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Becoming a member
It is very easy to sign up for membership. It costs £8 for the entire academic year.
How to become a member
Go to Sheffield Students' Union and use the search icon located in the top right of the page to find our club by typing 'Walking club'.
You will then be redirected to our Students' Union page where you will see the button 'Join this group', click on this.
You will then be asked to select a SUWC Student or SUWC Non-Student membership. Both of these cost £8.
If you are a student, you will then be directed to sign in using your MUSE details. When you have logged in you can add the membership to your basket.
You will then be asked to pay for your selected membership.
That's it! Once you have received your email confirmation, you are a member of the walking club. If you have any issues with these instructions, contact us at suwc@sheffield.ac.uk.
Participation statement
All participants who take out a club membership must read and agree to the below participation statement.
I understand that the University of Sheffield, Sport Sheffield Club activities may be physically demanding and that there will be a risk of injury when undertaking them.
In the event of an accident causing injury, or damage to personal effects, I acknowledge that the University of Sheffield/Sport Sheffield will not be held liable unless it is proven that it was caused by the University of Sheffield/Sport Sheffield’s negligence.
I understand membership does not include a personal injury or accident insurance policy.
I certify that, to the best of my knowledge, I do not have a medical condition which might make me more likely to sustain an injury when taking part in club activities, nor am I participating against doctors advice. I undertake to inform Club Officials if this situation changes.
I confirm that I will not undertake club activities under the adverse influence of drink or drugs.
Becoming a leader
Grade 1 leader
Grade 1 leader training is run yearly, usually in October-November. We will advertise when this is going to happen via our social networks/emails - so make sure you're up to date!
Grade 1 training is taught and assessed internally by the club. We will go over basic navigational techniques (map and compass, including GPS), as well as group leading techniques and walk planning.
We will put these skills into practice outdoors on a training walk as well as running through safety scenarios and discussing your responsibilities as a leader.
After you've completed your initial training, assessment comes in two parts:
Your first co-lead is leading a walk which another leader has planned. They will be with you along with at least one other. This gives you an opportunity to show your navigational skills as well as your group leading.
The second co-lead is one where you plan and organise the walk yourself - we will help you with this. You will lead the walk with an assessing pair of leaders.
Once we are happy with both of your co-lead walks, we will sign you off. You will officially be a Grade 1 SUWC leader.
Grade 2 leader
Grade 2 leader training is an extra level of ability and commitment. This is a level that you can progress to after you have built up experience as a Grade 1 leader.
We don't expect our leaders to undergo Grade 2 training. You can stay at Grade 1 for your entire time with the club, and that is fine.
Grade 2 leading involves leading groups in harsher, more remote environments. The closest example of that near Sheffield is Kinder Scout Moor, although we very often visit Grade 2 terrain on our trips.
We require a greater level of training before you are allowed to take groups on these walks because they can very quickly become dangerous. Whilst Kinder, for example, can be lovely and easy terrain in great weather, it can very quickly change when the (very changeable) weather rolls in.
Grade 2 training both consolidates the experience you will have gained leading Grade 1 walks, and teaches you new techniques that far better equip you to safely lead a walk on Grade 2 terrain.
The training is currently provided by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC), who have an agreement with Sport Sheffield to provide experts for training for all Club Sport.
Joining committee
Joining committee is not an extra level of commitment above being a leader. We don't require you to be a leader at all (except for a couple of the roles).
We always aim to have a fun, welcoming committee each year who oversee the running of the club. They try to make sure everything happens as smoothly as possible.
We split all the jobs up into roles. Normally each committee member doesn't have a huge amount of work each week but it does depend on your role. Pick a role that you think you'd be best at and enjoy!
How to join committee
To join committee, you need to apply at one of our AGMs (Annual General Meeting), or EGMs (Extraordinary General Meeting).
We are mandated to hold an AGM every year, around the beginning of April. This is where we vote the new committee for the following academic year in.
Any roles that are not filled will be voted for at an EGM, typically held at the beginning of the new academic year.
If you have any questions about joining committee or are generally interested, feel free to ask any of us about our roles.
Send us a Facebook/Instagram message, or send us an email to suwc@sheffield.ac.uk.
Executive committee positions
These are the core committee positions which all University of Sheffield sports clubs are required to fulfil. Otherwise, Sport Sheffield will force the club to be disbanded.
These roles must be held by full time students of the University of Sheffield.
Safety and training officer is the only role that can be carried out in conjunction with another executive committee position.
President/Club captain
The president is the person who leads the committee to success. They organise and chair the committee meetings, as well as provide instruction and direction to everyone on the team.
Their role includes ensuring that all the clubs good practise guidelines and constitution are adhered to and helping ensure a smooth transition between old and new committee members. They are also responsible for liaising with Sport Sheffield with regards to policy matters.
A person that has previously been on committee, or has significant experience with the club (such as regularly attending events or is a walks leader with the club) is recommended for this position.
Secretary
The vice-president/secretary is the person responsible with administering the club. This includes managing the club email account and replying to any queries we get, as well as keeping and writing up minutes for each of the committee meetings.
This role also involves assisting the president with any additional tasks, as well as taking over their duties if for whatever reason they are not able to perform them (eg: illness).
Treasurer
The treasurer is the person responsible for all the money the club has. They make sure we have enough money to perform the clubs tasks, and performing all the necessary paperwork associated with running the club accounts (in accordance with Sport Sheffield procedures).
They also help decide how the club's money is spent, by producing the club's annual budget proposal and financial plan for the academic year.
