Julia Stenhouse

Sports Union

 

 

 

Election Address

I am running to be your Sports Union President because I want to ensure that every voice is heard. I want to celebrate the fantastic achievements of every SU member on a far wider scale. I want to ensure that the SU is fulfilling its duty of care over members and striving to look forward. Finally, I want to ensure that we, as a community, give back to our members. I believe that the following areas will help the SU to reach maximum potential. 

 

Celebrating

Further celebrate the huge wealth of talent at this University.

  • The ability to book live streaming systems. A online application which allows clubs to request a match/event to be live streamed. 
  • Produce a calendar of large key events to be sent out to first years.
  • Implement a Recreational Sport Week. Further celebrate all sport and volunteers, regardless of level.
  • Introduce more club collaborations. Look to build relationships between clubs to promote a more cohesive union.

 

Developing

Capitalising on the huge potential for the development of your SU.

  • Look to expand the CVA to include broader wellbeing networks. Introduce a new wellbeing platform which is multidimensional
  • Further expansion of club & exec 1-2-1s. More training for executive committee members to ensure greater transparency and communication between clubs and the SU.
  • Build a Strategic Plan for the next 5 years of the Sports Union. Work with clubs to review who we are as a Sports Union. Then, generate a plan mapping out what we want to achieve as a SU over the next five years. 
  • Implement a Transport Review. Look to modernise and streamline the current transport booking systems for clubs.

 

Our Community

Rewarding members of our community. 

  • Peffermill to be added onto the Shuttle Bus route. Implement a trial which adds Peffermill on the route - in preparation for Peffermill Sports Village.     
  • Bike Share Scheme. First years save money by buying pre owned bikes from fourth years.
  • Look to reduce stress on committee members. Create a document which collates all information regarding club business (deadlines, campaign weeks, events etc.) in one place.
  • Keep JMCC open later on specific training days. Look to provide food options for those who can not eat the meals they have paid for due to sporting commitments.

 

Concluding Remarks

I am running to be your Sports Union President because I care about you as a member. I understand how difficult balancing your studies, work and sport commitment can be. However, I also fully understand just how fantastic, and rewarding, being involved in Sport at Edinburgh is. That is why I want to celebrate your achievements, develop your SU and grow our community, to help you gain the most possible from your time as a SU member. 

I am the person for this job. I want to use my experience, my passion and unequivocal determination to ensure that you are given everything you need to; have the best time, gain valuable skills and thrive as a member of this Sports Union.     

 

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Previous Experience

 

Member of Edinburgh University Women’s Hockey Club (2015 - 2018)

Sports Union Publicity Volunteer (2016-2017)

Sports Union Publicity Officer (2017-2018)

Sports Union Vice-President (2018-2019)

 

Throughout my time at University, I have been privileged enough to spend all four years participating and volunteering in Sport at Edinburgh. As SU Publicity officer I looked to revolutionise the public image of the Sports Union. I founded the extremely successful media team which sought to expand the coverage of the SU and its member clubs, and to further demonstrate, and celebrate, the wealth of sporting talent at our University. These foundations have since been built on, and the coverage and recognition of sport at Edinburgh is wider, and more extensive than ever before. Furthermore, I introduced live-streaming to major sporting events at this University, allowing for Sport at Edinburgh to be streamed at an international level. Through my hard work as Publicity officer I was awarded an Executive Committee Award.

 

As your Sports Union Vice-President, I obtained further understanding of the Sports Union’s infrastructure. By sitting on several committees over the year such as; the Executive, Blues and Colours and the SU Ball Awards, I have gained invaluable knowledge and a current understanding of the Sports Union’s financial structure, club framework, the fantastic achievements, and the areas for support and development of many clubs. Moreover, I have been heavily involved in the Planning Submission, which has given me a greater insight into the relationship between the University and Sports Union, the union’s development over the last few years, and the potential for growth over the next three. 

 

Additionally, as the student organiser of the 2019 Sports Union Ball, this has provided me the necessary experience for running future events as President such as; the Sports Fair, Edinburgh Varsity and several other large sporting events of the year. Additionally, my organising experience from last year will enable continuity and continued improvement of every aspect of next year’s Sports Union Ball.  

 

A key passion of mine is club development. In my year as Vice-President I have strived to improve the relationship between the SU and its member clubs. By structuring the club and exec 1-2-1 programme around feedback I sought at the Sports Fair, this has allowed for a more effective system. Additionally, through my own 1-2-1s, I have established strong relationships with a multitude of clubs, gaining a more in depth understanding of each club’s architecture. I also have facilitated club development by increasing awareness of the opportunities that the SU offer in regards to funding, publicity, club and personal development. Due to this, I have helped clubs increase their numbers of qualified umpires, improved media and publicity, and facilitated greater disability inclusion.

