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Board of Trustees – Paper 2
22nd June 2009
Community Engagement Strategy
July 2009
Community Engagement Strategy
July 2009
Contents
Chapter Page
1.0 Introduction and Background 3
2.0 Summary of Community Strategy 4
3.0 Students as Responsible Neighbours 5
4.0 Students Active in the Community 8
5.0 Student Community Representation and Democratic Engagement 11
6.0 Student Safety in the Community 12
7.0 Student Contribution to the local economy 13
Approval Mechanism
To be approved by the Board of Trustees
Manager responsible for implementation: Director of Membership Services
Trustee responsible for implementation: Union President
Date of implementation: from July 2009
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Community Engagement Strategy
July 2009
1.0 Introduction and Background
1.1 Kent Union’s Values Statement outlines our commitment to “promoting
volunteering and supporting the local community”.
1.2 Further to this, the University of Kent’s Widening Participation Strategy lists
“Student engagement and investment in the wider community” as a key focus.
Clearly Kent Union’s activities are fundamental to success in this aim.
1.3 The issue of the impact of students on the local community is an important and
recurrent one. In 2006, Canterbury City Council produced the “Student Impact
Scrutiny Review”, which considered the issue. It highlighted both the positive
contribution of students to the local community, particularly in terms of economic
impact and student volunteering, as well as highlighting area of negative perception,
such as refuse and anti-social behaviour.
1.4 It is clear that part of our role as a representative body is to improve and uphold the
reputation of University of Kent students in the local community. Further to this, we
believe that improving community relations and providing avenues for students to
engage with the community will lead to an improved University experience for our
members, and will have a lasting positive impact on the community itself.
1.5 This strategy seeks to outline the current initiatives and activities undertaken by
Kent Union in terms of community engagement and to outline objectives for the
organisation to develop in this area.
1.6 The Strategy is divided into five Key Themes. These are:
1.6.1 Students as Responsible Neighbours
1.6.2 Students Active in the Community
1.6.3 Student Community Representation and Democratic Engagement
1.6.4 Student Safety in the Community
1.6.5 Student Contribution to the Local Economy
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Community Engagement Strategy
July 2009
2.0 Summary of Community Strategy
Our Vision
Our vision is to be an exceptional organisation that is amongst the best providers of student services in the UK
Our Community Values
We promote volunteering and support the local community
The Community Strategy
Community
Students as Responsible Students Active in the Student Safety in the Students Contribution to
Representation and
Neighbours Community Community the local community
Democractic Engagement
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Community Engagement Strategy
July 2009
3.0 Students as Responsible Neighbours
3.1 Student Engagement with Community Groups
3.1.1 Canterbury has one of the highest concentrations of students of any city in
the country. It is generally accepted that a large amount of students in an
area carries with it both negative and positive implications and, perhaps just
as importantly, negative perceptions. Recent coverage of ‘the student issue’
in the local press underlines that the general image of students is a negative
one, in the main exacerbated by low-level antisocial behaviour. Another
general area of concern is that the transient nature of students affects the
dynamic of communities, and students, by their nature, are less concerned
with the aesthetics and cohesion of a community than ‘permanent’
residents.
3.1.2 At the heart of any mistrust or antagonism between students and local
residents is the lack of a regular, constructive dialogue. It is essential that
we develop, support and maintain such communication channels, to ensure
that residents feel that their concerns are listened to and that we can tackle
any emergent issues. In order to achieve this, Kent Union will commit to
ensuring student representation at all existing and future residents
associations in areas where students reside.
3.1.3 Action Plan
Target Date Responsibility
To set up Hales Place Residents September VP Welfare and
Watch Group in conjunction with 2009 Representation and
PCSO Democracy Manager
Set up Neighbourhood September Volunteering Projects
Representative Scheme 2009 Coordinator and VP
Welfare
To identify and achieve full September Sabbatical Officers,
attendance at all relevant resident 2010 supported by Volunteering
associations (St Mildred’s Area Projects Coordinator
Community Society, Hales Place
Resident Association, Spring Lane
and Barton Residents Association
and St Dunstans’ Residents
Association)
Identify and attend appropriate September Outreach Worker
neighbourhood/community groups 2010
in vicinity of outlying campuses
Continue to run annual St Ongoing Volunteering Projects
Stephen’s Welcome Event to Coordinator and VP
promote good neighbourliness in Welfare
conjunction with Canterbury City
Council
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Community Engagement Strategy
July 2009
3.2 Students as tenants/on campus:
3.2.1 Over 4000 students live on the Canterbury Campus and this number is due
to rise further with the development of new student accommodation. Kent
Union should play a role in ensuring that this large community is
considerate, cohesive and constructive. It is also recognised that, as many
students spend their first year living away from home on campus, it is
possible that negative patterns of behaviour are formed that may be
continued when students move on to housing in the local community. Kent
Union will continue to make positive steps to encourage a spirit of good
neighbourliness on campus.