Safety and training officer
The safety and training officer is the person that ensures that all our club members stay safe on the events we hold. This involves performing the necessary risk assessments, reviewing the clubs good practise safety guidelines, liaising with the Sport Sheffield safety adviser, and ensuring that safe practise is followed by members of the club at all times.
They are also responsible for training new walks leaders of the club by organising and taking prospective leaders on the necessary training exercises.
It is recommended that this role is carried out by an existing Grade 1 or 2 walks leader.
Welfare and inclusions officer
The welfare and inclusions officer is the person that makes sure that everyone is represented in the club and that no one is unreasonably prevented from taking part in club activities.
This includes being able to talk to prospective and current members about any concerns they have about being able to take part in the clubs events, as well as liaise with any disabled members in order to ensure that their needs are met as best as reasonably possible.
Extended committee positions
These are additional committee positions specific to the Walking Club which are required to organise and publicise our events.
Walks officer
Outline of the role:
Someone who has experience of the routes that can be walked in the Peak District and is able to give advice on them.
Organise the walks for each semester and assign leaders to these walks so that they can be planned. In previous years, this has been done by leader meetings in each semester, with Google Docs used to supplement this.
Take an active role in deciding walks for the year and appointing leaders. Consideration should be taken for suitability of various walks depending on weather conditions and daylight hours depending on the time of year.
Collect feedback from walks, along with the rest of the committee, from leaders and members as they happen.
Liaise with the Students Union/Sport Sheffield over the planning of special walks such as the Give It A Go walks which need planning in advance.
Other duties as agreed by the club committee.
Key responsibilities:
Keep the walks calendar up to date.
Organise special walks.
Ensure there are enough leaders on the weekly walks.
Trips officer
Outline of the role:
Oversee the selection of appropriate dates and destinations for club trips (wherever practical, at least three weekend trips per academic year).
Ensure that trip destinations will cater for a range of fitness and abilities, and provide a social element.
Ensure that all trips are led by two or more suitable club members, who must follow the guidelines laid out in the Club GPGs.
Book minibuses as required.
Produce a break-down of costs for the committee, and try and keep within an agreed budget.
Other duties as agreed by the club committee.
Key responsibilities:
Choose a location and book the accommodation, transport, leaders, food, kit, and figure out the cost of club trips (with assistance of committee).
Organise meetings with leaders and trip attendees well in advance of trip. Organise the walk length and locations, ensure all necessary attendee details are acquired.
Publicity officer
Outline of the role:
No coding skills are required for this role.
Send out the club email on Tuesday every week detailing walks, socials, and any other relevant information, such as trip info and sign-ups.
Update the the Walks and events page of the website, the club’s Facebook page and Instagram accounts.
Take an active part in planning/running the clubs stand at the twice yearly fairs (Sports and Refreshers Fairs).
Liaise with third parties over all matters relating to the club website, email and Google Drive account.
Accept overall responsibility for the content of the website, and liaise with IT Services (formerly CiCS) as required.
Assist and advise other club and committee members in the use of the club website, email and Google Drive systems.
Oversee maintenance of the club mailing list.
Other duties as agreed by the club committee.
Key responsibilities:
Send out the weekly club updates via Facebook, Instagram and the email.
Oversee maintenance of the club mailing list.
Social secretary
Outline of the role:
Oversee the charity activities of the club, principally raising money for the Edale Mountain Rescue Team (EMRT).
Help organise the annual cheque handover walk for EMRT.
Organise any fundraising events, such as raffles and sponsored relay walks.
Write the social diary at the beginning of each term, for weekly socials and extra socials.
Make sure the social calendar is sent to the Publicity officer for display on the website.
Write blurbs to publicise the weekly socials and any extra socials, and ensure they are sent to the Publicity officer in time for the newsletter.
Find out general opinions or ideas about alternative socials and arrange them.
Organise the end of term meals and handover meal.
Other duties as agreed by the club committee.
Key responsibilities:
Oversee the charity activities of the club.
Write the social diary at the beginning of each term, for weekly socials and extra socials.
Write the blurbs for the socials displayed in the weekly email.
Equipment officer
Outline of the role:
Maintain an inventory of all club equipment, to be updated on the club’s Google Drive.
Store and maintain all equipment in accordance with the manufacturers and club guidelines.
Keep accurate records of all safety checks undertaken in the equipment log book.
Record information concerning equipment failure or damage in the above mentioned log.
Record the whereabouts of all equipment in the equipment log book; and ensure that on return loaned equipment has suffered nothing more than expected wear and tear.
Ensure that all equipment issued for an activity is suitable for that purpose, as far as reasonably practical in the circumstances.
Ensure that equipment is not loaned to members who are unskilled in its usage, unless they are supervised, as far as reasonably practical in the circumstances.
Advise the borrower on the correct care of the loaned equipment. This includes advising on security.
Arrange the repair or disposal of unsafe equipment.
Inform the committee of the need to purchase club equipment.
Organise the club’s merchandising.
Other duties as agreed by the club committee.
Key responsibilities:
Maintain an inventory of all club equipment.
Record the whereabouts of all equipment; and ensure that the equipment is returned to the club after use.
Inform the committee of the need to purchase club equipment.
Organise the club’s merchandising.
Committee 2024/25: Sign up and register your manifestos below:
Executive Committee (Captain, Secretary, Treasurer, Inclusions and Safety)
Extended Committee (Walks, Trips, Publicity, Social Sec, Equipment and Activities)