Wow! What a start to 2024 it has already been. We’ve had another busy month at Student Hubs, kicking off our term two programmes and hosting our conference, The Social Purpose University.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy reading about what we’ve been up to.
The Social Purpose university: student Hubs’ conference
As you may have seen on our socials, we were in Birmingham this week for our conference ‘The Social Purpose University’. It was a jam-packed day, with a huge variety of speakers and workshops exploring how institutions can balance their mission of social purpose with graduate outcomes. Sim opened proceedings by sharing the Birmingham and Midland Institute’s motto, which is ‘Endless Learning’. She challenged attendees to embody the spirit of our venue throughout the sessions on offer – and they certainly did!
We’re sure you can’t wait to hear more about the day, so fear not – we’ll be coming to you very soon with our reflections on the event and some highlights from the incredible speakers.
Avon Needs Trees
The Bristol team have opened recruitment for all of their projects, including Inspire Debate Change which is starting up this term, so there’s lots to look out for in future Digests. This month, though, we’d like to share about Bristol’s Avon Needs Trees day!
On Wednesday, while we were all away at the conference, student volunteers in Bristol braved the cold and wind to help restore biodiversity in their local area. Bristol Hub helps volunteers take the first step into helping with this wonderful project by running monthly tree-planting sessions; if attendees enjoy the day, they are encouraged to join in with Avon Needs Trees’ open sessions which take place weekly. From the photos, it certainly looks as fun as it was important. Great work!
in the spotlight
This month we are saying goodbye to two members of the staff team. We are sad to see them go but know they will go on to do wonderful things! To wrap up this month’s Digest, join us in celebrating Catherine and Will:
Catherine Taplin-Thorpe – Southampton Hub Manager
Catherine started with us four years ago as Southampton Hub’s Projects Officer. Since then, she’s been a vital part of the Student Hubs team, stepping up to lead Southampton as Hub manager. As Designated Safeguarding Officer, Catherine has ensured all of our staff, students and volunteers have been well-looked after, and that our work has been carried out to the highest of standards. She’s been adored by many committees, partners and students at Southampton Hub and we know she’ll be missed! Please take a moment to enjoy some of Catherine’s favourite moments from her time at Student Hubs:
We’d like to wish Catherine all the luck in the world (not that she’ll need it) as she takes her first step into a new career that we know she’ll absolutely love. If you’d like to hear more about what she’ll be up to, keep an eye on our blog next week, as we’ll be sharing Catherine’s social action journey and next steps.
Will Westgarth – Bristol Hub Projects Officer
Next week we’ll also be saying goodbye to the wonderful Will, our Bristol Projects Officer. He’s off to travel the world, so although we’re sad to see him go we’re also super excited to hear about his adventures (and live vicariously through him if the English summer doesn’t appear in a few months). In his own words, some reflections on Will’s time at Student Hubs:
“I took the role as a projects officer at Bristol Hub without any understanding of the charity sector and not knowing what to expect. The last couple years in my role has reemphasized the importance of having a great community. Some of my highlights have been things such as hosting a bingo session at a retirement village, and supporting parents & Children with 1:1 tutoring sessions in local communities in Bristol. This is all underpinned by a strong sense of community and it has been my favourite part of being at Bristol Hub!”.
We know Will is going to be missed, by the staff team but also by the community he has built in Bristol, although we’re sure his friendly personality will make him lots of wonderful connections wherever he ends up!
What to look out for
We’re getting closer to our first Hub Book Club meeting, which will take place on March 4th. Check back on our socials over the coming weeks for information on how to get involved, or email Amy at amy.bond@studenthubs.org. Our first read is The Drowned World by J. G. Ballard, so get reading… We can’t wait to hear your thoughts in March!
paid alumni opportunity
Write for us! We want to showcase your thoughts and ideas on our blog. If you’re interested, register your interest via the link in our bio or airtable.com/appzS1VCkMwZIMbK1/shrDUcqYad0itZIiI, and a member of the team will be in touch to discuss your ideas. We pay £40 per blog as we really value the time that goes into writing wonderful copy!