3.2.2 A large amount of students live in rented accommodation in the local
community. The majority of letting agents and private landlords are
reputable, particularly following the implementation of the City Council’s
Accreditation scheme, but Kent Union recognises that students are at risk of
being exploited by opportunistic landlords and will continue to take steps to
protect them. This will be achieved through the provision of advice and
close partnership working with the University’s accommodation office and
the City Council.
3.2.3 Action Plan
Target Date Responsibility
Run campaign to increase recycling on Annual, VP Welfare, Marketing Officer
campus from and Representation
September Coordinator, Environment and
2009 Ethics Committee, Environment
and Ethics Officer, Environment
and Ethics Coordinator
Run sessions for new students to September VP Welfare, Representation
highlight neighbourly living in halls. 2009 Coordinator, Union President,
Student Committee Presidents
Develop housing advice programme September VP Welfare, Advice Service
to include publication, events and 2010 Manager
training sessions in conjunction with
Advice Centre, Kent Hospitality and
CCC
Work with City Council to continue to Ongoing VP Welfare, Advice Services
develop and promote Housing Manager
Accreditation Scheme
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Community Engagement Strategy
July 2009
3.3 Community Contribution
3.3.1 As well as minimising the potentially negative impact that students may
have on the local community, it is important that Kent Union highlights and
develops the positive engagement of students with the local community.
Working with the City Council and other local students’ unions, a
Community Charter should be developed which will outline how each
organisation will strive to improve engagement between local residents, the
council and students’ unions.
3.3.2 Student Volunteering is a fundamental part of student community
engagement and this should be promoted and developed. In particular,
Kent Union will make specific funding available for projects that will improve
the local environment, by deploying student volunteers in community
building projects or environmental cleanups (such as graffiti cleaning or
pond clearing).
3.3.3 In 2008 Canterbury Christ Church University Students’ Union developed the
“I ♥ Canterbury” brand which encouraged students to take pride in the city
and promoted the positive impact of students to the local community. Kent
Union will work will Christ Church Union and others to develop this brand
and run a concurrent campaign.
3.3.4 Action Plan
Date Responsibility
Target
Develop I ‘♥’ Canterbury brand in September VP Welfare and Representation
conjunction with CCSU and UCCA 2009 and Democracy Manager
Make funding available for September Student Activities Manager
neighbourhood ‘Build Clear or Clean’ 2010
project to improve environment and
promote community cohesion.
Develop community charter in September VP Welfare, Director of
conjunction with other students 2010 Membership Services
unions and City Council
3.4 Night-time Impact
3.4.1 Kent Union recognises that the operation of some of its services, and in
particular the nightclub, is related to some specific concerns and problems
faced by local residents, particularly in terms of noise. Kent Union takes its
responsibility in minimising this impact seriously and invests around £10,000
each year on initiatives such as ‘noise-patrols’, on and off campus. This will
be continued and expanded where necessary.
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Community Engagement Strategy
July 2009
3.4.2 Kent Union runs a ‘Security Review Panel’ which brings together students,
University staff and representatives from the police and city council to
discuss the management of security at the Venue. The remit of this group
will be expanded to include the management of the community impact of
the nightclub, and it will report regularly on improvements in this area. It
will also be responsible for steering the development of an annual open
event for members of the local community, which will bring residents in to
the Venue to view the facilities, meet staff and discuss any concerns that
they have.
3.4.3 Action Plan
Target Date Responsibility
Rename Security Review Panel to From Director of Commercial Services
‘Evening Impact Group’ and provide September
annual reports to Community 2009
Organisations and quarterly press
releases
Launch Annual ‘Community Forum September Director of Commercial Services
and Open Day’ at the Venue 2009 and Venue and Entertainments
Manager
Continue and expand Security Patrol Ongoing Venue and Entertainments
operation and report annually on Manager
activity to Board of Trustees
4.0 Students Active in the Community
4.1 Community Volunteering Opportunities
4.1.1 Kent Union has run a Volunteering Unit for more than a decade, providing
students the opportunity to develop volunteering projects and to take up
voluntary roles in community organisations. The impact of this has been
enormous – in 2007/08 870 students registered for our volunteering
accreditation scheme and logged a total of 31,865 volunteering hours,
equating to £151,137 worth of work contributed to the local community and
campus life. Kent Union will continue and develop its work in this area,
increasing the amount of external volunteering placements available to
students year on year.
