Making friends and feeling like you truly belong at university is one of the many challenges new students face. But, one way you can join in is by socialising - specifically with societies! In this week's Campus Spotlight where we showcase all things on campus, we asked some questions to the President of Newcastle Uni's biggest society.
So, what is the 20 Minute Society?
"The 20 Minute Society is a Newcastle University founded society which is unique as it is not subject bound and this helps us fulfill one of our primary aims to promote and ensure inclusiveness. Henceforth, it is the biggest society on campus with more than 500 members typically. An interesting fact about the society is that the founder helped students at Lincoln University form the same society which continues to run flourishingly, further, other universities such as Cardiff University have followed suit with their very own 30 Minute Society."
"The nature of the society is bound upon spontaneity and members simply receive a text message and email 20 minutes prior, guiding them to meet at a random location to participate in impromptu and enjoyable social activities. The purpose of the society is to host unpredictable and spontaneous social activities. The society also organises our infamous mystery holiday annually which usually attracts a lot of interest and places are filled within a couple of minutes. Previously, we've been to Zagreb, Budapest, Dublin, Amsterdam and Krakow."
What would you say to someone who was looking to join?
"I would say, don’t think twice and buy your membership. The cost of the membership is only £10 which covers all social events excluding the mystery holiday and the odd drink or two on socials. The cost hopefully wouldn’t put anyone off, but I can guarantee you’ll get your money’s worth after attending just one social so there is nothing to lose."
"I’m so thankful I joined the society simply as I’ve made so many friends and have met so many people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. As the society is not subject specific we attract members from all courses, undergraduate and postgraduate and I’ve spoken to members so far this year and they have said they’ve managed to meet course mates and genuine friends through their participation within the society. Further, don’t worry if you think you’re joining the society late, it is never too late and our membership is available until the end of July. The nature of the society means you won’t necessarily see the same people on every social, and new faces will appear throughout the year."
I'm so thankful I joined the society
Shannon Greenwood
How did you first get involved?
"Initially, I got involved within the 20 Minute Society in my second year of university after being introduced by a flatmate and have had continued involvement ever since 2018. Although, I think the concept of the society hosting random socials with 20 minutes notice is straightforward, I know a lot of nonmembers who have heard of the society but don’t necessarily know the operation of the society. Admittedly, I was somewhat oblivious before joining, yet, joining the 20 Minute Society is one of the best decisions I’ve made during my university journey."
"To clarify, it’s really simply to become a member, you just need to log in on the NUSU website and go to the society list, and as it happens the 20 Minute Society is top of the list. We require our members to fill out a form with contact details so we can contact you with our weird and wonderful hints for all our socials. Don’t worry, our lovely secretary is there to help with any technical issues."
What’s the next event you have coming up?
"Unfortunately, it’s bound within the nature of the society that we don’t reveal events before our hints 20 minutes prior, with the exception of our prescheduled night events. However, we will be hosting our third mystery bar crawl at some point in November which is likely to be during the university’s buffer week and our amazing welfare officer will be hosting our first welfare event of the year, this again will be prescheduled and on our socials prior."
"In addition, as a committee we are working really hard to organise our winter wonderland ball on the 6th December, and tickets alongside further details will soon be available for members and nonmembers so plus ones are more than welcome and encouraged."
"Thus far this academic year, we have hosted socials such as dog and scone, escape rooms, pumpkin carving and of course our iconic bar crawls. Our five social secretaries are continually meeting and working hard to organise lots of exciting socials and we do intend to collaborate with other society’s for future socials."
And finally, what’s your favourite 20 minute event you’ve held so far?
"As the president of the society, I am honestly so overwhelmed with the turnouts thus far and with our members continually increasing in number I expect that our turnouts will continue to be amazing. Admittedly, I would say my favourite socials so far have been our mystery bar crawls simply because we haven’t had a maximum capacity and have been able to accommodate so many people members and nonmembers."
"All of our socials so far have been very successful with all our sober socials hitting capacity within ten to fifteen minutes. In past years, some of my favourite socials have been coasteering, tescopoly, the stand comedy club and Cosy Joe’s karaoke."
Thanks to Shannon for speaking to me in this weeks Campus Spotlight!
If you want to join the 20 Minute Society, click the link here.