Your Union

Hallam Union prides itself on being the best it can be. We want to be as ethical, as sustainable and as successful as possible. To show our committment we have entered a number of awards specifically designed for students unions.

Here is what we have achieved so far:

Hallam Union achieves gold in national award

Sheffield Hallam University Students’ Union is thrilled to have received a gold accreditation in a national award for inspiring students to get actively involved in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Hallam Union is one of only five students’ unions in the country to achieve the gold accreditation for its commitment to the Be a Champion programme.

The Be a Champion programme is an NUS initiative which rewards and recognises the commitment shown by students’ unions in creating an environment which allows for Games inspired activity to thrive.

The Union was successful in organising a number of projects and activities in support of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This includes:

• A partnership with Sheffield Council Major Sports Unit which has led to many of our students volunteering at national sporting events in Sheffield including NISA Figure Skating and BUCS Championships

• Involvement with national Olympiad projects including Alight on 3rd March where our societies performed at various city centre venues

• Organising Platform Festival in partnership with Art in the Park, which gave students the opportunity to get involved with an art exhibition, spoken word night, online film project and art installation workshops

• Events around the Torch Relay which will include activities in Devonshire Green and will be part of the City wide Torch relay celebrations on Monday 25th June

Katy Weston, Community Development Coordinator for Sports & Culture commented: “It is fantastic news that the Union has achieved Gold Be a Champion accreditation. Encouraging students and the local community to get actively involved in the London 2012 Games is something which is extremely important to us. We were so proud to get the Silver accreditation in December 2011 and we’ve worked hard to achieve Gold over the past few months.”

Jake Kitchiner, President of Hallam Union said:
‘‘We were elated to hear the news of the accreditation. It’s an honour for Hallam Union to be recognised for our passion and enthusiasm for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It’s such a great testimony to the incredible work that our staff and students do within our local community. We look forward to the fantastic projects due to run and wish every athlete luck in the upcoming games.’’For more information visit www.hallamunion.org/olympics

Green Impact Award 2011/12

We have acheived a gold award for Green Impact for a second year running.

Team Sheffield Hallam Crowned Varsity 2012 Champions

Thousands of Sheffield Hallam University students celebrated last night when they took home the Varsity 2012 trophy as winners of the annual competition against the University of Sheffield for a ninth consecutive time.

The final match in the festival of sport took place between the football men’s 1^st teams, at Hillsborough stadium, on Wednesday 28^th March, and was refereed by Howard Webb MBE for the third year.

An excess of 4500 spectators attended the final, which finished with a score of 1-0 to Hallam. Team Sheffield Hallam secured the overall victory despite trailing the University of Sheffield 10-17 on Saturday night.

The finale also helped raise money for the Varsity 2012 chosen charity Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, of which Howard Webb is a patron. £1 from every football ticket sold will go towards raising funds for a new end of life suite at the Hospice.

Varsity 2012 was the 16^th annual sporting tournament between the two rival Universities and is the biggest sporting event of the Universities year. The competition took place over eight days, with over 60 fixtures played. This year the tournament was a tense and nail biting finish with the overall result riding on the final showcase fixture at Hillsborough stadium, where Team Sheffield Hallam took the victory by just one point, 32-31.

The competition is organised by elected student Sports Officers from each University. Colan Leung, Sports Officer at Sheffield Hallam Students’ Union, said:

“I am so proud of everyone involved in the competition and I just want to say a massive congratulations to all the Hallam athletes who took part and worked so hard for this victory. Whether it was a win, loss, or draw, each and every student that competed and supported throughout the competition deserves praise. Thank you to everyone who supported the event: students, family, facilities, sponsors, staff, coaches etc. It really wouldn’t have been as special if it wasn’t for all those involved! I’d also like to say thank you to everyone who took part from the University of Sheffield and made this a great competition.”

University of Sheffield Students’ Union Sports Officer, Ben Baldwin, said:

“I’m disappointed that we didn’t manage to win Varsity 2012. Our students have worked so hard on across all sports but it wasn’t our year. Congratulations to Sheffield Hallam University on their win and for being great competitors. We’ll be back next year.”

Best Bar None 2011/12

Sheffield Hallam University Students’ Union is celebrating once again after winning the Best Club Award in the recent Best Bar None Sheffield Awards.

