Chloe Zillwood, secretary of the Islamic Society which won Best Cultural and Faith Society.

Student societies win national awards

Two FXU societies have scooped awards at this year’s National Societies Awards ceremony.

Students from five FXU groups recently attended an awards ceremony in Nottingham to celebrate their nominations in seven out of the 14 accolades on offer.

Two societies triumphed with the Islamic Society winning Best Cultural and Faith Society and Wild Doc Soc crowned as Best Hobby and Interest Society in the UK.

Chloe Zillwood, FXU Islamic Society secretary, said: "We're so happy and honoured to have received the award for Best Cultural and Faith Society. This year has been a wonderful year for FXU Islamic Society and it's great to see our efforts recognised at a national level. In particular, our participation in Charity Week, Islamophobia Awareness Month, World Hijab Day, Believe and Do Good and International Women's Day have been personal highlights and the committee will cherish these memories.

"Thank you to all of our members for your ongoing support throughout the past year, it has been lovely getting to know each and every one of you better. The committee wishes you all the best."

Sophia Fraser, Wild Doc Soc president, said: "We are over the moon to have been presented with this award. This year we have strived to produce our biggest and best variety of events to date all for our members and we can proudly say we have achieved that with the title of Best Hobby and Interest Society. A huge thank you to the entire Wild Doc Soc team and our members."

The National Societies Awards were formed in 2016 at the University of West England to celebrate the best student societies in the UK and grant them national acknowledgement for their contribution to the student experience.

The FXU is the only Students’ Union in the UK to represent students from two universities; Falmouth University and the University of Exeter Penryn Campus. It is home to over 150 sports clubs, societies and student-led volunteering groups.

Other shortlisted FXU groups included EcoSoc for Best Society, Wild Doc Soc for Best Media Society, Generation Wild for Best Local Community Collaboration, Wild Film Fest for best Society Event and Don’t DisAbility Society for Best Campaigning Society.

Amanda Chetwynd-Cowieson, FXU President Student Experience: “Having so many societies and volunteer groups get the recognition they deserve, on the National platform, is just fantastic! Just being shortlisted for a National Society Award is a huge achievement and I’m so proud of all the committees who have volunteered their time to run such wonderful groups this year."

Date: 31 May 2017