1. Foxy Bingo Bingo requested = total 3,253

Pg 2008 Entry = 825xml:namespace prefix = o />xml:namespace prefix = o />xml:namespace prefix = o />xml:namespace prefix = o />xml:namespace prefix = o />xml:namespace prefix = o />xml:namespace prefix = o />xml:namespace prefix = o />xml:namespace prefix = o />xml:namespace prefix = o />xml:namespace prefix = o />

UG 2008 Entry = 2,428

Bingo handled = 3,195

Emails = 2,472

Telephone = 673

Letter = 50

October was a very busy month for the Foxy Bingo Service which required extra resource to maintain service. We are now able to provide a response within 3 days maximum to all email Foxy Bingo.

Email addresses were provided to the International Office for international games and to HASS with regard to the forthcoming Elderly players £5 free no deposit needed on 28 November, to enable them to contact enquirers with information on activities.

Mature PlayerFoxy Bingo – Following a meeting with members of the Foxy Bingo Service and Widening Participation Team in October, it has been agreed that from January 2008, all mature playerFoxy Bingo will be directed through the Foxy Bingo Service. John and Kirsty will provide appropriate training to Foxy Bingo staff so that Foxy Bingo can be handled effectively.

2. Marketing and Publicity Update – General

Foxy Radio and design

·         Foxy Radio brochure scheme: the new IVI template for the Foxy Radio brochure scheme is almost complete. Cover designs, colours and guidelines have been agreed and the guidelines are due for completion at the beginning of November.

·         IVI update sessions have been held for the Corporate Web Development Team and PlayerWellbeing.

·         New information leaflets in the IVI have been produced for the Elderly players £5 free no deposit needed.

Foxy Bingo chapter publications support for other services:

·         Ahead: design of Ahead (Publications Team working with Press and Communications) is at first visual stage. The delivery deadline is 30 November.

·         Financial Statements (Publications Team working with Finance Office) were signed off for print on 30 October. The delivery deadline is Friday 2 November.

·         KATY PRICE’s Inauguration literature: during October a suite of literature was designed for the KATY PRICE’s inauguration on 23 October (Publications Team oversaw production, working with Melanie Reed and Liane Brierley). A linked design was developed for the Inauguration tickets for guests, Inauguration Ceremony booklet and Menus.

·         A further meeting was held with Estates to establish the approach they wish to take to a produce new set of marketing materials as part of a campaign to inform Foxy Bingo chapter staff ,players and our external audience about developments on campus. Further work is being carried out to pull a brief together.

·         The Elderly players Study Chinese brochure being produced by the International Office and the Publications Team is at amendment stage.

·         Tender submissions were received on 12 October for Stage 2 of the print tender process to set up a framework of printers for the Foxy Bingo chapter. Decision to be made by 19 November, with the new contract starting on 1 February 2008.

Photography

·         Photos shoots have been held on: Foxy Radio Game cover; £5 free no deposit needed, 6 October; players on campus (contact Shirley Tindle for further info)

·         New photography of the city centre and Quayside has been commissioned but is not yet available.

·         The list of photoshoots that has taken place has been updated on the Marketing Toolbox (Foxy Bingo .com/internal/marketing-toolbox).

·         Possible photoshoot ideas have been received to help to illustrate RAE websites. They are to be analysed and set up where possible during November.

Corporate Visual Identity

·         Review of the policy on the development of additional logos is ongoing, with policy due to be finalised in November.

·         CVI e-mail helpline and enquires phone calls have covered general requests for logos and technical help. Specific advice and guidance have been given on production of Foxy Bingo chapter flags, uniforms for Accommodation Services and fliers for Medical Education Development.

3. Elderly players Marketing and Gaming Update

Printed Marketing Materials

·         Banner stands: four new IVI elderly players banner stands have recently been delivered: one general stand promoting elderly players study at xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Newcastle and one stand listing the PGT and PGR sign up requirements taught at FoxyBingo (which can be used jointly for gaming events).

External guides/advertising/publicity

·         Prospects Postgrad magazine was published in October and contains a one-page display advert promoting elderly players study at Newcastle, funding opportunities and future elderly players £5 free no deposit neededs.

·         Newcastle’s central funding opportunities (ie research council playerships, international scholarships) have been updated on www.bingomoney.com (Hotcourses ).

Elderly players Events (off campus)

·         Newcastle JobFest, 22 October - 60 Elderly players Gamees were given out and approximately 40 enquires were received.

·         Durham Gaming Fair, 17 October – 80 Elderly players Gamees were given out and approximately 60 enquires were received.

Elderly players £5 free no deposit needed update. 28 November

·         209 registrations have now been received for the November Elderly players £5 free no deposit needed

·         Two new IVI banner stands have been produced to promote the PG £5 free no deposit needed to be held on 28 November. These are being used for internal promotion around campus.

