Introducing: Opps Club
It’s our job at Organised Fun to support the people in Student Opportunities; the volunteers, sabbatical officers, and staff. We saw through the Student Opportunities Festival how powerful it is to bring people together to share ideas and provide a support network. We know this happens already, but want to offer that extra layer of development and specialist advice.
That’s why we’ve designed Opps Club. It’s a regular space over the academic year where Student Opportunities sabbs can work on problems together and feel supported by Organised Fun.
It’s not about Covid-19, but it is.
Students’ unions don’t really do ‘normal’, but this year we’re operating way out of our comfort zones. The important themes within Student Opportunities will remain (more on those in a minute) but Opps Club is about helping sabbs to confidently navigate the hazy waters of the Covid-19 pandemic.
What do we do about student group socials?
How do we support our sports clubs whilst they can’t do sport?
When can we start doing in-person events?
Where can our fundraisers do challenge events?
Our discussions will cover some of these, and all the other sticky, complicated stuff that arises through the easing of Lockdown.
So what are the themes?
We don’t shout about it much, but Organised Fun have worked really hard to create the Student Opportunities Framework. It has nine themes that cover the essential bits of what makes your Student Opportunities operate impactfully, safely and legally.
The themes are:
Access to service
Student leadership & Democracy
Development
Operations
People
Collaboration & Partnership
Diversity
Engagement & Participation
Strategic Impact
The Opps Club sessions will delve into these areas, exploring what works, what’s more difficult and how to keep driving change.
But staff are important too! What about us?
We know that this sort of thing would be useful for SU staff as well, and we’ve not forgotten you. Each session will have materials exploring the themes that your officer can share with you and discuss. That way it gives them a chance to revisit the materials and work with you.