Solent University takes its role within the community very seriously, especially in residential areas where the student population is high.
The majority of our first-year students live in student residences, but for the remainder of their studies, most move into privately rented housing. Many houses in the Polygon area are occupied by a mix of people, from students, to non-student residents of all ages, meaning community relations is very important.
We are aware of the impact students can have on the local community and spend considerable time on pro-community campaigns to raise awareness among the student body about their responsibilities as part of the local community.
Together with the Students' Union, our External Relations team works closely with Southampton City Council and Hampshire Police to try and resolve any problems and to create positive awareness campaigns on being a good neighbour.
If you're a local resident and you've incurred a problem (for example noise nuisance or anti-social behaviour) from groups believed to be Solent University's students, you're advised to contact Southampton City Council's Environmental Health team in the first instance.
For community relations enquiries please contact student.link@solent.ac.uk or 023 8201 3038.
Community support
Solent University recognises the role it can play in building healthy, prosperous communities, and actively supports a number of local voluntary sector organisations. From sharing our skills and expertise with organisations to helping with community events, we can get involved in a number of ways. If you have a community event or initiative and would like to access support from Solent, please complete this short form.
Community meetings
The University liaises with community partners and the local authorities on a variety of issues affecting the local community and our student body. If there are any student-related issues, the authorities will feed these back to us and we will then address them through co-agency working.
PACT (Partners and Community Together Meeting)
Local agencies meet to discuss local issues and the Police will inform us of any issues affecting the student body, either on campus or throughout the city. Partner agencies agree the main priorities for the area and how we can work together to tackle them.
Safer Students Forum
The Safer Students Forum forms a joined-up approach to community issues affecting students and discusses locally workable solutions. Previous issues have included noise, refuse and personal safety.
The group brings together both of Southampton’s universities, as well as colleges, students’ unions, Police, elected representatives and Southampton City Council staff. Regular forum meetings are held to discuss community items on joint university and students’ union liaison agendas and to provide an institutional presence on key city and council committees.
Discussions have led to a coordinated Police presence in the community at key points in the year, additional refuse collections, and joint campaigns on noise, crime and alcohol awareness.
To find out more please contact student.link@solent.ac.uk.
Community events
The University organises various events throughout the academic year to help integrate students with their local community, encourage community engagement and foster community spirit.
Student Life Fair
Held in September as part of Freshers' Fair, the event features community initiatives, welfare advice and volunteering opportunities to welcome new and returning students, with stalls from local agencies and charities.
Black History Month
Each year, the University works alongside the local community to celebrate Black History Month, supporting the cultural celebration of Southampton. Various events take place throughout the city.
Street CRED
Helping to educate and inform students about community awareness, including recycling, crime prevention and safety advice, Street CRED relies on volunteers to support staff from Southampton City Council and Hampshire Police who take to the streets to meet students face-to-face. To volunteer to take part in Street CRED days, contact student.link@solent.ac.uk.
Volunteering
At Solent University we're committed to playing a key role in the economic, social, environmental and cultural development of our local communities. We recognise and value volunteering and participation as being at the heart of our role within the community.
Volunteering provides excellent opportunities for students to develop their personal and professional skills, gain valuable work experience, and make a real difference to the wider community, all while boosting their CV.
The University works closely with a number of public and private sector organisations, as well as community and voluntary groups across the city, and we're able to provide a wide range of opportunities for students to broaden and enhance their learning through involvement in the community.
Activities are varied and can include mentoring in schools, sports coaching, organising events, working with the Police, promotion and fundraising, teaching and research, working with young people, music and arts projects and improving the environment.
Students can also link their volunteering activities with their academic studies and future careers by taking the Community Volunteering Unit. This gives formal recognition for their achievements and additional credits towards their final degree. There are also other accreditation pathways available to encourage students to maximise their potential through volunteering activities.
Solent Students' Union actively promotes volunteering opportunities and in 2014 became the first Students' Union in the country to hold a Duke of Edinburgh Licence. Other volunteering opportunities include the Down to Earth Farm and Solent buddy scheme.
If you are interested in volunteering in the community, please contact: student.involvement@solent.ac.uk
Southampton FC partnership
Our partnership with Southampton FC has steadily grown throughout the many years in which the club, our staff and our students have enjoyed productive working relationships. This partnership includes a variety of activities involving our students.
Pre-season fitness testing
Students from our BSc (Hons) Applied Sport Science course assist our teaching staff with testing the players' fitness in our BASES-accredited sport science labs. Players are put through their paces to help the Saints sport scientists analyse their fitness levels before the season starts. Testing includes endurance challenges on the VO2 Max machine, which sees the players pushed to their physical limit while oxygen in their bodies is monitored and blood samples are taken.
Volunteer coaches for the Saints Foundation
Our qualified coaching students volunteer with the Saints Foundation, supporting and sustaining a wide variety of community-based projects, including, Barclays Premier League Works, Premier League Enterprise and Saints4Sport.
Work experience
Southampton FC also provides great work experience opportunities for our students, allowing them to apply the theory they've learnt to real-life situations. This not only includes internships for our sport science students, our journalism students have also been able to support the Saints media team with post-match interviews with players and coaches for the U21 and Development Squad games.
Employing our graduates
Many of our graduates have gone on to work for the club in a variety of roles, ranging from football development officers, analysts and coaches, to event coordinators.
Sport Solent in the Community
Sport Solent in the Community is a registered charity that supports sports initiatives to benefit the local community in Hampshire.
The charity funds a small grant scheme to enable individuals and local community groups to deliver projects focussed around sport and physical activity to help people develop their skills and advance their education, as well as providing recreational and leisure time activities in the interests of social welfare.
Set up by Solent University in 2011, Sport Solent in the Community awards grants for bids from £100 up to £1,000 for items such as sports equipment, training, coaching, and venue hire, to support sports and physical activity programmes.
Several local clubs have already benefitted from Sport Solent in the Community grants, including Southampton Children's Play Association, YMCA Newtown Youth Centre, and the Hurricanes Rugby Club.
Read about the funding received by local organisations
To find out more about Sport Solent in the Community, visit Active Nation Southampton, which is a partnership of organisations working together to promote sport and physical activity across the city.
How to apply
Download and complete the application form.
Before you apply, please read the application guidelines.
Donate
If you would like to donate to Sport Solent in the Community, you can do so online.
If you have fundraising ideas that will help more clubs and organisations, please email solent.sport@solent.ac.uk.
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