October has been another brilliant month for student groups at Huddersfield Students' Union. From building community partnerships and planning a packed programme of events, to fundraising for important causes and making sport more accessible, our societies and clubs have been making a real impact.
Each month, we'll be highlighting the groups who have gone above and beyond, celebrating the work they're doing and the communities they're building.
Our October winners
Society of the Month: 3DPS
As always, this unassuming group are well organised. They are easy to work with, communicate brilliantly and make the most of the opportunities and support available to them.
3DPS have had a fantastic month, combining thoughtful planning with a real commitment to giving their members opportunities to get involved.
The committee have met with Students' Union staff to organise the term and plan ahead for the year, making sure they are in a strong position for the months to come.
They also make excellent use of their society funds, ensuring that the resources available to them support meaningful activity for their members.
One of the highlights has been the relationship they have nurtured with the Canal & River Trust. This long-term project is developing alongside their weekly sessions, which bring 3D printing to life for members.
They are consistently a pleasure to work with, and we're looking forward to seeing what they achieve next.
Global Group of the Month: Palestine
This group of students are problem solvers! They anticipate challenges and come to us with solutions instead of problems. They are an absolute delight to work with.
The Palestine group have continued the fantastic legacy of previous committee members, showing initiative, thoughtfulness and a positive approach to their work.
The committee are proactive and solutions-focused, anticipating challenges and working with Students' Union staff to find ways forward. Their communication and approach make them a brilliant group to support.
They are an absolute delight to work with, and we look forward to seeing their future events and plans take shape.
Academic Society of the Month: Occupational Therapy (OT)
OT have been nothing short of amazing this month! Their planning and organisation have been extremely strong, with 11 Student-Led Event Form submissions for events across Term 1.
From guest speakers and arts and crafts to fundraisers, study sessions and collaborative events, OT have put together a well thought-out programme for Term 1.
Their plans show a real commitment to supporting not only their own members, but other societies too. There is a brilliant range of activities on the horizon, creating opportunities for students to learn, connect and get involved.
Thank you for your ongoing communication, your enthusiasm and for being amazing to work with. A huge well done to the OT committee!
Sports Group of the Month: Women's Football
An incredibly successful October, with brilliant charity fundraising, inclusive opportunities to try a new sport and strong progress across both BUCS teams.
Making a difference through charity
During October, Women's Football dedicated a lot of time and effort to charity. They worked with the Women’s Network for the Women in Sports Charity Sports Day and supported CoppaFeel as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The charity sports day was a fantastic success, with more than 50 participants taking part in a school-style sports day. A raffle featuring prizes from over ten sponsors helped raise £125 for Women in Sports.
The club also ran a sponsored CoppaFeel session, which has raised £115 so far. A brilliant effort from everyone involved!
Creating opportunities for everyone
On the pitch, Women's Football have been successfully running women-only futsal social sessions, giving players of all abilities a fun and safe space to try a new sport. The sessions regularly attract more than 10 attendees.
Progress on the pitch
In BUCS, the 1s have already made great progress, winning their first two league matches 3-0 against Sheffield and 5-0 against Leeds Trinity. They also put in a competitive performance against Leeds Beckett 2s in the cup, a team two tiers above them.
Meanwhile, the 2s have comfortably fielded teams in their first three fixtures of the year. This highlights fantastic progress compared with last year, when the club often struggled to field even one team.
Also making an impact
There have been plenty of other groups having a brilliant October, and we wanted to give a special mention to Hudds Motorsport and Women's Rugby Union (WRU) for everything they've been getting up to.
Hudds Motorsport
Hudds Motorsport have been busy building their team and getting new members race-ready ahead of the British Universities Karting Championship qualifying round in November.
At their first BUKC test day at Whilton Mill, they took 15 drivers, 10 of whom had never driven that type of kart before. Six of those 10 new drivers achieved their race licence by the end of the day, meaning the society now has at least 12 drivers available to race, including three alumni.
Some team members are also planning a trip to Buckmore Park in Kent to get more practice and give those who were not yet successful another opportunity to achieve their licences.
Alongside the racing, the society have been hosting socials and running a sim-racing leaderboard, which has seen significant participation from new members. Their latest karting event at Parkwood in Sheffield was also well received, with attendees keen to come back despite tricky weather conditions.
There are plenty more plans in the pipeline, including another quiz, a joint social with 3DPS, race watchalongs and opportunities to get involved with other societies' events.
Women's Rugby Union (WRU)
It has been a super exciting and busy month for the Hornets as they prepare for their first BUCS game of the season in early November.
The team have made fantastic progress, developing players who have never picked up a rugby ball before and helping them build the skills and confidence needed to take part in their first game. Committee members have also been speaking to players one-to-one to support anyone feeling nervous about trying a new sport, particularly one as intense as rugby.
In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the club hosted a wear-pink training session, alongside a Wednesday night social and a joint quiz and raffle with Dance Society, all with the aim of raising money for breast cancer awareness.
Committee members have also taken part in first responder and concussion awareness courses, helping them better understand the risks associated with rugby and support members' safety.
The Hornets have also been out supporting other societies at charity events and cheering on matches, including Women's Football, Volleyball and Rugby League. A brilliant example of student groups supporting one another!
Want to get involved?
There are lots of ways to get involved with student groups at Huddersfield Students' Union, whether you want to join an existing group or start something new.
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