4.1.2 Kent Union will also improve its communication in this area, ensuring that
the positive impact of students volunteering in the community becomes
fully recognised by the press, council and residents, by publishing a regular
community impact briefing.
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Community Engagement Strategy
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4.1.3 Action Plan
Target Date Responsibility
Double the amount of Ongoing Student Activities Manager,
community volunteering Volunteering Coordinator
placements to 120 by 2012
and increase the total
number of students
undertaking community
volunteering to 500
Double the annual amount Ongoing Student Activities Manager,
of community Volunteering Volunteering Project
Events to 20 by 2012 Coordinator
Continue to run Ongoing Student Activities Manager,
‘Community Day’ at Volunteering Projects
Welcome Fayre, doubling Coordinator, Volunteering
the amount of stalls to 30 Coordinator
by 2012
Provide specific funding From Student Activities Manager,
avenues to Campaigning September Volunteering Projects
and Community Societies 2009 Coordinator
Develop Community Action From Student Activities Manager,
Webpage and issue January Volunteering Projects
monthly ‘Community 2010 Coordinator and Marketing
Action’ press releases Officer
Develop Community Action March Outreach Worker
Scheme, including 2011
webpage and 25 students
volunteering in community
placements for students at
outlying sites
4.2 CSR Activities
4.2.1 Kent Union is proud of, in partnership with Christ Church Students’ Union
and the parent institutions, the launch and development of the first student-
run community radio station in the country. Launched in 2007, the station
exists to provide first-rate media opportunities to our members, but also has
a strong remit to engage the local community. In particular the project aims
to promote interaction between students and school children, giving young
people in the area the opportunity to engage with the higher education
environment.
4.2.2 The Community Engagement aspect of the station will continue to develop,
ensuring that members of the local community have the opportunity to
contribute to the station, and bringing in school children to ‘run’ the station
during the summer months.
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Community Engagement Strategy
July 2009
4.2.3 Action Plan
Target Date Responsibility
Run Summer school with involvement August Student Media Manager,
from 25 students from local schools 2009 Community and Events
Coordinator
Provide weekly on-air update on September Student Media Manager,
community events 2009 Community and Events
Coordinator
Provide 10 hours of radio January Student Media Manager,
programming for Residents 2010 Community and Events
Associations Coordinator
Hold bi-annual Community Listener January Student Media Manager,
Forums 2010 Community and Events
Coordinator
Achieve 120 community members of September Student Media Manager,
the station 2011 Community and Events
Coordinator
4.3 Cultural Development
4.3.1 Kent Union acts as a hub for cultural interchange and leisure activities on
campus, operating more than 100 societies and 40 sports teams. The range
of activities available to students is vast, and includes Latin American
Dancing, Cheerleading and Philosophy. The range of skills, cultures and
activities that are available to Kent students should be made available to
members of the local community where possible. For too long students and
the University and its students have been seen as distant or even aloof, and
positive steps should be taken to take our activities to the community or
bring local residents on to campus.
4.3.2 Action Plan
Target Date Responsibility
Develop Community Sports Coaching January Student Activities Manager, VP
Scheme 2010 Sports
10 Sports and Societies to run regular March Student Activities Manager, VP
community sessions 2010 Student Activities
Run Cultural diversity event in September Student Activities Manager, VP
Canterbury in conjunction with City 2010 Student Activities, Community and
Council , Student Societies and the Events Coordinator, Volunteering
University Projects Coordinator
Develop Nursery Drama Workshop September Nursery Manager, Community and
Programme to include Community 2010 Events Coordinator, Volunteering
Nurseries Projects Coordinator
Develop scheme to improve cultural September Outreach Worker
engagement in the community from 2010
students at Outreach sites
4.4 Fundraising
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Community Engagement Strategy
July 2009
4.4.1 Kent Union’s RAG (Raise and Give) operation gives students the opportunity
to raise money for charity through the running of a broad range of events
and activities. It has enjoyed exceptional success recently, raising in the
region of £25,000 during this academic year.
