The STARS (Societies Training & Activities Rewards Scheme) awards are a wonderful scheme for clubs and societies to truly showcase how they go above and beyond. Developed from the prior ‘Bronze/Silver/Gold Stars’ scheme; the new badges system allows clubs and societies to achieve 5 individual badges for particular areas of activity. This means clubs and societies can accomplish badges which they have particular interest in.
In a similar way to the Marvel films, with Thanos collecting the Infinity Stones … you can attain just one badge, but the aim should be to collect all 5 badges!
If a club or society wants to truly go above and beyond, and achieve all 5 badges, they will be awarded ‘Gold Stars‘; an award which will be received at their respective end of year Awards Ball. The Gold Stars award is highly commendable, and will show off to students and staff that their club or society is of high standard. Achieving ‘Gold Stars’ should be an objective for all clubs and societies.
Here’s a set of slides that explain how to achieve each one.
The committee of that club or society will also be rewarded, should they receive Gold Stars!
How do we submit our badge applications?
Forms are available on the Committee Resources page. If approved, your group will be awarded the Badge or Gold Stars! If you have any questions, please email the VP Activity, the Societies Chair or the Activities Manager Jodie Barnes.
The Collaboration Badge
A badge achieved by those groups willing to go above and beyond in collaborating!
- Host an event in collaboration with another club or society.
- Take part in any Union campaign throughout the year.
- Participate in the year’s Make Your Change campaign.
- Take part in at least one Surrey Moves event.
- Advertise all of the above to club and society members through social media or on screens around campus.
The Community Badge
A badge achieved by those groups willing to go above and beyond in the community!
- Take part in Give It A Go week
- Host a charitable event and advertise this to your members through social media.
- Achieve a RAG Award at any level, Bronze, Silver or Gold
- Volunteer with the Union in a Union or University sustainability campaign, or run a sustainability event, and advertise this on social media.
- Participate in or sponsor, as a club, the Kelly 5k or 10k run.
The Employable Me Badge
A badge achieved by those groups willing to go above and beyond in improving employability!
- Participate in one or more Employable Me events put on by the Union or University and advertise your participation on social media.
- Volunteer and log 10 hours per member or 1000 hours (whichever is lower) through Surrey Volunteering.
- Have a member of your club or society work towards the University’s Employability Award.
- Have all committee members complete a course on the Skills platform.
- Advertise all committee roles on your social media channels ahead of the AGM season, with clear explanations as to what each role does.
the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Badge
A badge achieved by those groups willing to go above and beyond in promoting equality!
- Collaborate with the Widening Participation team to host and event, or volunteer to get involved with one of their existing events.
- Organise at least 3 non-drinking socials throughout the year.
- Organise at least 3 free-of-charge socials throughout the year.
- Advertise all of the above to club and society members through social media or on screens around campus.
- Engage in a Union EDI campaign and document this.
The Wellbeing Badge
A badge achieved by those groups willing to go above and beyond in promoting wellbeing!
- Have at least one fully trained Wellbeing Champion on the committee
- The Wellbeing Champion must be fully trained within the academic year, the training day happens once in both Semester 1 and Semester 2.
- Engage in a wellbeing campaign run by the Students’ Union and document it.
- Have 2 members volunteer with Welfare Watch for 1 shift an advertise Nightline and Student Minds to members through social media.
- All committee members complete the consent course in semester 1.
Gold Stars
This should be the ultimate goal of all clubs and societies, to show they truly go above and beyond. By achieving all 5 badges, they will be awarded ‘Gold Stars‘; an award which will be received at their respective end of year Awards Ball! This is Colours Ball for Clubs, and Union Ball for Societies.
The Gold Stars award is highly commendable, and will show off to students and staff that their club or society is of high standard and has truly gone above and beyond. Achieving ‘Gold Stars’ should be an objective for all clubs and societies, and by achieving it the club or society and their committee will be rewarded! These rewards will be confirmed in due course… keep your eyes peeled!
If Gold Stars are achieved by a group, then their badges will go from their duotone colour schemes to badges with Gold Stars… resulting in the group having 5 Gold Star badges, which they can use to show off their achievements!
