University of Exeter and
University of Exeter Students’ Guild
Community Engagement Plan
2015 – 2018
Aim: Develop a joint strategy which presents the needs of Exeter students, local residents and other stakeholders; recognising the importance of
students making a positive contribution to the local area
Core values:
Democratic
Responsible
Active Diverse
Student-led
Collaborative
Sustainable
Strategic Themes
Communication
- Regularly inform permanent city residents and other key stakeholders about community developments and initiatives
- Closely monitor community issues with relevant partners and develop initiatives that address those issues
- Consult with city residents to gauge the impact of Community Engagement activities
Housing & Students as Residents
- Educate students about the availability of good quality accommodation, Landlord Accreditation and their rights as tenants
- Educate students about the responsibilities of living and socialising in the community and seek to discourage anti-social behaviour
- Develop a range of initiatives to increase student awareness of refuse/recycling issues off-campus
Delivering Change
- Actively scan the horizon for new volunteering initiatives required by the local community; whilst also ensuring the ongoing effectiveness of existing
activities
- Demonstrate the outcomes and impacts of the volunteering work undertaken by students and staff
- Influence local and national policy groups, through focussed lobbying activities
- Enfranchise and engage students with the local and national political processes
Safety
- Develop a series of practical solutions that will enable students to protect themselves against crime
- Actively influence local policy through partnership working
Community Cohesion
- Develop projects, policies and initiatives that that further support the integration of students as active citizens
- Promote on-campus events, activities and facilities relevant to permanent City residents
Community Engagement Plan 2015 - 2018
The Community Engagement Plan has been developed by the University and Students’ Guild and aims to develop and
improve our engagement with communities, enhancing the attitude of good citizenship amongst our students. This
strategy outlines a range of schemes and initiatives aimed at increasing positive interaction between students, staff and
permanent city residents over the next three years.
The 2015 - 2018 Plan has been compiled using information from our 2014 Community Survey (distributed to students and
permanent local residents) Resident Liaison Group meetings and a review of feedback gathered from the StreetWise
answerphone service from January 2011 - July 2014
The Strategy has been divided into five key areas:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Communication
Housing & Students As Residents
Delivering Change
Safety
Community Cohesion
Please note the following abbreviations are used throughout the strategy:
CLO – Community Liaison Officer
Guild – Students’ Guild
Uni – Other University staff
AU – Athletics Union
ECC – Exeter City Council
Police – Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
1.
COMMUNICATION
Objective
Regularly inform
permanent city residents
and other key
stakeholders about
community developments
and initiatives
Ref
Activities
1a
Circulate the ‘StreetWise’ newsletter to permanent local
residents – with relevant news and updates from the
University and Students’ Guild.
1b
1c
Closely monitor
community issues with
relevant partners and
develop initiatives that
address those issues
Consult with city
residents to gauge the
impact of Community
Engagement activities
2.
Review StreetWise newsletter circulation through regular
termly communication with Cllrs
Build upon the Community pages of the University Website
and the Guild website to develop community pages that
appeal to residents living in the local area.
Partnership (Lead*)
Timescale/Frequency
CLO
One edition published
each term (Ongoing)
CLO
Ongoing
CLO
Ongoing
CLO*, Guild,
Police, ECC, Uni
March and November
each year
1d
Continue to run bi-annual ‘Resident Liaison Group’ meetings
on campus, with increased emphasis on providing
Community Engagement Plan updates
1e
Produce an annual update of the joint University/Students’
Guild Community Engagement Plan
CLO, Guild
2a
Conduct termly update meetings with the Police and City
Council
CLO, Guild
Ongoing
2b
Conduct termly update meetings with relevant County/City
Cllrs.
CLO, Guild
Ongoing
2c
Continue to respond to and monitor community queries and
concerns raised by the 24 hour ‘StreetWise’ voicemail/email
service
CLO
Ongoing
2d
Ensure University/Guild presence at relevant community
meetings
CLO, Guild
Ongoing
3a
Conduct a community survey with permanent local residents
and students to update the next edition of the Community
Engagement Strategy
CLO, Guild
July 2017
3b
Explore the need for targeted focus-group work in key areas
of the city – to compliment the Community Survey
CLO
July 2017
3c
Conduct a termly evaluation of Community Warden projects
with input from community stakeholders
CLO
Ongoing
-
January
2015
2016
2017
HOUSING AND STUDENTS AS RESIDENTS
Objective
Educate students about
the availability of good
quality accommodation
and their rights as tenants
Ref
Activities
4a
Distribute the Community Guide with advice and
information for students living in private accommodation in
the city
4b
Partnership (Lead*)
Timescale/Frequency
CLO*, Guild, Police,
ECC, Uni
September/October
2015
2016
2017
Attend regular Landlord Accreditation meetings to review
the Landlord Accreditation Scheme for Exeter.