4.4.2 RAG has a policy of donating raised money to both local and national
charities. Kent Union should set a target to increase the amount donated to
local charities and provide appropriate support to student volunteers in
order to achieve.
4.4.3 Kent Union should also continue to provide local charities with the
opportunities to attend our annual ‘Welcome Fayre’ and increase the
number of charities who attend.
4.4.4 Action Plan
Target Date Responsibility
Increase funding raising for local August Student Activities Manager, VP
charities year on year, achieving 2012 Activities, RAG Committee
£25,000
Increase the amount of local charities Ongoing Student Activities Manager,
at Community Volunteering Fayre Volunteering Coordinator
each year
5.0 Student Community Representation and Democratic Engagement
5.1 Kent Union should play a role in ensuring that students and student offices engage
with local and national politics, and ensure that students’ voices are heard. This can
be achieved by increasing student turnout in local, European and national elections,
by ensuring a constructive and ongoing relationship is maintained with relevant
politicians and through regular dialogue with the local council.
5.2 These activities should not be limited to the Canterbury Campus, and initiatives
should be developed to increase political engagement of students at outlying sites of
the University.
5.3 Action Plan
Target Date Responsibility
Run campaign to encourage voter From Representation and Democracy
registration, including outlying sites September Manager, Union President,
2009 Outreach Worker
Induction for new Trustees to include August Director of Membership
an opportunity to meet with key 2009 Services
stakeholders from the local council
Hold regular meetings between July 2010 Outreach Worker
students and local politicians at
outlying sites
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Community Engagement Strategy
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Facilitate quarterly meetings between Ongoing Representation and Democracy
students and politicians Manager, Union President
6.0 Student Safety in the Community
6.1 Students are often a target for criminals; night-time activities leave them vulnerable
to attacks and student houses are often prime targets for burglars. Kent Union,
through the provision of training, services and campaigns will continue to educate
students about the risks and mitigate them.
6.2 Kent Union will campaign for the improvement and development of safety
initiatives, both on and off campus. In particular, the role of the Nightbus should be
promoted and developed and Kent Union should lobby for improvements to campus
lighting, road crossing and bus stops.
6.3 Kent Union will continue to educate students on safety issues, promoting the
availability of the local PCSO, running session for students to security mark their
belongings, and roll these services out to outlying sites of the University.
6.4 Action Plan
Target Date Responsibility
Run campaign to improve and secure September Representation Coordinator, VP
future for Night bus Service 2009 Welfare
Promote PCSO surgery with year-on- From VP Welfare, Student Activities
year increases in attendance September Manager
2009
Run Campaign for improvement to September VP Welfare, Representation
Campus lighting, cycle routes, road 2009 Coordinator
crossings and bus stops.
Run security marking sessions for January VP Welfare, Student Activities
students’ property 2010 Manager
Continue and expand Security Patrol Ongoing Venue and Entertainments
operation and report annually on Manager
activity to Board of Trustees
Develop relationships with PCSOs and January Outreach Worker
deliver student safety sessions for 2010
students at outlying sites
7.0 Student Contribution to the Local Economy
7.1 Kent students, through working in local business, bring an enormous amount to the
local community, helping the operation of the service and tourism industries, and
bringing a wide range of skills to organisations that employ them. Kent Union
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Community Engagement Strategy
July 2009
should continue to increase the amount of local businesses advertising through its
Jobshop to ensure that this develops.
7.2 An increasing amount of students are finding part-time work to help fund them
through their studies. Many of these students, in turn, do not have the time to
volunteer or undertake other activities provided by the Union. A scheme should be
developed to ensure that these students get recognised for the skills that they
develop and the contribution that they make to the local community.
7.3 Links should be developed and maintained with the local council’s Local Economy
team and local business groups to promote and develop avenues for students to
contribute to local business.
7.4 Action Plan
Target Date Responsibility
Hold Bi-Annual Meetings with From Director of Membership
‘Canterbury for Business’ and City September Services, Jobshop Manager
Council Local Economy Team to 2009
discuss Student Impact on local
economy
Launch scheme to highlight key skills September Jobshop Manager
linked to each Jobshop opportunity 2011
and link with accreditation
Develop scheme to improve Graduate From Director of Membership
Retention in Canterbury in September Services, Jobshop Manager
conjunction with City Council and 2011
Business Groups
Increase the amount of jobs available Ongoing Jobshop Manager
in local area through Jobshop year on
year
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