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Not A Luxury: How BGSU is tackling period poverty
In December 2022, I created the ‘Not a Luxury’ campaign following a difficult interaction with a student who had found herself in a desperate situation. Despite its negative origins, my hope is that the campaign will have a positive impact for everyone at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU). I was working in my office when a group of students knocked on my door. I answered the door to be met by two young female students, one of whom was visibly upset and being encouraged to speak by her friend. When she gathered the breath to speak, she asked me if I had a tampon. Thankfully, I did. This brief interaction left me thinking of a few things: why do students feel like they can’t ask for what I would consider to be a totally normal request? And why are these products not readily available to those who need them? After some research I found that in 2022, nearly one in eight women in the UK struggled to buy menstrual products for themselves and/or a dependant. This began a personal mission for me to not only provide free period products for staff and students, but also to raise awareness for the issue of period poverty and destigmatise the use of these products. This is because nearly half (46%) of women who struggled to afford sanitary products in the last six months kept sanitary pads or tampons in for longer or used tissues (46%). 10% doubled up their underwear. The ‘Not a Luxury’ scheme aims to provide free period products to all staff and students via bathroom stalls, by placing a small bag of products in a sign-posted stall in a publicly accessed toilet. It also aims to de-stigmatise the use and discussion of these products through raising awareness and encouraging open discussion. This scheme been designed to grow and evolve to respond to the needs of the BGU community. Starting with the product distribution on campus and with the next aim to increase the number of sanitary bins in the toilets on campus. I am very proud to say that this scheme is not alone. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with student leaders from all around the UK at the NUS National Conference. It was at this conference where I was asked to speak about the ‘Not a Luxury’ campaign. This was received very well and presented an opportunity for other student leaders to discuss their own, similar schemes with some even going as far as to refer to BGSU as a ‘trailblazer in inclusivity’. Attending the NUS conference To succeed, this campaign needs continued support from both staff and students. The main motivation of the campaign is to provide products to those who might not otherwise be able to access them or purchase them. It’s just one way that BGSU is trying to help people who need it, with zero-judgement. The ‘Not a Luxury’ campaign has been fostering understanding, providing much-needed products to those who need them, and shining a light on gender non-exclusive use of period products. To show your support or for more information email connor.short@bishopg.ac.uk or come to the student’s union building and ask for Connor. Period products are a right, not a luxury. -
Unique art exhibition comes to BGU
If you visit the Robert Hardy Building on campus, you will discover a selection of artworks each created by prisoners at HMP Morton Hall as part of their 12-week art programme. Last week the exhibition launched and had an auction for specific pieces during opening night. The University collaborated with PeoplePlus UK to make this happen and from a social purpose and perspective, working closely with HMP Morton Hall helps support individuals to realise their ambitions and create positive change in their communities and beyond. While open to all, the art studio supports prisoners with mental health issues and those struggling to participate in the prison’s mainstream education and training programmes. As part of rehabilitation, offenders undertake art sessions providing space to be creative and work with others in a safe environment. This exhibition provided the opportunity to showcase their innovative creations and reinforces the message that something positive can come out of prison life. "When I draw or paint, it takes away the negative thoughts. I feel like I’ve found a new talent within myself that’s helping me grow out of my issues and keeps me away from insecurities I had before the course." Allison Webb, Director of Business & Community Engagement, said "it is a special exhibition that gives the prisoners a voice" and Gillian Johnston (Programme Lead for Sociology and Criminology) stated at the opening night: "Criminology is a new and exciting discipline for us at BGU, so when this initiative was first mooted a few months ago I jumped at the chance for us, as an institution and at a programme level, to be involved. It cannot be underestimated just how important these initiatives are in fostering relationships between organisations. Being able to collaborate with HMP Morton Hall on this important project is a delight for me and I hope this is