National success for Durham SU societies - Durham University

With over 200 student groups based at Durham Students’ Union, including everything from the Hummus Society to the Assassins Society, it’s no surprise that Durham’s student groups have been taking the national award scene by storm this year.

An great start to the year

Things kicked off with a successful NUS LGBT+ Conference, which saw Durham Trans Association win LGBT+ Society Development of the Year. Not content with just one award, Trans Association then went on to win Trans Campaign of the Year at NUS Trans Students’ Conference. President of the Association, Luke Armitage said, ‘It’s really great to see the real progress trans and other LGBT+ students have been making nationwide. We are very grateful to everyone in Durham who has contributed in any way to the Trans Association this year.’

Award winning student media

Then came a round of awards for student media. Durham student newspapaer, Palatinate won Best Publication at the Student Publication Awards, while Tania Chakraborti also won Best Reporter and Eugene Smith came highly commended in the same category. Purple Radio won Best Training Initiative at the I Love Student Radio Awards. Matthew Calvert, Outgoing Head of Broadcasting Standards, said ‘Our [award] for Best Training Initiative was primarily awarded for the creation of The Purple Handbook. This is an online knowledge base developed by myself and Alok Kumar, containing articles which guide members in all aspects of broadcasting.’

National Student Societies Awards

And finally, five student groups were shortlisted at the National Societies Awards: Intersectional Feminism society, Christian Union Society DICCU, Trans Association, It’s Not OK at Durham and Durham Charity Fashion Show (DUCFS). Being shortlisted from over 600 nominations across the country is a feat in itself, but two of Durham’s student groups actually had the honour of winning their category. It’s Not OK at Durham won Best Campaign, Project or Initiative and DUCFS won Best Society Event. Iona Cameron, President of DUCFS, said, ‘We took DUCFS to new levels this year and to have 10 months of our hard work recognised at a national level is really something special.’

Congratualtions!

It’s great to see so many of Durham’s student groups attending awards ceremonies across the country. The successes of these students show just how much can be achieved at Durham outside of your degree: whether that’s helping other students learn new skills; investigating and reporting on issues relevant to our community; representing and welcoming students from underrepresented backgrounds; or organising incredible large-scale events for the enjoyment of their friends and the benefit of charities.

Find out more about the Durham Students’ Union and the clubs and socieities you could get involved with.

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Ellie Scorah

A third year English student and aspiring journalist, I edit for Palatinate and write for as many publications as will let me! I also have a blog (medium.com/objects) with my friend Katie in which we take objects, from the mundane to the plain obscure, and explore their associations.