Join the Advice & Welfare Exec

Welfare: Physical and mental health and happiness.

Our Advice & Welfare exec empower and represent the health and wellbeing of their peers within the student community. Any time that you can volunteer to the VP Welfare, and Student Advice Service, have the potential to completely change someone’s university experience.

Student Advice and the Vice President Welfare are recruiting a team of approachable, enthusiastic and passionate students to join the Student Advice and Welfare Executive, who are comfortable speaking to a wide range of students and are interested in student welfare and wellbeing. We aim to be a ‘force for good’ in the student community and we want you to join us!

The Exec is a committee of engaged students from across Cardiff University who will work with Student Advice and the Vice President Welfare to promote the Student Advice department and the welfare-related campaigns that run throughout the year. This is an unpaid voluntary opportunity that will provide help and support to a wide range of students and provide signposting and guidance, both in the office and when campaigning (don’t worry – training will be provided).

 Joining the Exec will give you a real say in how the Students’ Union approaches issues of student wellbeing and will provide you with many opportunities to develop your skills outside of your degree, making a real impact in the process. It’s also a great opportunity to make friends with likeminded individuals and get involved with the Student Advice team and what we do.

We’re looking for individuals who:
 

• Work confidently on their own and in a team.
• Are happy and able to offer flexible hours.
• Get on well with a wide variety of people from various, diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrate empathy and emotional awareness for students in the University community.
• Are willing to learn and develop their understanding of student issues, particularly surrounding welfare and advice.
• Acknowledge the importance of confidentiality when students approach the Student Advice service or disclose their concerns.
• Promote equal opportunities.
• Have strong communication, organisational and IT skills.
• Are looking to make a real difference to the student experience through their contributions to the Exec and campaigns run by VP Welfare.

You would need to commit to attending at least one weekly meeting in-person (time to be confirmed) and a weekly 3 hour shift on our Student Advice Enquiry Desk. We are a busy service, and we provide advice and support to thousands of students annual, which not only provides an opportunity to learn new skills, but is also great experience to develop to your CV.

We will also be running preventative, welfare-based campaigns throughout the year, such as our Housing campaign where we aim to inform and educate students before they sign for a property. The VP Welfare is also developing plans for a Sober Social Week, and the Big Unwind 2022/23 which we would love you to take part in.

Throughout your time on the Exec, we will want to hear any ideas you have for campaigns or initiatives that matter to you.

Of course, we’ll also be encouraging you to get involved with the social activities that will be available as a part of the Exec! These activities will be fully inclusive, and all efforts made to ensure accessibility.

 If this sounds like you, please complete an application using this webform, no later than 2nd October 2022.

There’s no need to commit at this stage – we’ll be in touch to arrange a telephone with you interview so you can ask us any questions and we can make sure this is the right opportunity for you.

What's in it for you?

We look after our Advice & Welfare Exec! As well as being warmly welcomed into the Students' Union family, you'll become an integral part of one of the most proactive forces working to enhance the student experience and student welfare at Cardiff University.

• As well as the chance to make a difference, the Advice and Welfare Exec will all get:
• A Student Advice Lanyard and key card access to the Students’ Union Building (does not include free access to club-nights)
• Mental Health First Aid training from experienced Student Advice staff
• The opportunity to design, coordinate and take part in Campaign activity that is designed to have a positive impact on student wellbeing.
• An extra-degree CV reference from Student Advice
• Socials with other volunteers around the SU
• The opportunity to use the hours you volunteer towards a Diploma of Professional Development in Leadership or your Cardiff Award.

The best thing you'll get from being a part of Advice & Welfare Exec is a load of friends who you would have never otherwise met. Being a part of something extraordinary, with fantastic people and a legacy of improvement is what we can offer you.

What are we asking for?

Joining the Advice & Welfare Exec is a totally manageable commitment. We recognise that you'll have other things going on during the year and so we won’t expect anything from you during the run up to exams. We ask everyone on the team:
 

1. To be available and commit to weekly training and meeting, starting on 11th October. Further training dates will be arranged throughout the year.
   NB: Historically it has been on a Tuesday evening, 17:15 and 19:00.
    
2. Enthusiasm and passion for the Students' Union, the student experience and student welfare.
    
3. To attend a weekly shift on the Student Advice Enquiry Desk.
   NB: Historically, these shifts have been 3 hours long.

This isn’t a paid role, however you would become an expert in Student Advice and have a much greater understanding of all the various paid opportunities from the SU through the year. So, it’s definitely an investment in yourself.

The first campaign we have planned is Housing Week, running across November. This year, we have teamed up with Shelter Cymru to encourage students to disclose any issues they have with their student accommodation with a view to getting it sorted.

For the first week of November, we will arrange all volunteers into teams, to travel around the halls of residence to knock on doors and promote this Cardiff Students’ Union/Shelter Cymru survey to help us build a picture of Cardiff student accommodation.

We need you to help us deliver that message, with leaflets and letters inviting students to take part in the movement, and to visit the Student Advice service if they need specific housing advice.

Further to our Housing Campaign, your VP Welfare has a whole host of initiatives that you can support, that address issues ranging from student safety and wellbeing, to tackling loneliness and building new communities.

Does this sound like something you could be good at?

Simply complete this webform, telling us a little bit more about you and why you would like to get involved with the Advice & Welfare Exec - it's that easy!

One of our team will be in touch with you shortly after the closing date of 2nd October 2022. We look forward to meeting you!

Contact Student Advice

Advice@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 (0)2920 781410