the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship between us." Samantha Boothman the Head of Education, Skills and Work at HMP Morton Hall said "we are delighted to be working with BGU on this unique event and very much looking forward to further collaboration." Overall the auction raised £560 and these funds will go to Victim Support, Ambers Army (The PeoplePlus recognised charity for 2024), the prisoner who created the artwork, and for a new art studio kiln. The majority of the remaining artwork is for sale and the viewing public can buy item(s) through the silent auction process. Information on how to do this can be found in the foyer of the Robert Hardy Building. "The art course is purposefully unaccredited; this enables men to learn not just about art and new techniques, but also to develop wider skills without being pressured to pass an exam. Everyone is able to work at their own pace and is guided to follow their own creative pathway. The art room is a space where the men can spend time out of their cell and share thoughts, worries and ideas whilst also developing their creativity. For many it is the first time they have experienced a classroom and using a pencil or paint brush. They are encouraged to help each other to be their best selves. I witness time and again how creativity and kindness to one another can totally change people for the better and improve their mental wellbeing." Karen Sharples – Art Lecturer at HMP Morton Hall. PeoplePlus UK deliver the educational provision at the prison and you can watch their short video Bringing the Inside, Out which explains their purpose further. The exhibition runs from the 30th of May until 13th of June 2024 in the Robert Hardy Building, BGU. -
BGU historian rediscovers long-lost Lincolnshire author
Bishop Grosseteste University's (BGU) Professor Andrew Jackson (Executive Dean: Research & Knowledge Exchange) has just published a book on Bernard Samuel Gilbert, who was an outstanding author whose name is all but forgotten today. The book arises from a rediscovery of Gilbert’s work and the volume is an important new study that seeks to re-establish the writer’s reputation. Gilbert was born in Billinghay in Lincolnshire in 1882 and was returned there for burial following his death in 1927. He wrote prolifically from around the age of thirty up to his death at forty-five. Gilbert’s literature spans poetry, novels, plays, tracts on agriculture, political pamphlets, and newspaper columns. He wrote of contemporary Lincolnshire and rural England, life and work on the land, and country customs and beliefs. Gilbert's First World War Home Front poetry in dialect and his fenland fiction and verse are extraordinary. Furthermore, his emerging multi-volume scheme – his ‘Old England’, a ‘Gilbert Country’ even – is quite remarkable. The book has been published by the Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, History of Lincolnshire Committee, and is available through the SLHA Bookshop, Jews Court, 2/3 Steep Hill, Lincoln. For further information, please contact booksales@slha.org.uk, or go to www.slha.org.uk. -
Dr Tim Galsworthy provides expert comment on presidential inauguration in the United States of America
Lecturer in History and Military History and Expert in modern political history in the USA, has been called to publicly comment on the recent presidential inauguration. -
BGU Lecturer awarded globally recognised fellowship
Dr Tim Galsworthy, Lecturer in History and Military History at BGU, was awarded the Elisha and Elizabeth Atkins Memorial Research Travel Fellowship. -
New Head to Lead Psychology Degree at BGU
An academic who specialises in how arts activity can facilitate mental wellbeing is leading the new Psychology degree course at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln. Olivia Sagan has moved from University College London (UCL) to take up the post of Academic Co-ordinator for Psychology at BGU. For the first time from September 2013 BGU undergraduates will be able to combine the study of psychology with another degree subject, such as drama, history or sport. Olivia’s background in fine art and her work with mental health and community organisations mean she will bring a fresh approach to the teaching of psychology. “Psychology at BGU has got a particular flavour and draws on expertise in education, special educational needs, drama, arts and sport,” said Olivia . “We are really focusing on the arts and therapies, and social, developmental and community psychology. That makes it quite distinctive from other courses. “This focus, with its eye on community applicability, reflects my research and background in art and engagement with disadvantaged groups in the community.” Interest in the new course has been encouraging, says Olivia. “Those who have expressed an interest on the course are mainly those who want to go into education but who want to keep other doors open,” she said. “They may be interested in drama therapy, or they may want to apply a social psychological understanding to historical events; sport and psychology and English and psychology are also good combinations.” Olivia, a