AUSA Volunteer Induction
Introduction to AUSA
About AUSA... • What is AUSA? Representative body which is the voice of ALL students at the University of Aberdeen • Who is AUSA? You! 15,000 students, Executive Committee, Council • Where is AUSA? Butchart, ASV, Foresterhill, Hillhead
What do we do?
AUSA Mission Statement The Aberdeen University Students’ Association provides representation and services for students, run by students, to enhance their experiences and enable students to enjoy and gain more from their university education.
AUSA Vision ‘Enriching and supporting the student community by providing a wide range of high quality services and opportunities’.
AUSA CORE VALUES Our values inform everything we do and should always be considered in the course of your volunteering, therefore we should always provide:
• A pleasant, safe and healthy environment • An environment where students should have fun while learning • Effective representation, advice and support for students • Student focused service provision • Opportunities for personal development • Accountability, integrity and fairness • Always striving for continuous improvement
Volunteering Action Plan
General Manager Bryan Snelling
Finance Manager Michelle Elrick
Commercial & Communications Manager Ross Brechin
Membership Engagement Manager Graeme Hope
Residents Community Development Coordinator Karen Reid
Societies Administrator Laura Chalmers Student Advice Manager (Acting) Shona Howie
Climate Change Coordinator Hannah Towsey
Finance Assistant Doreen Osborne
Education Development Coordinator Jennifer Krase
Representation & Democracy Coord Trish Burnett
Events & Campaigns Coordinator Mhari Mcintyre
Coffee Shop Supervisor Heather Low
Design & Marketing Coordinator (P/T) Jonathan MacDonell
Coffee Shop Assistants
Academic Advice Coordinator (Temp)
Esther Milne AUSA Receptionists Student Advice centre Assts
Evening Building Supervisor Tabatha Evans
Volunteer Coordinator Michelle Higgins
Sports Development Manager John Duguid Sports Administrator (Temp) Steven Dale
MIDAS Assessor Dave Spowatt
AUSA Staff Structure 2013
AUSA Governance Structure 2012/13 Trustee Board
SA Council
Executive Committee
General Meeting Referenda
Welfare Education Committee Committee
Welfare Committee
Societies Union
Charities Campaign
Sports Union
Employability Committee
Equal Opps Committee
Foresterhill Committee
Enviro & Ethics Cttee
Ents Committee
Marketing & Comms Cttee
Elections Committee
Discipline Committee
Staffing Committee
Nominations Committee
Finance Committee
Health and Safety Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) is committed to providing safe and well organised volunteering opportunities and therefore takes very seriously the Health & Safety of all of its volunteers and service users. AUSA reviews on a yearly basis the health and safety procedures it has in place for all volunteers and service users including updating and implementing any relevant/ necessary training.
• All volunteers shall, for the purposes of health and safety will be subject to the rules and regulations as outlined in the AUSA Health & Safety policy in line with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. • All areas within AUSA that involve volunteers will produce annual risk assessments/ codes of practice, copies of which will be held centrally by AUSA and available to volunteers/ service users upon request.
• Responsibility for Health & Safety within AUSA rests with its Trustee Board who defers delegated authority for this to the General Manager. The General Manager will take all reasonable and practical steps to ensure that the union is compliant with all statutory obligations whilst striving to maintain a system of best practice within all areas of AUSA activities including volunteering. • AUSA will provide volunteers with any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that maybe required for the volunteer to carry out the duties/ tasks within their role.
• Volunteers must abide by all policies and procedures and follow all instructions given to them by AUSA/ AUSA staff member responsible for the area in which they are volunteering. • In order to maximise the safety and enjoyment of your volunteering there is a need to be aware of your personal safety and the safety of other people around you. As a volunteer with AUSA you have the right to be safe whilst volunteering. You also have the responsibility not to endanger yourself or others through your actions.
• All AUSA volunteers should be aware of University of Aberdeen emergency procedures. • If you have an emergency on campus, then call SECURITY on x3939 on an internal phone or (01224) 273939 from an external phone or mobile – do not call the emergency services. If you are involved in an emergency at another location you should follow any local procedures, failing that you should call the emergency services on 999 or 112 (for abroad) Discovering a Fire • If you discover a fire, attempt to extinguish it ONLY if no personal risk is involved. • Fire Alarms are located throughout the Butchart Centre. • Leave by the nearest, safest exit – these will be shown to you during a tour of the Butchart at the end of this induction. • The fire assembly point is on University Road directly across from the Butchart Centre.
Accidents within Butchart Centre In the event of an accident you should: Let a member of AUSA Staff know as soon as possible. A First Aid Kit is located at Reception on the ground floor of the Butchart Centre. You should also complete the Accident Report book located at Reception. • Where medical assistance is required, and no member of AUSA Staff is available ring SECURITY on x3939 • • • •
Accidents outside of Butchart Centre/ University In the event of an accident in this case you should: If necessary call the Emergency Services. Notify the supervisor/ AUSA staff member responsible for overseeing your role. • Where the supervisor/ AUSA staff member is not available notify University Security on (01224) 273939. • • • •
Introduction to Volunteering Confidentiality •
Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) is committed to confidentiality. Nothing personal that another individual tells us within our service will be shared with any other organisation or individual outside of AUSA without permission.
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The volunteer will maintain confidentiality whilst volunteering and after they have ended volunteering with AUSA.
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We believe that the principles of confidentiality must be integrated across all aspects of our services, operation and management.
