1. Liberation & Representation Groups
RUSU Training 2010

2. Introduction Introductions and names Overview of session:
*What is a Liberation and Representation group?
*Committees
*Representation
*Marketing
*Campaigns
*Budgets
*How you fit into RUSU and NUS

3. Lib & Rep Groups Role of Group
What Lib & Rep groups exist for – REPRESENTATION!!
Elections:
- New guidelines to be put into place for the year 2010/11
- To take place by week 9 of Spring Term
Lib/Rep guidelines:
- These will act as rules to direct the basic running and structure of each group

4. Timeline 2010/11
October – Freshers’ Fayre, Lib/Rep Convention (14th), Student Voice (19th)
November – National Demo (10th), Lib/Rep Convention (18th), Student Voice (23rd)
December – Lib/Rep Convention (9th)
January – Lib/Rep Convention (20th)
February – Lib/Rep Convention (24th)
March – Elections (by end of week 9), Lib/Rep Convention (17th), Training (week 10)
April – Lib/Rep Convention (28th)
June – Lib/Rep Convention (2nd & 23rd), Budget Lib/Rep Convention on 23rd

5. RUSU Democracy Students Sports Federation Lib & Rep Convention
Societies Convention
STUDENT VOICE
Services & Ents
Student Officers

6. How the Committee Works
Well defined job roles – know who does what!
Well structured committee – are all of your bases covered?
Don’t set unrealistic targets for committee members
Remember that, first and foremost, you are here to study for your degree!!
Have regular meetings but try to keep them short and
specific – set an agenda

7. The roles of a committee
EXERCISE
You are forming a new lib & rep committee.
What roles would you include on your perfect committee?
Why?

8. Communication Keep all committee members informed
Allow members to communicate within the team
Have dedicated time for society members to communicate with the committee – Keep contact details up-to-date!
Well-minuted meetings - particularly AGM! Send all minutes to Sara to load them onto the RUSU website
Always use agenda’s to structure meetings

9. How to keep the team motivated
Make sure that everyone is involved
Create sub-committees for events
Recognise contributions from the team
Know the strengths & weaknesses of your team and create jobs accordingly
Don’t dismiss ideas without discussion

10. What keeps you motivated?
EXERCISE
Working in your committees, talk about what motivated you to join a committee.
Why did you join?
What did you hope to gain from the experience?
What sort of activities would motivate you?
What are the aims and objectives of your committee?

11. Development Plan Why? To allow you to set aims for the year
To help you plan your activities for the year
To make us aware of any training you may need
To keep an up-to-date stock of your inventory
The review at the end of the academic year is to help groups improve year on year.
Please fill this in by Thursday 14th October – the 1st Liberation and Representation Convention

12. The Power of Delegation
One person can’t run a committee - responsibility must be shared!
Taking on a committee role doesn’t mean doing everything yourself
A good president will delegate work and use the team effectively

13. What makes Liberation & Representation groups different?
Unlike societies/sports clubs, lib/rep groups have a responsibility to represent the views of its members locally and nationally.
Lib/Rep groups exist:
to represent students of minority or historically oppressed groups
to campaign on behalf of their membership
to celebrate diversity on our campus

14. Where do Lib/Rep groups fit?
Within RUSU…
Liberation and Representation Convention - feeds into the VP’s work on University committees
Student Voice – each group can nominate a campaign as a Student Chosen Campaign, and put through a motion for new RUSU policy

15. Reading Experience and Development (RED) Award
Rewarding students for their extra-curricular activities
Creating an opportunity for personal development
Recognised award that is recorded on University transcripts
As members of committees you will, by the end of the year, have completed one of the required sections.
For more information, go to and look under Activities/Volunteering

16. Where do Lib/Rep groups fit in?
Nationally…
NUS Conferences (Spring Term)
NUS National Campaigns (each group links with a national campaign)

17. Lib/Rep Groups & the National Demo
The NUS & UCU will be leading a march through London on November 10th RUSU will be leading hundreds of Reading Students through London on November 10th RUSU needs your help!

18. Marketing Why promote your group? To encourage new members
To allow your group to expand and develop
To ensure there are active and engaged members to take over committee positions
To make campaigns more effective
Ask this question before revealing the answers.
Encourage ideas
If enough people in group, split into smaller groups and get them to think of ideas

19. Treat it like a recruitment campaign
Outline objectives for what you would like to achieve by marketing your group – More members? Wider awareness on campus? Advertisement for a campaign?
Decide the scale of your message – Do you want 10 new members, or 100 new members?
Set a goal and work towards it
What are you looking to achieve?
Do you want 10 new members
Do you want 100 new members
Does the financial stability of the club/society depend on getting new members?