Hallam Union scooped the Best Club Award 2012/13 and was named runner up for the Best Bar Award 2012/13, narrowly missing out on claiming the top spot for a third consecutive year.

The ceremony took place at City Hall on 25th January 2012, and was attended by over 300 guests.

Best Bar None (BBN) is a national award scheme supported by the Home Office and aimed at promoting responsible management and operation of alcohol licensed premises. The aim of BBN is to reduce alcohol related crime and disorder in a town centre by building a positive relationship between the licensed trade, police and local authorities. It reduces the harmful effects of binge drinking as well as improves the knowledge and skills of enforcement and regulation agencies, licensees and bar staff to help them responsibly manage licensed premises.

Hallam Union’s, Andy Farmer, Head of Trading Services, said: “Best Bar None is really important to everyone at Hallam Union because it recognises that we are acting in the interests of student welfare and the welfare of our surrounding communities. We are delighted to get the Best Club award and to receive the runner up prize in the Best Bar category, for Bar Phoenix. We are all working hard to maintain and improve standards in both the union bar and the club and we hope to put Bar Phoenix back on the top spot next year.”

Hallam Union wins silver in national award

Sheffield Hallam University Students’ Union is thrilled to have received a national award for inspiring students to get actively involved in the London 2012 Olympic Games. Hallam Union is one of only three students’ unions in the country to achieve silver accreditation for its commitment to the Be a Champion programme.

The Be a Champion programme is an NUS initiative which rewards and recognises the commitment shown by students’ unions in creating an environment which allows for Games inspired activity to thrive.

The Union was successful in organising a number of projects and activities in support of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This includes; the recruitment of a team of student ambassadors who are committed to raising awareness of London 2012, increasing participation in Games initiatives, and encouraging Olympic inspired activity.

Other Olympic inspired projects the Union will be taking part in the run up to the Olympics include; Games Club, an Inspire Marked project which takes Olympic themed after school activities into local Primary Schools, Seek/strive/find, a creative writing competition based on the Olympic and Paralympic values, and a Torch Relay event which is set to take place in June.

Katy Weston, Community Development Coordinator for Sports & Culture commented: “It is fantastic news that the Union has achieved Silver Be a Champion accreditation. Encouraging students and the local community to get actively involved in the London 2012 Games is something which is extremely important to us. We will certainly be looking to push towards Gold Be a Champion accreditation going into the new year.”

Jake Kitchiner, President of Hallam Union said:

‘‘We were elated to hear the news of the accreditation. It’s a honour for Hallam Union to be recognised for our passion and enthusiasm for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It’s such a great testimony to the incredible work that our staff and students do within our local community. We look forward to the fantastic projects due to be run next year and wish every athlete luck in the upcoming games.’’

Hallam Union Achieves Bronze Accreditation for SUEI

Hallam Union is delighted to have achieved a Bronze accreditation for the Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI).
The Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI) is a programme which aims to make a positive difference to the lives of students at University, by improving their Students’ Unions. The SUEI quality assessment model looks to improve services and activities delivered to Students by indicating areas for continuous improvement.
Hallam Union is dedicated to improving the services it provides to students and gaining the SUEI Bronze accreditation demonstrates this.

Green Impact Award 2010/11

Hallam Union is delighted to have been presented with a Gold Award with a score of 745 for its participation in the Green Impact Students’ Union Scheme. Green Impact is an NUS run programme, formerly known as Sound Impact, which aims to promote and reward good-practice in Students’ Unions. This is the fifth year the programme has run and a total of 88 unions took part across the country.

Hallam Union is committed to improving its environmental and ethical practices. Last year the union was presented with the Sound Impact Award to a Silver standard with a score of 627. This year achieving the Green Impact Award to a Gold Standard demonstrates Hallam Union’s increasing commitment to sustainable environmental practices. Over the course of 2010/11 Hallam Union has run and promoted a number of green driven activities.

Andrew Farmer, Head of Trading and Facilities here at Hallam Union commented: ‘Highlights this year have included the formation of a ‘Green Team’, a group of students who have carried out green initiatives throughout the year with the guidance of Rich Ripley, our Volunteer Support Worker. We also saw efficient energy management at the Union improve from a D to a C rating in the annual energy management audit which we are really pleased with!’ Hallam Union also now sits on the University Carbon Management Board and continues to lobby the institution on environmental and ethical issues raised by our students. The Union plans to continue to seek out new and innovative ways of maintaining the environment as it moves forward.