chartered psychologist, began her career as a psychodynamic counsellor but moved into education, becoming first a senior lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire and then a researcher at the Institute of Education in London, where she gained her PhD. She then took a post as Senior Research Fellow at the University of the Arts London before being appointed as Programme Director for the MSc in Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology based at the Anna Freud Centre at University College London. “I’ve continued my research into mental wellbeing, interviewing people who have been using art as a means to aid their recovery journey,” said Olivia. “One strand of this work culminated in a film which was shown at Tate Modern last year and I am currently writing a book based on narratives of wellbeing to be published by Routledge in the coming year. “My appointment at BGU is an exciting opportunity for me to bring together my passion for psychology with my experience in pedagogy, the arts and community applications and provide a stimulating and critical psychology degree course which draws on the substantial existing strengths of this university.” The new psychology degree at BGU complies with the criteria of the British Psychological Society and the university is working with the BPS to achieve accreditation in the near future. -
Imps and Bishop Grosseteste Announce New Partnership
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) and Lincoln City Football Club are pleased to announce a new strategic partnership which will see both organisations working together for the benefit of the community. Under the terms of the new three-year agreement BGU will become a leading partner of the Football Club, and the university’s new lions logo will appear on Lincoln City’s home and replica shirts from the start of next season. The club and BGU will work closely together on a number of initiatives, including Football in the Community work, placement opportunities for BGU students and partnerships between the football club and BGU’s sports courses. BGU will also work with Lincoln City Sport and Education Trust to support its work with children and young people in the local area. “We’re very pleased to have agreed this partnership deal,” said Rob Jones, Director of Enterprise at Bishop Grosseteste University. “As a community university which serves a local student population BGU has an important role to play in the life of this city and county. Supporting our local football club is just one of the ways in which we can achieve this. “The agreement is a win-win for both parties: Lincoln City get the financial backing of a local sponsor while this deal will help to raise the profile of what we offer in the area. We are looking forward to working closely with the Club and developing a strategic partnership which will benefit both sides. “It’s no secret that the Imps have had a difficult few years, and we think it’s important to stand up and be counted when the going gets tough. The Club needs the support of everyone in the city as the season draws to a close and we urge fans to follow our lead and get behind the Imps.” Russell Moore, Lincoln City FC Commercial Manager, added: “We are delighted to welcome Bishop Grosseteste University on board as a new partner of the Football Club. “This agreement is magnificent news, not only for the Club but also for the city of Lincoln, with both of us having a proud history and a vision for success. “Not only will BGU be the Club’s new front of home shirt sponsor but the partnership will open up a number of opportunities for both parties to build for the future. “We are confident BGU will be an excellent partner for us and we are looking forward to building a strong working relationship with them. “The enthusiasm from Rob and the team at BGU is something that fills myself and the Club with excitement. Our three-year agreement will give the Club and BGU the opportunity of working closely together in order to achieve our respective goals.” -
Bishop Grosseteste to Celebrate University Title at Cathedral
The newly named Bishop Grosseteste University will hold a service of thanksgiving in Lincoln Cathedral later this month to celebrate its new title. The ceremony will be held at 10.30am on Wednesday 30th January and will also mark the installation of the Chancellor, Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas DBE, and the Vice Chancellor, Professor Muriel Robinson OBE. Privy Council confirmed BGU’s new title in December 2012 after the Government changed the threshold number of students required for an institution to be called a university. Until recently only higher education institutions with 4,000 or more students could use the title university. Smaller institutions were called university colleges, but now all HE institutions with more than 1,000 students have the right to apply to call themselves a university. The ceremony at Lincoln Cathedral will be attended by BGU staff, governors and students, and it is also open to members of the public. After the ceremony invited guests will be invited