Inclusive Societies

We’re excited to launch the Earn Your Stars campaign to champion and recognise inclusivity in your society! At NUSU we aim to create an atmosphere in which all people feel valued, are respected and have access to the same opportunities. This is your opportunity to showcase how your society is inclusive to all students! With each Star you earn, you are showcasing the steps you have taken to ensure your society is inclusive, particularly around three key themes: diversity, disability and mental health. Each year you will work your way from Bronze, to Silver to Gold and with each Star you earn, will receive a digital stamp and a financial reward!

Check out the criteria below for the Bronze Star and information about how to apply. Scroll along the top of the page for information about the Silver and Gold Stars!

Bronze Award Criteria Silver Award Criteria Gold Award Criteria

How to Apply:

Once you have completed all three criteria points (outlined below) for an award, please submit the checklist with your evidence to your Activities Officer here. (Evidence can include written reports, photos, meeting minutes, videos, social media posts, newsletters and must include links to anything digital). The checklist can be downloaded below. You will also find a planning sheet to help you plan and document your progress (this doesn’t need to be completed unlike the checklist, but may help!)

The checklist and evidence will then be reviewed and you will receive a response to your application shortly after.

A financial reward will be awarded to your society after successfully achieving each award criteria – this will be £50 for the Bronze Award, a further £50 for achieving the Silver Award, and a further £50 for achieving the Gold Award – the maximum amount that will be awarded in one academic year will be £150 for the Gold Award. Your Star will also be added to the website on your society page and you will be able to use this for promoting your society.

Criteria Checklist Submit Evidence

Bronze Award

Mandatory Criteria: Your society must have a registered Welfare Officer (your Welfare Officer can be registered during Handover, or your President and one other member of your executive committee can contact csa.union@ncl.ac.uk to confirm your society’s Welfare Officers name, position, email address and contact telephone number).

Promoted the Participation Bursary (found here) to all Society members or potential members. (examples include: sending information to all members, promoting information at Fresher’s Fairs/ tasters)

Connect: Evidence of existing Society members integrating and building relationships with new members, and supporting the retention of new members in the society (examples include: holding team-building and social activities (these could be through the GIAG programme), volunteering as a buddy for new members).

Removing barriers to students with disabilities from joining your Society and promoting that your Society is accessible for students with disabilities (examples include: assessing your society (are your meetings in accessible venues?) Letting the Student Health and Wellbeing Team know that your Society is accessible for students with disabilities)

Submit Evidence & Apply

Silver Award

Mandatory Criteria: Already been awarded the Bronze Award/meet the Bronze Award criteria.

Organise and promote a social activity that is open to all students outside of your society, or who you wouldn’t typically engage with. (examples include: organising and promoting your social activity as a Give It A Go social to be advertised to all students, working with the Widening Participation Officer to provide accessible opportunities, hosting a joint social / session with another society or club).

Give to others: Volunteer as a society (examples include: volunteering through the Go Volunteer programme, or with a community project).

Promote your society as accessible to students with disabilities through a campus wide campaign (this can be a NUSU, university or national campaign). (examples include: assessing your society (are your meetings in accessible venues?) Letting the Student Health and Wellbeing Team know that your Society is accessible for students with disabilities)

Submit Evidence & Apply

Gold Award

Mandatory Criteria: Already been awarded the Silver & Bronze Award/meet the Silver & Bronze Award criteria.

Collaborate with other societies, clubs or alumni to increase and promote diversity. (examples include: holding a workshop, showcase in The Courier, joint socials, joint campaigns).

Promote your society as improving student wellbeing through a campus wide campaign (this can be a NUSU, university or national campaign). (examples include: activities or events to raise awareness through Mental Health Awareness, and other awareness weeks, social media campaign joined up with an awareness week/day).

Evidence how Inclusion is a priority for your Society. (examples include: risk assessments to include mental and physical wellbeing, minutes of your society meetings where inclusion is an agenda point, putting all documents on yellow paper could assist auto inclusivity for students with dyslexia)

Submit Evidence & Apply