 

Within my involvement over the past four years, I have helped the Sports Union evolve into what it is today. My wholehearted determination, experience and genuine passion for all things Sport at Edinburgh, makes me the most-qualified, well-rounded, and the best candidate to take up the role as your Sports Union President.

 

Iain Campbell

 Ultimate Frisbee and Rifle

 

 

 

Election Address

This Sports Union is the most successful in Scotland and one of the best in the UK.  I want to make it even better for students.  From structural change in our management process and limiting student’s legal liability to prioritising those who count in our decisions I will continually work to do that.  My plans build on two years managing the finances of the organisation, experience within sub-committees of UK Ultimate and a year leading my club as its president.  They look to adapt our pre-existing programmes and work within the current staff roles, so they are achievable and can have continual support into the future.  They focus on the areas of improved communication, an updated governance structure, and continued development of our programs and systems.

Communication

  1. Expand our communications strategy to cover all changes to operations and ensure that those who need know are told first.
  2. Develop a simplified Sports Union Essentials to get across key committee deadlines and information.You shouldn’t have to scroll past marketing to find out about important timetable changes.

Structure

  1. Adapt our management structure to ensure that those affected by decisions can be involved.This will involve focus groups of staff, execs and club representatives to work on ideas.
  2. The Sports Union should be open.I would consult clubs at GMs on key dates and policies to make sure that we can all hold each other to account as clubs.
  3. Create an athlete’s forum to be consulted on key decisions around how we manage sport and deal with athlete issues; from training times to anti-doping.

Development

  1. Open unfilled CVA seminars up to the wider SU and public.This will allow us to expand the program with more sessions covering a range of sporting topics, from managing a team on game day to keeping the mental edge in that crucial competition.
  2. A club performance pathway to allow all students to push their training to the level they desire and show the way for clubs looking to raise their game.
  3. Reduce the legal liability of our student volunteers by exploring new legal forms for the organisation with our senior advisors.Did you know that club committee members are legally liable for all club activity and contracts?That should be worked on.
  4. Development of our funding system to support clubs with reliable funding for their activity.

These plans are just a small part what I offer.  Taking my experience over the last three years on club, sports union, and national governing body committees I will offer secure leadership and tested decision making.  I will be able to offer experienced support on club management and development here in Edinburgh, as well as helping you to collaborate with other universities to develop your sport nationally.

The Sports Union is just that, a union of over 7,000 student and 65 clubs that come together to make sport at Edinburgh the best it can be.  Let’s make it even better.

 

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Previous Experience

SU Honorary Treasurer 2017-19

Before I started as SU Honorary Treasurer, I was going to do a masters.  Now I aim to continue in charity finance and pursue a career in accountancy after my degree.

Overseeing a changeover in senior treasurer (a chief advisor to the SU) and a president who had never sat on the finance committee taking office, I have a track record of guiding SU finances.

I have consistently advocated for club treasurers and students to be considered in decisions as it is them who keep sport at Edinburgh going. 

Money is essential to ensuring that clubs and the SU continue to exist.  With forecasts looking at a deficit on our current spending within a few years, a strong plan is needed to avoid severe cuts in the next decade and costs being passed on to students.

 

Ultimate Frisbee Club President 2018-19

Whilst it is an immensely rewarding role, being a president is not without its challenges; committee meetings, planning fixtures and running your club take a toll on life and the ability to play the sports we love. The SU has 65 Presidents all experiencing this while keeping sport at this university afloat, and they need support and consideration from us to do so.  In order to offer this support, we don’t need more programs, specified funding, or campaign promises.  We need to make our service more visible and accessible to these people; people who are already short on time, to help them fulfil their role of allowing people to experience their sport.  

Creating change and adapting my club towards the increasingly competitive university sport environment has been a key goal of my year, along with increasing opportunities for competitive play.  Learning from this has made me a better club leader and better placed to help your club.

All relationships require compromise and we need to demonstrate to clubs that may have drifted away from us that this is an organisation worth engaging in.  This will require compromise, honesty and humility while acknowledging our mistakes of the past.  I am excited at the chance of being the person to do this.

 

UK Ultimate Scottish Regional Coordinator 2017-19

University can be a pretty insular place, university sport even more so.  This role within the NGB made me realise the extent of sport organisation beyond our borders; how it can be influenced and changed to suit us at Edinburgh with the right advocate.  The president is responsible for this for all sports, I have a record of change in university sport.

I worked hard and achieved real, lasting changes that will affect players across the country for the better.  My work is one of the cornerstones in increasing equality in BUCS Ultimate.