back to the university for a private celebratory lunch in the form of a ‘posh pack-up’ using locally sourced produce. During the afternoon the University Court – a grouping of the university’s most senior stakeholders who come together twice a year to offer their insights and support – will have its inaugural meeting on campus. At 4.30pm the Rt Rev Christopher Lowson, Bishop of Lincoln, will give a lecture as part of BGU’s series of public lectures on what constitutes a good life and the implications for us all in trying to live one. The event is called ‘For all that has been – Thanks. For all that shall be – Yes’, a title which refers to the past and future success of the institution. Professor Muriel Robinson believes the new university title will benefit BGU greatly. “To be able to take our place alongside other UK universities is a symbolic moment for us which recognises the excellent teaching and research which goes on at Bishop Grosseteste University,” she said. “The new title dispels any confusion that the old one may have created. We have 150 years of history and have been awarding our own degrees since 2006, but the old name ‘university college’ put some people off. Now we will be better equipped to compete with other universities to secure the best staff and students.” The event is free of charge and open to the public. If you would like to book a seat, please contact Conferencing and Events Administrator Jessica Lyons on 01522 583681 or email jessica.lyons@bishopg.ac.uk before 16th January. Notes to editors: Bishop Grosseteste University was established in January 1862 and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2012. It is an independent higher education institution based in Lincoln which awards its own degrees at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level. It changed its name from Bishop Grosseteste University College to Bishop Grosseteste University in November 2012. “For all that has been – Thanks. For all that shall be – Yes” is a quotation from Dag Hammarskjöld (29th July 1905 – 18th September 1961), Swedish diplomat, the second United Nations Secretary-General, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient. The quotation used for the title and leitmotif of the service comes from his book Vägmärken (Markings), a collection of journal entries published in 1964. For media information please contact:Jez AshberryShooting Star PR01522 52854007780 735071jez@shootingstar-pr.co.uk -
New Vice Chancellor for Bishop Grosseteste University
The Rev Professor Peter Neil will become Bishop Grosseteste University’s next Vice-Chancellor. Professor Neil will succeed Professor Muriel Robinson OBE who retires in April 2013 after 10 years at BG. -
Vampire essence lost in Twilight franchise, says Lincoln academic
As the latest instalment of the Twilight film franchise prepared to hit UK cinemas one Lincoln-based academic said the essence of Bram Stoker’s original story Dracula has been lost. Dr Sibylle Erle, Senior Lecturer in English at Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln, has an academic interest in portrayals of vampires down the ages. She uses research comparing Twilight’s Edward Cullen and Bram Stoker’s Dracula as part of the syllabus for students on the English degree course at BG. Dr Erle has been teaching a module this autumn called Terrors of the Night alongside a series of research seminars on vampires in literary history staged last month. She is also interested in other Victorian Gothic monsters such as the creature in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a story re-explored this year by Tim Burton in his animated film Frankenweenie. In her view contemporary vampires, as depicted in the Twilight series of books and films, are too far removed from the Victorian notion of a vampire to be satisfying. “I teach Dracula, which is exciting as we are in the centenary year of Bram Stoker’s death, and I have been known to tell my students that Dracula and Edward Cullen have little in common,” says Sibylle. “Luckily most of them already know this. “I’m working on the origins of the modern vampire story which kicked off in the early 19th century and my interest started with William Blake’s The Ghost of a Flea. The Flea embodies the more traditional type of vampire, the animal or monster, which Edward Cullen wants to move away from. “The Flea is not a pretty boy; he looks like Mary Shelley’s monster and he shares with Frankenstein’s creature a full awareness of his own monstrous self.” Dr Erle maintains that in its transition from horrifying Victorian monster to 21st-century romantic anti-hero – as epitomised by the likes of Edward Cullen or Angel in Buffy the Vampire Slayer – the true essence of Bram Stoker’s vampire story has been lost “I like a good scare, and I like vampires to be vampires – real monsters, controversial and morally subversive and really scary. “Many of the modern incarnations of the vampire story promote body image over how we are in the bodies we have. This is problematic because it alienates us from ourselves,” she added.
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