Wrexham Glyndwr University student union up for four national awards

A student union in Wrexham is celebrating after being shortlisted for four national awards.

Wrexham Glyndwr University Students’ Union has reached the shortlist of the National Union of Students (NUS) Wales Awards 2018 in the Campaigns Award, Student Opportunities Award, Education Award and the Students’ Union of the Year awards categories.

The awards are an opportunity for students’ unions across Wales to gain national recognition for the extraordinary things they do throughout the year.

Winners will be announced at the NUS Wales Awards dinner on Tuesday, March 13th, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Wrexham Glyndwr University Student Union was shortlisted in the campaigns category for its period poverty campaign.

The innovative campaign included student-created artwork on the period poverty theme, an online video, and a drop-off point where students and staff can donate sanitary products so that students who need them can pick them up from various points around the union.

The team have also been shortlisted for the Student Opportunities Award for its Glyn Gives initiative webpage, which recognising the volunteering work that Wrexham Glyndwr University students do by awarding them a gold, silver or bronze award depending on the amount of hours volunteering they have completed.

Tell Glyn is an online feedback tool which has seen the union team shortlisted for the education award. It asks students what they are happy with and what they are not happy with and the feedback is directed through the appropriate departments.

The union then makes a report of any issues that goes to the University’s Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee for discussion and action and then to the Academic Board and the Board of Governors for noting.

The Students’ Union of the Year category shortlist has been reached through work which in the past two years has seen the union transform from a department of the university to a team of seven staff and two sabbaticals operating as a fully financially independent Students’ Union, registered charity and incorporated company.

Sarah Ellis, chief executive officer of Wrexham Glyndwr Students’ Union said “I’m so incredibly proud of the hard work the entire team have put in to improve the student experience.

“The support we give one another is amazing and I’m pleased to see this being recognised nationally. We might be small but we do awesome things.”

Marc Caldecott, the Representation and Democracy Coordinator for Wrexham Glyndwr Students’ Union, said: “I am delighted that the team have been shortlisted in these categories. Having achieved so much with such a small team is testament to the amount of work that has gone on behind the scenes to ensure the Students’ Union is going above and beyond for its membership.”