ASRA Hour: Virtual Events in 2021!

We've missed you all over the last  year, and it won't be too long hopefully before we see each other again soon. In the meantime, we recognise the importance of staying in touch and supporting our members.

On the first Wednesday of each month, we've set aside some time to host #AsraHour , a series of presentations and webinars about all things student accommodation related. Scroll down to find out more and how to get copies of the recordings, if you weren't able to make the sessions.

If you haven't had a chance to stop by so far, here's a summary of discussions so far (get in touch with Poppy,  your ASRA IT & Communications Officer poppy.humphrey@manchester.ac.uk) :

Wednesday 7th July 2021

Sarah Reynolds, Area Manager, The Unite Group hosted a virtual roundtable discussion with members to discuss any issues of concern, reflections on the past 18 months and planning for the future. key issues such as health and wellbeing and student support were covered. We'll continue to host these sessions for any colleagues that work in or have links with student accommodation.



Wednesday 2nd June 2021

ASRA were lucky to have the lovely team from Goldsmith Student Support Services talking to us about Boundaries. Mike Bryant and Alex Stanton discussed Student Support in halls; effective help & effective boundaries.



Wednesday 5th May 2021

Simon Ford, Programme Director at the Violence and Vulnerability Unit (VVU), presented on the work of the VVU, on behalf the Home Office, to address issues around Country Lines. There is an increasing issue in the UK with gangs and a method of drug dealing which is called 'County Lines'. County Lines is a criminal activity where drug gangs target and exploit vulnerable people, to undertake drug dealing and associated criminal behaviour. In the last year or two, this activity is being recognised not just in local communities, but in and around higher education sites and student accommodation. Simon oversees a national team of subject matter experts commissioned by the UK Government to support localities that are challenged by gangs and county lines. Simon’s presentation focussed on gangs and county lines, methods used and why students are being targeted. And importantly, the support on offer from the Violence and Vulnerability Unit.

Wednesday 6th April 2021

Spencer Davies is the Head of Advice and Response at the University of Manchester.  He leads a number of student support areas which include support for students with Gender-Based Violence, Hate Crime, Domestic Violence and other complex issues.  He has over twenty years’ experience in education, working within FE and HE institutions and with other agencies to safeguard students and to promote their right to thrive.  His work also includes Conduct and Discipline, and this session will look at how work in student Conduct and Discipline has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic – the challenges, the headlines, and the question we’re all asking ourselves… will there ever be a return to ‘normal’?  

Wednesday 3rd March 2021

Sarah Reynolds,  Area Manager at Unite, and ASRA Regional Rep, hosted the first ever #AsrAHour. The session is all about our own personal Wellbeing and Sarah shares some insight that Unite Students have pulled together along with the help of the Heathy Work company.

For a copy of the recordings, please contact poppy.humphrey@manchester.ac.uk



And don't forget, ASRA is all about our members, and offering you continued support, so we'd be delighted to hear from you about topics and themes that you'd be keen to hear more about.