Uni*, CLO, Guild, , ECC
Termly meetings
Ongoing
4c
Promote the Tenancy Awareness Campaign with a 2stage roadshow in term 1 and 2 each year.
Guild* Uni, CLO, , ECC
Roadshows held in
December/January
4d
Continue to promote alternative modes of transport for
students via the Student Community Guide
CLO*, Guild, Uni
Ongoing
4e
Develop appropriate messages to educate students about
the issues of noise, refuse, crime/burglary, ASB and
responsible drinking.
CLO*, Guild, Police, ECC
Ongoing
Educate students about
the responsibilities of
living and socialising in
the community and seek
to discourage anti-social
behaviour
4f
Ensure students are aware of, and able to access high
quality and impartial advice regarding conflicts within their
households or with landlords through the Guild Advice Unit
Guild
Ongoing
5a
Promote the revised Anti-Social Behaviour Policy and
Protocol from the University, Guild, Athletic Union, Police
and Exeter City Council that outlines a joint commitment to
tackling anti-social behaviour
CLO*, Guild, Uni
Police, ECC
Ongoing
5b
Focused campaigns to highlight domestic noise issues
and transient ‘street’ noise in the community
5c
Run alcohol awareness workshops for students negatively
affected by alcohol consumption
5d
Promote Estate Patrol’s increased capacity to deal with
noise/disturbance from student accommodation.
5e
Communicate pre-arrival messages to new students
outlining relevant messages about community life and
expectations and positive local opportunities.
5f
5g
5h
Develop a range of
initiatives to increase
student awareness of
refuse/recycling issues
off-campus
Students encouraged to subscribe to an electronic
community newsletter circulated to students living in
private accommodation – with specific advice and
information about their area.
CLO*, Guild, Police,
ECC, NTEF
Ongoing – with key
focus at the beginning
and end of the
academic year
CLO*, Guild, Uni
Monthly workshops
ongoing (within term
time)
CLO*, Police, ECC
Ongoing
Uni*, CLO, Guild
August 2015
CLO
Ongoing
Student Community Wardens to host ‘community’
information stalls in catered University Accommodation
during term three – encouraging signups for the student
community e-newsletter.
CLO
Student Community Wardens to conduct a series of short
talks in first year lectures towards the end of the academic
year – to remind students about support available to them
in the community
CLO
-
May
2015
2016
2017
-
Term 3
2015
2016
2017
CLO*, Guild
Ongoing
Work with Exeter City Council to promote a clear
‘escalation process’ for dealing with households that
repeatedly contravene refuse/recycling regulations
CLO*, Guild
Ongoing
6a
Student Community Wardens to identify and assist
relevant student households who require guidance with
reduce/recycling regulations.
CLO*, ECC
Ongoing
6b
Targeted termly campaigns to raise the profile of recycling
and refuse issues (see 4e)
CLO*, ECC, Guild,
Uni
Ongoing – with
key focus at the
beginning and
end of each term
6c
Promote city-wide ‘Students On The Move’ campaign at
the end of each academic year to increase recycling and
encourage student uptake of extra University-subsidised
refuse collections
5i
Develop a clear communications plan for seasonal
student-community messages
5j
6d
Student Community Wardens to conduct a bin audit within
key areas of the St James Ward at the beginning of the
academic year.
6e
Collaborate with the City Council to develop a refuse
checking facility on the i-Exeter App
6f
Continue with the successful termly ‘glass-caddy’ scheme
– transporting glass to bottle banks for students without
access to a vehicle.
CLO*, Guild, Police,
ECC
CLO*, Guild, ECC
-
Term 3
2015
2016
2017
Uni*, CLO
September
2015
2016
2017
January 2015
CLO*, Guild
Ongoing
3.
DELIVERING CHANGE
Objective
Actively scan the horizon
for new volunteering and
employment initiatives
required by the local
community; whilst also
ensuring the ongoing
effectiveness of existing
activities
Demonstrate the
outcomes and impacts of
the volunteering work
undertaken by students
and staff
Influence local and
national policy groups,
through focussed
lobbying activities
Ref.
Activities
7a
Review and update database of community partners that
encapsulates all student and staff volunteering.
Guild*, CLO, Uni
Ongoing
7b
Continue to investigate one-off, ‘impact’ days, which will
provide opportunities for students who cannot commit to
long-term projects.
Guild
Ongoing
7c
Maintain the formal agreement between the Students' Guild
and Exeter CVS
Guild
Complete
7d
Conduct an annual audit for all student volunteers; ensuring
they feel equipped with the necessary skills and
opportunities to develop.
