Drug and Alcohol Impact Auditor: Voluntary Role

Cardiff Met SU and Cardiff Metropolitan University are offering an opportunity for students to gain skills in project management, communications and leadership by volunteering as a Drug and Alcohol Impact auditor. 

Drug and Alcohol Impact embeds social norms of responsible drinking on our campuses, and refocuses the conversation on drugs towards reducing harm, and building healthier, safer, more productive student communities.

Depending on the number of criteria the institution completes, they can achieve either: a ‘Working Towards Drug and Alcohol Impact’ or the ‘Drug and Alcohol Impact accreditation’. All students’ unions and institutions participating in Drug and Alcohol Impact will need an audit to verify their level of achievement and this is where you come in! 

Cardiff Met has been one the institutions across the UK taking part in Drug and Alcohol Impact. They have worked to complete a range of criteria and an audit will now take place to evaluate the outcome and to collect important research on this topic. 

Contact Neil Davies on ddavies@cardiffmet.ac.uk if you would like to gain work experience and be involved with this national programme. The closing date to express your interest is 05/07/2024. To apply for this role, please email Neil explaining 200 words explaining why you are interested in the opportunity.

Commitment: 

Day 1 (16/07/24): 10:00am-4:30pm. Lunch will be provided on day 1.

Day 2 (17/07/24)  9.15am- 12:15pm.  

This a voluntary post offering great opportunities for professional and personal development. Following the audit, you will be provided with a digital badge confirming your contribution. This makes a great addition to your CV!

Objectives:

• Learn more about approaches to responsible alcohol consumption and drug harm reduction at your institution and students’ union
• Gain skills and knowledge in auditing
• Learn interview skills and get the chance to conduct interviews with key individuals from your institution, students’ union and/or external partners
• Make a positive impact, improve your CV and gain valuable employability skills, participate in an auditor training course, and have a fun two days learning practical skills with likeminded people!

What will it involve?

• Auditor training: this half-day training will equip you with all of the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to conduct the audits and assist with the interviews. 
• Desk-based audit: this will involve reviewing the evidence your institution and students’ union has submitted in advance of the audit – ranging from photos of related events to changes in policy and procedure! You’ll get an in-depth and behind-the-scenes look at how change occurs locally. 
• Interview training and conducting interviews: SOS will train you with all the skills you require to conduct the interviews alongside the other auditors. Interviews will take place with three key individuals including staff from the students’ union and the university. The interview will be led by all the auditors in a group with the support of SOS staff. 

You will always be working with other students’ and be accompanied by a member of the SOS team and given all the support you require to undertake the tasks. 

Key skills and experience gained:

• Experience of working on a national programme in a professional environment;
• Knowledge of how institutions and students’ union tackle responsible alcohol consumption and drug harm reduction;
• Insight into effective behaviour change methods;
• Experience of communicating using a variety of different means;
• Ability to support and encourage others to perform;
• Leadership skills;
• Time management;
• Team development;
• Project management skills.