A campaign is an organised effort to bring about a specific change, raise awareness of an issue, or influence decisions affecting the community.
Student campaigns can vary in scale. Some are small, local initiatives focused on a single issue or event, while others grow into long-term movements that influence university policy, local government, or even national legislation.

Characteristics of a successful campaign:

• A clear goal
• A defined issue or cause
• Planned activities
• Audience engagement
• A realistic timeframe

Campaign methods:

Campaign methods can vary depending on the goal you want to achieve and the budget and resources available to you.

Here are some examples of different campaign methods:

• Posters and banners
• Surveys
• Petitions
• Stalls and outreach
• Letters and emails
• Negotiating
• Events
• Workshops
• Protests
• Demonstrations
• Social media posts
• Boycotts
• Rallies and marches
• Occupying and lobbying

When taking part in Council meetings, you may hear words such as agenda, motion or minutes. We understand that some of these words may be new so we have put together a democracy jargon buster that explains some of the vocabulary that these meetings use. This includes specialised words, phrases, and terminology used when talking about democracy, government, politics, elections, and students’ rights. For example, guerilla campaigning is a form of campaigning that uses creative and unconventional methods to attract attention to a particular campaign or cause such as dance flash mobs or costumes. 

Download the Jargon Buster

Both hate crimes and hate incidents can take many forms. It isn’t always physical violence, but it does include physical assault and damage to property. It could be someone using offensive language or making insulting gestures. It could also be someone posting rude or abusive messages online.

Both hate crimes and hate incidents can take many forms. It isn’t always physical violence, but it does include physical assault and damage to property. It could be someone using offensive language or making insulting gestures. It could also be someone posting rude or abusive messages online.

EDIWC: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Welfare Council

This is a space for student-led discussion and decision-making within the Students’ Union, where all students are welcome to attend, observe, put forward motions and take part in debates. It meets approximately once every six weeks during term time, with additional meetings held when necessary to address urgent matters. EDIWC provides a space for students to discuss issues, share ideas and shape the Students’ Union’s work on access, inclusion, celebration, diversity and welfare. It also helps ensure that the voices, experiences and needs of different student communities are heard and represented in the SU’s decision-making

AARC: Academic Affairs & Representation Council

This is where students get a chance to be a part of the democratic decision making process in the SU when it comes to the academic student experience. It meets roughly once every six weeks during term time, with additional meetings as necessary to address urgent matters. AARC allows the academic issues impacting students to be identified and prioritised. It enables students to work collaboratively with the SU to make recommendations for improvements on academic policies and practices and therefore helps to enhance the academic experience for students.

SRG: Student Rep Group

This is where students get a chance to hear from members of the University Senior Leadership Team about action taken in response to matters that students have raised. Ideally, Student Reps will then feed these updates back to their course peers.It is organised by the University and meets roughly once each term. SRG helps to keep students informed about important University updates and gathers student feedback on these updates and their impact on students. It also encourages the SU to share progress and outcomes with both Student Reps and the University's Senior Leadership Team.

Student Forums

Student Reps are expected to attend their course-specific forum as they provide a way for students to share feedback with the University, helping bring about positive change where needed. These should occur roughly twice each term. Student Forums give students an opportunity to share feedback with Course Leaders about course related issues. This feedback is then passed onto Programme Directors, who work with the University to identify and agree on solutions. Course Leaders should be kept updated on progress and share these updates with Student Reps, ensuring students are kept informed about how their feedback is being acted upon.

While a student leader, students will see you as someone they can trust. You may find that people come to you for advice regarding their physical or mental wellbeing, or issues they are facing within their course. You are not a counsellor, mediator or doctor. If you are not the correct person to help someone, it is okay to admit that and signpost them to someone who is better trained and equipped. There are several places you can signpost a student:   

Students’ Union 

• can help with matters relating to academic complaints and appeals or behavioural issues  

• provides free, no questions asked, food and household items to students through the Community Pantry  

• provides free condoms and dental dams in the SU Loft 

Student Support 

• can help with concerns regarding mental health, accommodation, finances or disability   

• You Report We Support tool can be used to report an incident of sexual misconduct, harassment, bullying or hate crime to the University 

• hold a drop in Monday - Friday during term time, 12:30-4:30* 

Student Enquiries  

• can help with your Timetable, Council Tax Exemption, Student Status Letters and general advice and guidance about your course such as transfers or intermissions   

• their office is located Foyer of St Georges Building (first glass door to your right as you enter the building, before the swipe doors).