Guild
Ongoing
7e
The Athletic Union to continue to deliver the student sports
volunteering scheme in local schools, teaching lunchtime
sport lesson and after school clubs.
AU
Ongoing
7f
The Student Recruitment and Outreach Office will continue
to deliver outreach and recruitment activities with local
schools and colleges through initiatives such as Excellence
in Exeter
Uni
Ongoing
Guild
Ongoing
7g
Ensure that Student ‘Raising and Giving’ (RAG) nominate
one local charity for fundraising each year.
8a
Conduct an annual impact assessment of the volunteering
work undertaken by student-led projects in the community
and produce a report subsequently
Guild
Ongoing
8b
Hold an annual showcase event for the Students' Guild to
demonstrate the value of its student volunteers
Guild
9a
Create opportunities for student enterprise and develop the
entrepreneurial talent on campus; in turn creating new
business that will meet demands in the city
Partnership (Lead*)
Timescale/Frequency
-
January
2015
2016
2017
Guild, Uni
Ongoing
Uni
Ongoing
9b
Exeter Sports Park to continue offering coaching
qualifications to Exeter and Devon residents and swim
teaching courses for local children
Enfranchise & engage
students with local &
national political
processes
10a
Developing links with the National Union of Students and
other lobbying organisations, ensuring the Exeter student
voice is represented nationally.
Guild
Ongoing
10b
Ensure the Guild sabbatical officers meet with local
councillors and the local MP on a regular, structured basis
and build the dialogue between the student community and
local political systems.
Guild
Ongoing
10c
Students Guild to actively promote opportunities for
students to contribute to community plans and public
consultations in the city, via web update and direct contact
from the Student Community Wardens.
Guild
Ongoing
Uni, Guild
Ongoing
10d
4.
SAFETY
Ensure ongoing Uni/Guild presence within each sub-group
of the Exeter Night Time Economy Steering Group.
Objective
Develop a series of
practical solutions that
will enable students to
protect themselves
against crime
Ref.
Activities
13a
Continue to promote ‘Sensexeter’ as a holistic brand for all
campaigning activity relating to the safety of students and
their property in the city
13b
Continue to promote the taxi transport scheme – offering
safe transport to vulnerable students via the University’s
Estate Patrol Office
Partnership (Lead*)
Timescale/Frequency
CLO, Police, Guild
Ongoing
CLO, Guild
Ongoing
Pilot ‘hall committee’ style neighbourhood watch groups for
specific streets in St James
CLO*, Guild
September 2015
14a
Maintain a strategic link between the University, the
Students' Guild and Devon & Cornwall Police, improving
the quality and quantity of contact they have with students.
CLO*, Police, Guild
Ongoing
14b
Play an active role on the Night Time Economy Group, to
ensure that licensees are aware of good practice nationally
regarding student welfare and potential anti-social
behaviour
CLO, Guild
Ongoing
13c
Actively influence local
policy through partnership
working
6.
COMMUNITY COHESION
Objective
Develop projects, policies
and initiatives that that
further support the
integration of students as
active citizens
Promote on-campus
events, activities and
facilities relevant to
permanent City residents
Ref.
Activities
15a
Continued promotion of ref 5.6 of student regulations in
relevant student publications - outlining the importance of
respecting the local community.
15b
Partnership (Lead*)
Timescale/Frequency
CLO, Guild
Ongoing
Continued promotion of the ‘StreetWise’ funding scheme for
community residents and students to develop ‘grass-roots’
projects that address specific community issues
CLO
Ongoing
15c
Manage the Student Community Warden scheme –
providing peer support to students living within the
community
CLO
Ongoing
15d
Ongoing promotion of the Student Community Guide at
relevant information fares and stalls
CLO*, Guild
Ongoing
15e
Promote the annual ’Good Neighbour Award’ to recognise
and reward positive relationships in the community.
Instigate annual ‘community action’ days – bringing
students/permanent locals together to address local ‘issues’
CLO, Guild
Ongoing
15f
Promote an annual term 1‘Meet your Neighbours’ campaign
– emphasising the importance of positive early introductions.
16a
Regular updates provided via the Streetwise Newsletter and
Community pages of the University website
16b
September/October
2015
2016
2017
CLO
Ongoing – distributed
each term
Where appropriate, engage and involve local residents in
cultural celebrations taking place on campus.
CLO*, Guild
Ongoing
16c
Promote a link on the Community pages of the University
website - clearly listing events and activities open to
members of the public
CLO
Ongoing
16d
Create a ‘public events email network’, directing relevant
public activities to network members
CLO
Ongoing (At least one
update per term)
16f
Exeter Sports Park to continue to host open days and
promotional city centre displays to promote sport/wellbeing
activities occurring at the University
AU, Uni
Ongoing