Do you like having cheaper gym membership? Access to free period products in all Guild bathrooms? Or maybe you’re simply a fan of BBQ sauce with your Sphinx burger? All of these and more are because of students like you who found something they wanted to change, and made it happen with Change It.
Here at the Guild, every single one of our members has the power to set our priorities and decide what you want us to work on next. Whether it be supporting the UCU in their industrial action, getting our pool tables to take card payments, or working to make our campus more accessible - sharing your ideas with us - no matter how big or small – could be the first step in bringing them to life.
So, how does it work?
Our democratic structure aims to put the power in students’ hands. All you have to do is log in and tell us your idea; it’s that simple. Students can then vote on your idea, and once it receives 20 'upvotes' - which tells us other students like it too - we will get to work. For more straightforward ideas, or for changes we can make in the Guild, we will get to work to make it happen. For more complicated suggestions, we listen to what other students think too - and this is where our decision-making body, Guild Summit, springs into action.
What’s Guild Summit?
Guild Summit is made up of 50 randomly selected students, who are representative of the student body (based on gender, mode of study, level of study, ethnicity and mature students). These students are invited to come and discuss ideas submitted to Change It, and make decisions on whether the Guild should support them or not. This isn’t just your typical vote for or against though, we use consensus decision-making, to find solutions that everyone supports.
Students who submitted their idea will have the opportunity to speak to student attendees about why they should support it. There is also opportunity to speak against the idea if you don’t support it – you can indicate this by ‘down-voting’ the idea in the 2-week period it is open for.
How do I attend?
Attendees are chosen at random by a computer system, so keep your eyes peeled for that lucky Guild email popping up in your inbox, selecting you as an attendee. Here are some reasons why you should definitely say yes, if you receive our invitation:
· Everyone gets £25: we value your time and opinions, so in exchange we give every attendee £25 to say thank you!
· Have your say: every student’s experience is different and this is your chance to have your voice heard on matters that affect you. The ideas discussed could go on to become Guild policy or a campaign lobbying the University, that ultimately could become a positive change for all students on campus. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?
· Boost your skills: attending Guild Summit will test and expand a whole range of professional skills, such as: critical thinking, public speaking and teamwork. Plus, it looks great on your CV and LinkedIn.
· Free Domino’s pizza: honestly, what more could you want?
Ready to make a change?
So, what are you waiting for? Now’s your chance to follow in the footsteps of past student change-makers, and make a real difference to your University experience. Your idea could be the next catalyst for change on our campus – so submit your idea now, and students could be discussing your proposal at our next Guild Summit on Tuesday 24th October!