Inspire Mark Award

Two community volunteering projects organised by Hallam Students’ Union have been awarded the coveted Inspire Mark, for their plans to involve Sheffield’s primary school children in the 2012 Olympics. Inspire is an award set up to recognise projects across the country that help encourage people to get involved in all aspects of the Olympics.

The two award winning projects, “The Games Club” and “Once Upon a Time”, have been designed and developed by student volunteers at Sheffield Hallam University.

The Games Club teaches children team building and communications skills through playing team sports and encourages children to improve their personal best in their favourite sports to increase self confidence. The children will also take part in a mini Olympics.

Once Upon a Time is an after school club that teaches children about the myths and legends that surround the Olympics through art, story telling and play.
“These projects are great for getting Sheffield’s young people excited about the 2012 Olympics and learning the history and values that surround the event. Our students have worked really hard to design the projects and the Inspire award shows that all the work has been worth while. We are all looking forward to going into schools and delivering the projects in the spring.” commented Katy Weston, Community Development Coordinator for Sports and Culture at Hallam Students Union.

Best Bar None 2010/11

The Best Bar None Sheffield Awards, held on the 26th January, were a roaring success for Sheffield Hallam Students’ Union. Hallam Union scooped the Best Bar Award for the second year running for its Bar Phoenix, and received the runner up prize for the Best Club Venue Award. Hallam Union also received the overall Best Bar None Sheffield Award.

“Best Bar None is really important to everyone at Hallam Union because it recognises that we are acting in the interests of student welfare and the welfare of our surrounding communities. Aspects of the standards set by Best Bar None are above the government’s minimum guidelines for alcohol retailers, demonstrating the level of commitment licensed premises have to show to receive such an award.” Andy Farmer, Head Of Trading Services, Hallam Students’ Union.

Best Bar None Gold Award 2009

Hallam Union’s Bar Phoenix and club venue was awarded the Gold Best Bar None award for its work in promoting safe alcohol retailing.

“Bar Phoenix is the only venue in Sheffield to receive the Gold standard of the Best Bar None Awards. Student safety is the number one priority for Hallam Union and this award helps recognise all the hard work my team have put in over previous months to ensure we are as safe and responsible as possible.” Commented Phil Brown, Bars Manager.

Sound Impact Silver Award 2009

Hallam Union was awarded the Sound Impact Award to a Silver Standard. The Sound Impact Award is a scheme to promote environmental best practise in students’ unions.

“Hallam Union has made lots of progress improving our environmental and ethical work practises. We have embedded an ethos of sustainability throughout all the departments in Hallam Union and we look to further improve this over subsequent years and months.” Commented Andy Farmer, Head of Trading Services.

Student Volunteer England 2009

The Student Volunteering England Gold Award for Achievement went to Amy Moore, Publicity Officer for the 2009/10 student Volunteering Committee.

The Student Volunteering England Gold Award for Leadership went to Kate Healey, Volunteering Officer for the 2010/11 student Volunteering Committee.

Two Student Volunteering England Gold Awards for Dedication went to Emily Roper, volunteer on the ‘Magic Numbers’ project, and Colette Parkinson, volunteer on the ‘Fit Club’ project.

Community Legal Service

Following an audit by the Assessment Network on behalf of the Community Legal Service we retained the CLS Quality mark. CLS Quality Mark is the name given to a set of quality assurance standards for legal service providers and is awarded to organisations which meet the quality standards set by the Legal Services Commission. The standards are designed to ensure that a service is well run and has quality control mechanisms that assure the quality of the information or advice provided. The Advice Centre has held the mark since September 2004.

Advice Centre

In the last academic year we dealt with 8000 student enquiries relating to Academic issues, Housing, Money, Immigration etc.

The advice centre has given over 50 talks to local school and college students to raise educational aspirations and promote financial literacy.

Earlier Years

South Yorkshire High Sherriff award was awarded to Kerry Newcombe in 08/09 for her involvement in the Interact project.

Winners of the Most improved Bar at the Best Bar None (NUSSL) awards in 2007

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