 

Club Treasurer 2016-17

This was my first role; it was the point at which I realised my drive for accomplishing goals within sport, from keeping a club going for a year through to stabilising the SU for the future.

 

Ryan McCuaig

 Badminton

 

 

 

Election Address

Election Address

I believe a fantastic Sports Union President must always look to the future in order to focus on inclusion, so that everyone feels welcomed. Communication with our clubs is vital to develop the SU further so that it can benefit every student in the University.

Inclusion


Every student at this university deserves the opportunity to play sport or have access to physical activity.

1. Expand our Edex sessions to cover more sports and bring in governing bodies of sports we currently don’t cater for, to run sessions for all our students.
2. A University Sports Day, in both semesters so everyone can get involved.
3. Improve inclusion training for club committee members for LGBTI+, disabled and international students. So, clubs can run inclusive event throughout the year.
4. Work with the university to help implement Wednesday free afternoon for sport, so everyone has time to compete and have fun in sport.
5. Bring sport/physical activity to all campuses working with clubs and partners.


Communication

In previous years, the SU has improved so much in this area but we still have work to do, especially around handover between new committees and what we are doing for all SU members.

  1. Build on the SU Handbook, to create video content to help committee members get the best head start for their club each year.
  2. Improve the communication with our clubs, so you are never left out of the loop on what the SU is doing for you!
  3. Utilise the university’s lecture recording for all GM’s and other training event, so you never miss any details.
  4. Live streaming BUCS Fixtures once a month for home matches, so everyone can support their team even if they can’t make it down to watch.
  5. Improved training for exec 1-2-1 with clubs, so the exec has the skills to help your club.
  6. Create a “Sport Clubs at Edinburgh” guide for new students, to help discover all your amazing clubs.


Expand on the training for committee members, improve our club members experiences and develop process to help our clubs committee members

  1. Expand training for club’s committee members i.e. sexual harassment/mental health so they have the skills needed to help their members.
  2. Clearer disciplinary policy, to ensure everyone feel’s welcome and all members know who to contact if a problem arises
  3. Work with clubs to create a calendar of club events, to help promote the events so they can get bigger year on year.
  4. Work with the university to improve transport links to Peffermill.
  5. create opportunities for the Coaching & Volunteering Academy and clubs
  6. Creation of a SharePoint sites to help with club committee admin and the flow of information.


Final Words
I promise everyone, that if I was successful elected, I will continue working for every student at this University and build on the success of previous years, using my passion and energy to make the Sports Union better than ever!
 

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Previous Experience

Sports Union Committee
- Media Team 2017-2018
- Executive Publicity Officer 2018-2019

Club Committee
- Badminton Publicity Officer 2016-2018
- Badminton Community Outreach Officer 2018-2019

External Committee
- Lothian Badminton Group – Ordinary Member 2016-2019

Over the last year it was my honour to serve as your Publicity Officer. I have grown the Media Team sustainable to 25 members with over 12 working weekly on projects from small ones such as photography coverage of the weekly fixtures to larger projects such as Sports Ball Opening Video and Varsity. All the work I had done this year is having the mindset for inclusion to show off every sport, so they all have their own time to shine in their own part.  


From this role, I have gain experience of all the different clubs that make up the sports union and learned that not every sport is covered equally. I decided to push for more coverage, such as covering the stories of BUCS Nationals. This decision resulted in the largest team going down to Sheffield of Staff and volunteers to cover the 8 sports on offer, first of its kind on this large of scale.

While a committee member of the university’s badminton club, I have gained an appreciation of the struggle’s clubs are under to deliver a fantastic environment for their club members. During my term I helped delivered the clubs Edex and Learn to play session over the last three years, in turn helping boost the club membership. While as the club’s publicity officer I built upon the publicity of the club to win the “Pavilion Association Cup” awarded for “the best Club publicity record of the year” first club award for the badminton club. During this year I worked with the Chair of Lothian Disability Badminton Club to improve our club’s outreach, one of the project’s I work on was the delivery of the first ever “Scottish Disability Badminton National Championship” held at Dalkeith High School earlier this year.  

I was invited onto the Lothian Badminton Group Committee in 2016 as a ordinary member, from this role, I gain experience in finance working with a small budget and using smart decision to help deliver a service/programs to the members of all the clubs across the Lothians area.

 

I worked with Badminton Scotland in working groups on various projects around the development of the Coaching Qualifications, Competitions and Club Development. I worked alongside badminton Scotland in various projects and committee as well from my time before university on the development of badminton in the West Coast of Scotland. While working in this role, I was the lead on the budget for my area’s development fund, working with the fund to create opportunities for the clubs and players of my area but also assessing the long term effect of my decisions.