Partnering in learning

Formed in 2019, Organised Fun are the only national specialists in student opportunities: societies, clubs, student media, fundraising, volunteering, and student development. They offer services to students’ unions, universities and the charity & voluntary sectors. They believe that student opportunities should be inclusive, enjoyable, and impactful. 

 

Rosie is the Founder of Organised Fun, the home for Student Opportunities in the UK. Before founding Organised Fun, she worked for the National Union of Students as the Student Opportunities Consultant. Before then, she was the Societies & Student Development Coordinator at Swansea University Students’ Union. Rosie is a serious Student Opportunities fan, having found a home in societies and fundraising whilst studying a history degree at Swansea University. She’s been a volunteer since childhood and is now Vice-Chair of the local skatepark committee.

 

Student Opportunities 101 - Training

The 'Student Opportunities 101' training (powered by NUS Charity) covers what and who you need to know to love your work in the wonderful world of societies, sport, fundraising, volunteering and student media.

 

New to student opportunities?

• Are you taking your first steps into the exciting world of student opportunities?
• Have you got a new starter in your Opportunities or Activities team?
• Perhaps you're a manager from a background in representation or communications, and now you're responsible for opportunities too?

This training will give learners a ‘roadmap’ of Student Opportunities; where Organised Fun explain the acronyms and jargon, talk about impact and outline how to support volunteers in a students’ union context. 

 

Crucially, this training covers the fundamentals of running an opportunities service, including charity and media law, volunteer and risk management. You will come away knowing what to expect working in opportunities and which areas to focus on to get the basics right. 

 

To review the training content outline please click here.

 

Learning objectives 

1. The activities and organisations that make up Student Opportunities and their history 
2. The students’ union and Student Opportunities; how finances are distributed, decisions made and the annual ‘cycle’ of students’ union life
3. The basics of risk management, media and charity law and how to support volunteers 
4. The principles underpinning good Student Opportunities 
5. The jargon, acronyms & terms used daily in students’ unions and Student Opportunities teams  

 

Who should attend

• New Student Opportunities staff – perhaps it’s your first job or you’re new to working in students’ unions. 
• Student Opportunities Managers - particularly for those new to student opportunities coming from an advice or representation background
• Senior leaders with responsibility for Student Opportunities - understanding what your team need to know to operate a successful opportunities department

 

Event details

The training costs £80 per delegate + VAT and you will receive: 

 

• 3 hours digital live training with an Organised Fun student opportunities specialist. All of the trainers have multiple years of experience working in the student opportunities sector
• A training workbook to accompany the learning with extra information & space for your notes 
• Learning with other Student Opportunities staff across the UK - great for sharing ideas and forming support network

 

What people have said about this training:

• ‘Rosie from Organised Fun is a brilliant trainer and very very knowledgeable.’
• 'I loved getting to chat to other SU staff in similar roles.'
• The most useful part of the training for me was learning about the background/history of students’ unions and the underlying principles that are often unspoken.
• 'The session was really interactive and engaging and the facilitator did a fab job of encouraging everyone to discuss their thoughts and processes.'
• ‘The most useful part of the training for me was networking with other union professionals, gaining insight into the different roles they have and how our unions differ’
• 'It was great to refresh my knowledge on charity law' 
• 'It was very detailed and well planned in terms of splitting up the 'talking' sections with the breakout rooms.'
• 'The most useful part of the training for me was the legal stuff, and getting a better idea of what I need to worry about vs what trustees need to worry about.'

 

2023/24 cohorts

Please see below dates and times the ‘Student Opportunities 101’ training is running.

Please note: all sessions will take place online over Zoom, and learners only need to attend one session.

 

·  Thursday 5 December 2024, 9:30-12:30 (Winter)

 

Register to attend one of the training sessions 

 

 

Any questions, please email the team learningdevelopment@nus.org.uk