Students’ Union wins Initiative of the Year Award at NUS conference

Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion have won the Initiative of the Year award at the National Union of Students (NUS) Conference in Aberystwyth.

The award was won for the college’s participatory budgeting scheme which offers a fund of £2,000 per year per campus and is driven by the needs of students by students.

Pool tables across campuses help to fund the project where students are encouraged to put forward ideas to help implement initiatives that would benefit their wellbeing.

They are tasked with costing their ideas and presenting them at the college’s Learner Voice Conference where students vote for or against.

So far, the initiative has seen students get a new kit for basketball activities, a specialist spray-paints mural at its art campus and a new chess kit for a recent chess club that was using outdated playing equipment.

Debbie Williams, wellbeing officer for Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion said: “Our Students’ Union has really done well and work hard towards engaging students and giving them a voice.

“Considering that this conference is representative of all education organisations in Wales and is predominantly representative of the higher education sector, this is a great achievement. Well done to all the SU officers and all the staff involved.”

The college was also recognised for their initiative at last year’s NUS awards.

Jenna Loweth, Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion Students’ Union president said: “It’s an honour to be able to carry on the work from last year and really put in the work to help our community especially through these difficult times.”