise Give it A Go and its funding to tackle engagement during the cost-of-living crisis, for example getting societies involved with the GIAG weekly programme.
I would also provide more giveaways through my improved society spotlight scheme, whether that’s funding for societies to subsidise tickets for members or working with TrentEvents and the entertainments programme on all campuses to provide free tickets!
All this paired with lobbying schools for academic society funding and a “VP tries Societies” series, allows students to learn of societies helping improve access and wider engagement.
Caitlin Heath, LLM Law
Why are you fit for the VP Opportunities role?
I’m the current President of the Cocktail society and was on the committee last year as well. I think that puts me in a really good position to know what students like and don’t like.
For us, there’s a clear picture of what events work well and what events don’t work well. The experience of running these events and communicating with students put me in a really good position to understand what they want. I think that would be really good for someone in the VP Opportunities role.
It has been reported that a lot of societies have had very low / no members running for any committee roles for next year. If elected, how will you prevent this from happening this time next year?
I think it’s key that society members know exactly what committee members do day in, day out for the society. I think a lot of members come to the events but don’t really know much about what goes on in the background.
In my experience with Cocktail, it’s the members that come to events every week that we know on a more personal level and that have gone into a committee position this year. Maybe it’s because w get to talk to them a bit more because we see them more often or maybe it’s because they are attending that they get a better picture of what we’re looking for.
Going forward, it’s important that committee members are having those conversations with members about what they do on a daily basis, what they like about the role, what they don’t like. This would give society members a better idea about why they would want to be in that position.
I personally love my time on the committee so I going into the VP Opportunities role having that experience is really important as it means that I can help societies to further encourage members to get involved.
Name one idea you think would help NTU students engage with the opportunities provided by the SU and the University next year.
I would like to work more closely with the VP Education to provide more catered events towards individual schools within the university.
I feel like there are a lot of students that have their personal social life with their friends or flat mates, but other than that just go to lectures or seminars. I think having some events within the students’ union catered towards each school will help students get involved in the union and show them what we do. It might not be something directly related to their course, but something that showcases what the SU is about and about what we do.
Last year for Cocktail, we ran an event for the Business School where students came and we made them cocktails, we also had snacks, and that brought them into the Students’ Union because it was something different from what they were used to.
That will be a big focus for me next year – getting the schools to get students involved in the SU.
Jasmine Gaunt, third-year BA Sports Science and Maths
Why are you fit for the VP Opportunities role?
I take a lot of pride in being an approachable person which I know would be really good for the VP Opportunities role. I’m very sociable and already well-connected with committee members.
If I get the job, I really want to prioritise close contact with all the committees because, even though I have so many ideas, I know that I’m never going to know what’s best for each committee and each individual as well as they know.
I want everyone to know how to contact me and I want to make time for everyone who wants to have a chat. I think the most important part of this role is listening to individuals and making sure they’re treated as individuals rather than a group because what works for one society, will not work for the other.
I already have experience working full-time as I did a placement last year at Gym Shark which is an advantage.
I also just really love NTU and always get involved in activities and events. I’ve been a committed Trent Tiger as well for the past three years which has been a big part of my uni experience.
It has been reported that a lot of societies have had very low / no members running for any committee roles for next year. If elected, how will you prevent this from happening this time next year?
I think committee members deserve more rewards for the amount of work that they voluntarily put in. Therefore, I want to host a committee night at the start of each term with free games, food and drinks. I think doing this is also a bit of an incentive to run for the role and a networking opportunity for committee members to get to know each other. This would help them plan events for the upcoming term and increase collaborations between societies.
I also want to invite NTU alumni who used to be committee members to talk about how being on the committee benefitted them in their careers.
Encouraging openness around committee roles is also important as I know they’re promoted before the AGM bu I don’t think that gives a lot of people enough chance to think about it.
Name one idea you think would help NTU students engage with the opportunities provided by the SU and the University next year.
I’d like to re-introduce the Society Spotlight but make it bigger and better than it was before. Previously this idea was done inconsistently and winning societies were promoted on the VP Opportunities social media page. To improve this I’d give each winning society an ‘Instagram story takeover’ on the NTSU Instagram, meaning it would be promoted to a wider audience.
I’d also arrange for the winning society to be advertised in the weekly emails sent out by the NTSU, therefore reaching an even wider audience. Prizes including money for an event would also be on offer for winning Society Spotlight.
The candidates’ full manifestos can be read here.
For more information about when hustings and voting will take place, click here.