Wednesday 24-07-2019 - 11:00

As your Student Officers prepare to say goodbye, we asked them to reflect on the past year. Here's Charlie on his final year as Opportunities Officer.

After two years as Opportunities Officer, three years as a Durham SU Trustee and six years as a student in Durham, I can’t help but notice that a) lots has changed and b) I really did not intend to stay this long. Durham is a wonderful place and I am not the first person to keep coming back for another slice. Before I say my final goodbye, I wanted to share a few reflections on how far we’ve come and what might come next. 

Any reflection on my two years as an Officer has to start by thanking the wonderful staff team who have helped me be the most motivated, knowledgeable and astute version of myself, particularly my supports Gary, Kirsty and Jamie. I also want to thank the rest of the Officer team – George, Meg, David, Saul – you’ve been outstanding to work with and have set the agenda in so many conversations with the University: community engagement, postgraduate teacher pay, sexism and culture, 24/7 library hours, and the cost of Durham to name a few. I look forward to seeing what you do next, whether in Durham or somewhere new.

In the world of Opportunities, there is lots to report – and plenty more to do. The new Opportunities Team has really started to bed in, just over 18 months after forming. It feels like we know our societies better than ever before and can support them to do even more amazing events and campaigns, as shown by another batch of national awards nominations and wins. Some of the work has been foundational, leading to more exciting ways of celebrating our groups and contributing our best to the local community in the next few years. Reforming student group governance wasn’t easy or uncontroversial, but it was the right thing to do. The new framework will feel like the new normal next year, working to keep students, their groups and their Union safe and fairly regulated. 

Access to Durham’s student experience is important to me and the biggest barrier to this is the price tag. I have worked on including the cost of extracurricular activity in our assessment of the cost of Durham and increasing the transparency of the cost. The new University webpage on these charges does some of the work to address transparency. Now more effort can focus on action to reduce the gap between the cost and students’ bank accounts, either by reducing costs or increasing bursaries. 

As I watched many of my friends graduate this July, I was increasingly convinced that it is time to look into the other additional costs associated with participating fully in Durham life. Many students have paid £9,000 a year in tuition fees, only to be stung by £40+ charges for gowns and £45+ photography costs as they graduate. Wouldn’t it be a friendlier goodbye (and a nicer welcome to the alumni community) to say that this cost has already been covered by the £9,000? 

Another way to reduce the financial gap is by paying students who work part-time a fairer wage, so I am pleased the Durham SU’s first year as a real Living Wage (currently £9/hour) employer has gone well. We have proved that you can do it and still run a successful bar and café. It is time for the University and other employers in Durham to follow suit. As local residents feel pushed out of Durham by the cost of transport and housing, it is time for our porters, housekeeping, security and catering staff to get a pay rise as well – with the additional benefit of returning more money to the local economy. 

Durham SU has done more for the Common Rooms this year than before, taking JCR Presidents on the first ever ‘Presidential Residential’ training in York, with the second to follow next month. There is still plenty more work to be done, but the benefits have already shown through the close network of JCR Presidents we’ve had this year and the invitation of the Chairs of JCR and MCR Presidents’ Committees to our Leadership Team meetings. 

To my successor, Jess – so many exciting projects and campaigns lie ahead, as well as new challenges. You will bring a unique and valuable perspective to the Leadership Team throughout it all. Good luck, and remember to have fun!