Definition: •
‘AUSA understands confidentiality to mean that no information regarding a volunteer or other individual shall be given directly or indirectly to any organisation or individual external to the Students’ Association, without consent to disclose such information’ All volunteers should ensure that no discussions relating to an individual will take place outside of the Students’ Union premises.
Rights and Responsibilities What can you expect as an AUSA Volunteer? As an AUSA Volunteer you can expect: • A comprehensive induction to your role. • Support and supervision from a named contact. • Training where appropriate. • A fun, supportive & positive environment that ensures you enjoy volunteering. • To be treated with respect, courtesy and fairness regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, parental or marital status, disability, religion, colour, race, ethnic or national origins, or socio/economic background. • To say no to any tasks you don’t feel comfortable with. • Recognition and thanks. • The right to refuse to carry out any request you consider unreasonable. • We will ensure your safety and you will be insured when undertaking volunteering with us. • To be paid reasonable out of pocket expenses by prior arrangement.
In return we ask that you: • Act as an Ambassador for AUSA and not bring its work into disrepute. • Adhere to the AUSA policies and procedures outlined within this document. • Attend appropriate training and meetings. • Are open and honest in your dealings with AUSA. • Treat fellow student volunteers and staff with courtesy and respect. • Have fun – we want you to be happy and enthusiastic about your volunteering. • Let us know if you wish to change the nature of your contribution. • Let us know if we can improve the service and support that you receive. • Respect confidentiality.
Grievances • It is important if you feel dissatisfied with any matter relating to your volunteering there is a means by which you can air your grievance and have it resolved. While a formal procedure exists, nothing prevents you from seeking to resolve the matter of concern by informal means, without there being a written record. • •
If you wish to pursue the matter as a formal complaint/grievance, you should follow the procedure below – In respect of a complaint/grievance against a fellow student or volunteer, contact the AUSA Volunteer Co-ordinator in the first instance and they will explain the process in line with the complaints/disciplinary procedure as outlined in the AUSA Constitution.
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In respect of a complaint/grievance against an AUSA staff member, in the first instance you should put it in writing to the AUSA General Manager. They will then deal with this as outlined in the AUSA employee handbook.
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In respect of a complaint/grievance against an external organisation, contact the AUSA Volunteer Co-ordinator in the first instance and they will raise the matter with the organisation and follow their procedures.
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If you have a complaint/grievance against AUSA in general that can’t be resolved, you can choose to then raise it with the University of Aberdeen. You should put your complaint/grievance in writing to the University Secretary who will then investigate this in line with University and AUSA procedures.
Awards and Recognition Saltire Awards for Young Volunteers: • Details of the Saltire Awards (for volunteers aged 12-25 years) and how volunteers can register for the Awards are available at: http://www.saltireawards.org.uk/ • The Saltire Awards help encourage even more young people to volunteer and give them good recognition. Volunteers will receive certificates for their volunteering contribution and as an added bonus can also claim Reward Points on their Young Scot Card (this is part of the Accord Card in Aberdeen City). • Saltire Awards are available for undertaking: • Challenge- This is a one-off team event that will give you an idea of what volunteering might be like. • Approach- If you want to get the feel of what it's like to volunteer regularly then this is for you. You can get a certificate for 10 or 25 hours of volunteering. • Ascent- This is all about long term volunteering. Certificates are awarded for 50, 100, 200 and 500 hours of volunteering. • For any further details please contact the ACVO-Volunteer Centre • (E-mail: VolunteerCentre@acvo.org.uk).
Awards and Recognition AUSA Award • The AUSA Award is for students who have completed the MV Award and want to continue logging their hours or for students who don’t fit the criteria of the MV Award. • You will receive a certificate signed by the AUSA President and the AUSA General Manager just prior to your graduation. King’s Awards • The Kings' Awards are for Students who actively engage in student activities and ensure their continuous existence. Whether you write for Gaudie or volunteer for Niteline, almost all student activities participants are eligible according to the following list: • Society members, including committee and non-committee members. • Volunteers for the Charities Campaign, including, but not limited to, Bookends Volunteers and Student Show volunteers. • Students active within Student Media such as Gaudie and ASR. • Active members of council. • Niteline and Vegbag volunteers. • Other volunteers such as Dirty Weekenders participants and other AUSA affiliated groups except sport. • You are eligible for any of the two levels. If the awards committee decides you have not met the criteria you may receive a commendation. You can only receive one level once throughout your time at university.
Awards and Recognition • •
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Students Taking Active Roles (S.T.A.R) Award The STAR Award provides you with a framework to support your skills and attribute development outside the classroom. It is also an opportunity to achieve recognition for your contribution to a wide range of Students’ Association, on-campus/peer support and community-based/volunteering based roles affiliated with the University. It has been designed around five, employability-related Aberdeen Graduate Attributes. Any registered University of Aberdeen student can participate in the STAR Award! All you need is to hold a recognised role and register at the start of the academic year. The Award is split up into Gold, Silver and Bronze recognition, with each role being recognised at a certain level. As well as holding one of the recognised roles, and participating in this role regularly, you will: Complete one Skills Development and one Interview Skills workshop. Reflect on your development and achievement of Aberdeen Graduate Attributes in your STAR Award Portfolio, within MyAberdeen. Undertake a unique competency-based interview. To complete the STAR Award, you will share your STAR Award Portfolio with a two-person assessment panel which normally comprises of a member of University staff and an employer. Your assessment panel will also conduct your competency-based interview. Your application for the STAR Award will be judged on both the strength of your Portfolio submission and interview performance. You can register for the STAR Award at the start of the academic year. You will need to fill in an application form and attend a short briefing session to find out more about the STAR Award.
Any Questions?