Introduction

Inclusive Society is an accreditation scheme which provides financial support, perks and recognition to encourage societies to become more inclusive and continually develop in this area. The more criteria you meet the more funding and perks your society will receive. If you believe your society already meets some of our criteria apply now to receive recognition and funding for your society. If you have plans for next year or are keen to work towards some of our criteria please get in contact with us!

What is Inclusivity?

Fundamentally, here at NUSU we are working to create an atmosphere in which all people feel valued and respected and have access to the same opportunities. Essentially, it is the quality of trying to include many different types of people and treat them all fairly and equally. In particular, people who historically may have been excluded or marginalised based on grounds of race, gender, age, sex, disability or religion.

Why should societies be involved?

• Financial reward, amount of which is dependent upon how much criteria is met, to assist with the inclusivity of your society.
• Extra support from the Activities Officer for the duration of the programme, with the aim to guide the society to be more inclusive and meet more criteria in the following year, and in doing so set an example to others.
• Potential increases of society membership as students are aware they are catered for and they are entering an environment that discourages harassment and discrimination.
• Opportunity to be involved in NUSU by running your society through programs such as Give it a Go and Go Volunteer, as well as involvement in community projects for example Leave Newcastle Happy, and Love Living IN, to increase membership and provide a social opportunity.
• Opportunity to be involved in NUSU, society and national campaigns.
• Recognition of inclusive work, in addition to a ‘medal’ the society can be nominated for awards such as Pride of Newcastle.
• Perks across NUSU and the University for your Society events.
• If your society applies and is unable to meet criteria to achieve Bronze, you will be given an opportunity for a 1-2-1 with the Activities Officer to set up a programme with the aim to guide your society towards meeting more criteria and becoming more inclusive.

Criteria

Societies will be measured against 11 criteria, of which if they meet an allocated number of criteria they can be awarded a ‘medal’ and receive financial support and perks.

Bronze = 5 Criteria (£40)

Silver = 7 criteria (£60)

Gold = 9 criteria (£80)

1. Actively participated in a NUSU, society, or national campaign (e.g. SHAG Week, International Festival of Arts and Music, Stressed Out Students, This Girl Can).
2. Actively engaged and supported new members joining the society with evidence to show initiatives which involve and integrate Freshers and other students on their first year of studying at Newcastle University (e.g. post-graduates).
3. Shown evidence of increased membership through new campaigns or marketing strategies, demonstrating how this targets marginalised* groups or typically non-engaged groups within your society.
4. Shown due consideration when planning activities/socials/events to ensure that they are accessible to all students (e.g. checking venue for wheelchair accessibility).
5. Involved in a NUSU community project, external community project or undertaken your own project within the community for a sustained period (e.g. a Go Volunteer project, Leave Newcastle Happy, Christmas Food Donation, Love Living IN).
6. Provide opportunity for non-members to try out your events (e.g. through putting on an event through Give It A Go, Go Volunteer).
7. Society involvement in, or set up of a programme of student-led outreach, recruitment projects or widening participation events to engage students from a widening access backgrounds (full examples of these backgrounds and projects can be found on the NUSU website).
8. Engage with a school, faculty, or department in some way to engage students from that area (e.g. hosted a sign up session in the foyer of the Business School at the start of term).
9. A committee member has attended the optional society Welfare & Engagement Training (mandatory for silver medal and above).
10. Due consideration has been made to ensure that correct health and safety provisions are provided when undertaking all activities.
11. Undertaken any other steps which show an increase of inclusivity.

How to Apply

1. A member of the society committee should fill out a short application form detailing which level medal they are going for and how they meet the criteria. It is important you supply sufficient evidence of the work you hare undertaking or are planning to undertake.
2. Email to the Activities Officer at activities.union@newcastle.ac.uk
3. Reviewed by necessary members of staff and/or Societies Executive for approval.
4. Society to receive money.
5. Medal will appear on society’s page on the website and be given to the society for future promotion use.
6. Society would provide a short termly update (bullet pointed) on how they are continuing their good practice. An agreement can take place where a society receives funding despite not meeting the criteria as long as they show they are actively working towards the criteria.

Contact Details

If you have any queries regarding the Inclusive Society initiative please do not hesitate to contact Sophie McDermott (Activities Officer).

Email: activities.union@ncl.ac.uk

Phone: 0191 239 3964