20. How can you successfully market your club?
What is marketing?
“The right product, in the right place, at the right time, at the right price” (Adcock)
Can anyone define marketing?

21. Getting your message across
EXERCISE
What are the different methods by which you could publicise your group?
Think of 5 different ways in which you could market your club
What are the pros/cons of these methods?
In groups, think about all the different types of media you could use to advertise your club/society.
What sort of things could you do through these different types of media?
If you are using Facebook, speak to Christine Whitburn in the Communications Department to get your page linked to the main RUSU Facebook page. This gives you wider access to members and the opportunity for more students to click-through to your page
If you want to set-up a website, this can be linked to the RUSU sports/societies page

22. A Unique Selling Point (USP)
A positioning statement
Gives an idea of what you can offer
Determines what you stand for
Explains how others will benefit
It is a statement that ‘sells’ your club
When students read it, they will be drawn to your society (but only if it’s a good statement)
It should catch the imagination
Say what you do
But in a very short statement

23. Does it offer something unique?
Examples of a USP
Dominos Pizza – “Pizza delivered in 30 minutes or it’s free!”
Ronseal – “Does exactly what it says on the tin”
Does it offer something unique?
Does it offer something that competitors don’t offer or promote?
Does it offer something so compelling that it drives individuals to act?
Here are some examples of USP’s
Can you think of any more?

24. Making your group stand out
Think about what you do in your group
Do your activities (campaigning and social) appeal to a large group of students?
Is your group accessible to every students on campus?

25. Marketing
EXERCISE In your committees… You have 5 minutes to come up with a 30 second introduction which explains what your group does and why a new student should join it.

26. Lib & Rep Training Campaigns
Presented By:
Kelly Silk – Campaigns Co-ordinator

27. Campaigning A Campaign is ...
an organised activity or series of activities energetically marketed to accomplish an aim
engages likeminded people to achieve a goal
a method of persuasion spread about the topic to encourage others
... Is about change!

28. Campaigning Choosing the right campaign
How much of a priority is this issue?
Can you afford not to get involved and is the trade-off with other priorities worth it?
Do you have the resources to run an effective campaign; if not, how can you get them?
Does your group have credibility with the people who will take the decisions and the ability to influence them?
What are the chances of success?

29. Campaigning Four stages of campaigning Planning, Action Activity
Review

30. Campaigning Planning Action Activity Review What is your aim?
Publicity and Marketing.
Communication Tools
Planning and Implementation

31. Campaigning What can RUSU Do to help you? Training Finances Media
Student Voice
Contacts and experience

32. Campaigning Planning Action Activity Review Finalises all designs
Send anything to print
Make sure the clear aim is at the front of everyone’s minds

33. Campaigning Planning Action Activity Review Believe in your campaign
Be positive, focused, passionate
Engage with as many people as possible
Use all resources
Ensure all planning is put into action

34. Campaigning Planning Action Activity Review
What worked, what didn’t, recommendations
Thank people involved
Communicate the results

35. Campaigning
In Summary ... Planning Clear aim is set Coherent message is used throughout Decide what communication tools you want to use Delegate task, set deadlines Action Ensure everyone is aware of the overall aim Communication is upheld Activity Increases awareness Implement ideas from planning stage Review How did it go, improvements and recommendations Thank key players

36. Any Questions?

37. Budget Grant account: budget you get from RUSU year on year
Reserve account: the money your group has made
Each group can bid up to £500

38. IF UNSURE ASK RUSU! Budget Grant Must fit within your group’s remit
Going to conference
Promoting your group
Awareness raising event at RUSU
Hoodies for promotion of group (not personalised)
Reserve
Social
Hoodies for members or exec committee (personalised)
Event outside of RUSU
IF UNSURE ASK RUSU!

39. Budget Reimbursement forms in the HUB Petty Cash Claim-under £100
BACS Claim-over £100
Sara and Steph are the only people authorised to sign off reimbursement forms

40. Budget
We will now ask everyone to fill in their budget request forms for their group if they have not already done so.

41. Contact Details Contact details:
Steph Johnson, VP Welfare & Representation:
Kelly Silk, Campaigns Co-ordinator:
Margot Bishop, Training & Development Co-ordinator:
Sara Johnson, Representation & Democracy Manager:

42. Q&A
Any Questions?