Community events
The University's Community Relations Officer organises a programme of events each year with activities which engage and integrate students with the community to encourage engagement and community spirit.
'Welcome to your Neighbourhood' event
In October 2011 the University held a ‘Welcome to your Neighbourhood’ event where staff, community partners, support services, the Students' Union and local residents were able to meet the new students who have recently moved into the Polygon area.
In a freshers fair style, stands were set up at the Central Baptist Church in the heart of the Polygon to help educate and advise student residents who are getting used to living in a new community. A BBQ was on offer, serving up free food to entice visitors.
It was a good opportunity, taken up by hundreds of students, to get to know their neighbours and to learn from the advice and help that was on offer. Students could also enter a competition to suggest a community spirited idea to integrate both students and non-students residents in the area. We had an overwhelming response and some great ideas to take forward.
Non-student residents were also at the event to share their concerns with the students about the Polygon area. Local resident Julie Gara, who has been living in the Polygon since 1979, praised the event for developing the good relationship between student residents and their neighbours: “The event is so helpful and I think it is important that we can continue this every year, because a lot of the residents in the Polygon are students, and because some of them may leave or go home and new students take up residence. It is essential that we welcome them to the neighbourhood each year so that the right level of community awareness is maintained.”
Student Door-Knocking Events
The University called on student volunteers to take part in a week's worth of door-knocking to inform their peers living in the local area of crime prevention, safety advice, recycling information and community awareness through face-to-face communciation. Student volunteers, staff, Student Ambassadors, PCSOs, Police volunteers and staff from Southampton City Council took to the streets to hand deliver the Student Survival Guide to inform students on key advice, contact details and penalty information. During the event households were also asked about their recyclign habits- we were pleased to hear that students have good recycling regimes and sound knowledge of waste disposal.
Community Suggestion Competition Presentation
At the 'Welcome to your Neighbourhood' event attendees had the chance to enter a competition to suggest a community spirited idea to integrate both students and non-student residents in the area. We had an overwhelming response and some great ideas to take forward. The winning entries were judged by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Van Gore and awarded at a private presentation to show our appreciation of their innovative ideas.
Eco Ernie- 'Big Sort' and 'Big Sale' events
During the student changeover period Eco Ernie, our award-winning recycling eco-float and his volunteer team, attend events each summer to sort through and re-sell the fantastic recyclables our students and local Polygon residents have kindly donated for charity. Local residents get involved alongside student volunteers to help raise money for charities such as Hampshire and IOW Air Ambulance. The project has been a major success in tackling student waste and collections take place for a number of weeks throughout the year.
Christmas 'Say Hello' Community event
Each year community partners and local residents are invited on campus to celebrate their hard work alongside the students throughout the year. This year, the event coinicded with the 'Say Hello' campaign from Solent Students' Union and guests got the chance to view a Christmas film in our state of the art 3D cinema.
'Make a Difference Day'
The Students Union and the University's Careers and Enterprise team are running a speed-volunteering event as part of the national 'Make A Difference Day' on Thursday 27 October.
The community-spirited student volunteers had the chance to create Christmas cards and donate gifts for children and elderly patients who will be in Southampton General Hospital over Christmas. This was a fantastic and engaging opportunity for Solent students to make a difference in the local community.
Black History Month
Each year, the University works alongside the local community to celebrate the annual Black History Month events which take place across the city. In 2011, Professor Van Gore unveiled a plaque to commemorate black music history at a venue in Swaythling, closely followed by an event held by the University on campus to launch the Caribbean Cricket Exhibition and to welcome the Jamaican High Commissioner, His Excellency Anthony Smith Johnson to Southampton.
Sport Relief: The Mile
The University's Community Relations, Health Spark and Sport Solent teams are working alongside Sport Relief and Southampton City Council to support their 'The Mile' fun run to raise funds for the local community on Sunday 25 March 10am. Staff and students are being encouraged to take part and fundraise for the event and see the community benefitting funding be returned to their city. To sign-up for the fancy dress fun run please visit www.sportrelief.com/the-mile|.
Olympic Torch Tour
The Solent Student's Union were honoured to be chosen by the Olympic Committee and Coca-Cola to host the Olympic Torch Tour on campus where students and the local community to hold the official Olympic Torch. The event also saw the nomination of many of our past and present students to become
the official Olympic Torchbearer next year. Local schools were delighted to be invited and involved. Union represenatives have become official project coordinators alongside the Olympic commitee and Coca-Cola to roll out sports projects next year utilising Solent students and the community in Southampton.
Previous Events
Previous events which have involved integrating local communities and students include Chinese New Year where the campus was brough to life with music, food and dance to celebrate.
For more information on community events please contact student.link@solent.ac.uk