Student Feedback
The SCP (a partnership between B&NES Council, the University of Bath, Bath Spa University and their Students’ Unions) recently gathered feedback from students using questionnaires and discussions to find out how much they know about the SCP and about their experience of living in Bath.
We spoke to nearly 50 students on a range of issues including housing, transport and safety. Comments have been fed back to the Police, Council and/or the Universities and Students’ Unions. Feedback will also be used to inform our action plan for 2011/12.
We have pulled out some key themes and offered feedback below:
Raising awareness about the SCP
Although many of the students that we spoke to were aware of our publications and campaigns such as the 'Being a Good Neighbour’ booklet and the ‘Don’t make it a night to regret’ campaign, we identified that we need to do more awareness raising about what the SCP is and the other things that we do.
Feedback suggested email and links from Students’ Union and University websites as ways to promote the SCP. We already send regular information via Students’ Union newsletters/email bulletins and have links from University (accommodation) and Students’ Union pages. However, Facebook and Twitter were also suggested and this is something that we will focus on for the next academic year. As a result of your feedback we are also planning to have more information stalls on the campuses and display more posters.
Housing
Some students highlighted a need for information about house hunting in the private sector.The SCP produces the Bath Student Accommodation Guide which goes out to students at housing forums which are run by Accommodation Offices in December (University of Bath) and January (Bath Spa University). They are also sent out electronically via both Students’ Unions. The Guide has useful information about house hunting, including a checklist about what to look for when you visit a property and information about the B&NES Accreditation Scheme. Student feedback highlighted that whilst the majority of you are aware of this publication, there is still work to do in promoting it. Click here to check it out for yourself.
Students also wanted to know where to go for advice and support linked to any housing issues. University of Bath students can contact the Advice & Representation Centre in the Students’ Union, Tel: 01225 386906 and Bath Spa University Students can contact Student Housing Services on 01225 875843.
Waste/Recycling
Some feedback suggested for more information to be available to students about how to contact B&NES Council if you need a replacement bin, green box etc. During the academic year the B&NES Waste Awareness Officer works closely with the SCP to disseminate information to students through email bulletins/newsletters, stalls during freshers week and on campus throughout the year, the SCP website and publications such as the Being a Good Neighbour booklet and Bath Student Accommodation Guide. We also work together on an end-of-term Moving Out campaign. The Waste Awareness Officer also undertakes door knocking exercises throughout Bath during the year. We hope to continue to build on all of the above during the next academic year.
It was also suggested that food waste bags should be given out for free but due to cost this is not possible. However, using newspaper is a free alternative. For more information go to www.bathnes.gov.uk/foodwaste
There was some positive feedback from students about B&NES Rubbish, Recycling and Waste Services and that the information given out during the end-of-term Moving Out campaign last year was very useful.
Transport
Some issues raised by students included buses not being on time, cost of bus tickets and needing better transport links to and from particular areas.
All comments have been fed back to the SU Presidents at both Students’ Unions, as they have meetings throughout the year with the bus companies to communicate and work towards solutions for issues that have been raised.
If you are a student at Bath Spa University and would like to contact the SU President and/or bus company directly in the future click here.
If you are a student at the University of Bath you can feed back any future comments directly to the SU President at SUpresident@bath.ac.uk
The development of the path used by cyclists at Combe Down (University of Bath students) was also raised. The SU President at the University of Bath Students’ Union has been working with B&NES Council to try to make improvements to the path and as a result, the path has now been widened. This project is ongoing.
Safety
Comments about safety have been fed back to the Police and the Universities. However, personal safety and home security were the main issues raised. Bath is a safe city, but low crime doesn’t mean no crime, so it is important that we continue to communicate safety messages to students throughout the year.
The SCP includes personal and home safety messages in the Bath Student Accommodation Guide and Being a Good Neighbour Booklet. Information about personal and home safety is given to students at various points during the year at inductions, housing forums, freshers week and various student-led campaigns. At Bath Spa University, Student Watch volunteers have led awareness campaigns about personal, home and property safety and at the University of Bath the Advice & Representation Centre in the Students’ Union run Think Week where these messages are given out. Information from the Police is also disseminated to students throughout the year via both Students’ Union websites/email bulletins and newsletters. The SCP will continue to work with the Police to communicate these messages effectively.
In the community
Feedback identified various ways of students wanting to get more involved in their local community. This included a suggestion of working with TimebankVolunteering. Initial contact has been made and a meeting will be set up over the summer to discuss possible ways of promoting Timebank to students.
Another suggestion was to get students involved in litter picks in the local area. The SCP has linked up with a local community project in Oldfield Park and B&NES Council to organise litter picks in the local area. We will continue to use feedback from students and residents about particular areas to focus on.
It was clear from student feedback that having a good relationship with neighbours is important. In the Being a Good Neighbour booklet (that we send out to all students moving into private rented at the beginning of term) there are some useful tips about how to establish good relationships as a starting point.
If you would like to know more or have any further feedback for us please contact the Community Liaison Co-ordinator for the SCP at l.kelly@bath.ac.ukor 01225 385113.
