We interview Activities Exec Fiona Metcalfe on how to help your society.

What does your job involve?

My job is to oversee the 300 plus clubs and societies and to help and facilitate them to be the best that they can.

Why do you think it is important for students to join a society?

They are a fantastic way to make friends and meet like-minded people, to discover what your passions are. They give you valuable transferable skills. I gained a lot more skills through experience with societies that I could take into the workplace than I did on my course!

Have you got specific plans this year to build and increase the popularity of societies?

In comparison to this time last year, we already have 1,100 more people signed up, so we are already doing really well. By the end of last year we had over 20,000 memberships, I would like to build on that.

Do you have any specific tips for choosing a society?

I would look at the GIAG programme, because that shows sessions which are either heavily discounted or free, so you aren’t committing to the sign up fees which can build up. You can go and have a taste of different ones and then choose your favourites.

Do you have advice for societies on how to promote themselves?

Social media is where everyone is. Utilise the Union platforms. You can have you posters on the big A-zero boards, and the television screens in the Terrace and the Union foyer where you can advertise for free.  You can get overloaded with flyers and I think people often pick them up and put then straight in the bin.

I am hoping to talk to the guys in the Edge and get the student radio bookmarked onto the machines to see how we can utilise the machines in there to advertise societies.

Working with halls of residences is good as well. And the student radio, the student paper…Lots of ways!

(Email society@thegryphon.co.uk for more info on how to advertise with us.)