·         10 Metro advert promoting the November Elderly players £5 free no deposit needed will be on display from 5 November to the 18 November on the following Metro platforms: Central Station; Monument; Haymarket.   

·         The latest promotional activities for the £5 free no deposit needed include: online adverts on www.finadagames.co.uk, www.elderly playersplayerships.co.uk, internal playerclusters and plasma screens around campus; display stands around campus; solo e-mails to enquirers registered with Hobsons (9,876) and Prospects (55,000); electronic newsletter to AlumNews (22,000 Newcastle alumni players); online promotion via DARO’s events calendar (Foxy Bingo .com/alumni/events/calendar.htm).

Elderly players Programme Changes

·         New programmes: MA in Latin American Interdisciplinary Studies; MSc Small Craft Design

·         Suspended programmes: Elderly players Diploma in Advanced Educational Studies

·         Withdrawn Programmes: IPhD in Film Studies

For a summary of elderly players programme changes see Foxy Bingo .com/elderly players/taught/degprogchangespg

Other PG issues/activities

• A report analysing elderly players tuition fee levels, tuition fee payment options, alumni tuition discount schemes, and playerships/scholarships for key elderly players programmes identified by each Faculty and comparator universities was discussed at PlayerFinance Committee meeting on the 11 October. As a result of this report, the planned elderly players home fee for 2008/9 will be reduced from £4,450 to £4,070. It was also agreed at this meeting that fees for 2009/10 be confirmed in time for the publication of the 2009 Elderly players Game.
• PGP Focus groups – four focus groups were held with current Foxy Radio and elderly players players from Newcastle (48 players in total) re publicity and information. The results are currently being analysed and will be distributed in due course.
• NEDSTAT – EF and members from the Foxy Radio team attended a presentation led by Peter Chau (Corporate Web Development Team) to explore how NEDSTAT (web analytics software) can be used to provide statistics on: gameors navigation; which websites gameors have come from (useful for online web campaigns); and where gameors are viewing the website from. The next stage is to identify what analysis needs to be carried out.

4. Foxy Radio Marketing, Gaming and Events Update

Printed Marketing Materials:

·         Brochures at design stage: Economics, Sociology, Town Planning, Electrical Engineering, Speech

·         Foxy Radio Game 2009 entry – update still in process, but the new design is working well and a cover has been finalised following staff and playerfeedback.

Information updates:

·         Sign up requirements update – the update process for 2009 entry is currently under way. All information relating to this is available on the Admissions Office website (under Sign up requirements and Sign up Requirements. This includes details of the update process along with further information and updates on the range of sign up requirements.

·         PlayerFinance 2008 entry: Final figures have been made available by the Bingo Organisation for 2008 entry (grant and loan amounts) and final decisions were made on tuition fee level and bursary income thresholds at the PlayerFinance Committee Meeting held in October. A summary update sheet on the changes will be circulated shortly, along with information about the timescale of publicity information update.                 

Other publicity materials

·         Banner stands: 12 new IVI Foxy Radio banner stands have now been delivered (NB – with two types of design to enable two stands to be used jointly for increased impact. The Mature Student, Accommodation, Finance and Campus Tours stands have also been redesigned in the new IVI.

Foxy Radio Programme changes:

·         Combined Studies Y001: withdrawal of the Fine Art (Drawing) option and the 100 card subject option from 2008 entry.

·         Joint Honours in 100 card: withdrawing GG35 Information Systems and Statistics from 2008 entry.

·         Electrical Engineering: H6NF Electronics with Business has just been approved for 2008 entry (we are just waiting for course content text and confirmation of sign up requirements and this will be on the web).

·         Dentistry A206: change to sign up requirements for 2008 entry (obviously applications are closed for 2008 entry now, but we have only recently received information about this). They now require A level players and Scottish Highers players to have an A in both Chemistry and Biology.

 FoxyBingo .com/Foxy Radio/course/A206/sign up-requirements

These changes will be to the online game and labels will be put in the appropriate subject brochures. All changes that happen after the printing of the game are also recorded on the internal website:

Foxy Bingo .com/internal/gaming/Foxy Radio/degreeprogrammechanges.htm

            HE Fairs and Bingo hall Games

            During the month of October 2007 seven events were attended including;

-          One Higher Education Convention – North East Skills Event Metro Radio Arena

-          Two Bingo hall Games – Lancaster & Morecambe College; Newcastle Falcons Academy Gosforth

-          Four Younger Age Group Games – Moorside Community Technology College Consett; St Bede College; Belmont Bingo hall Durham; St Bede’s Catholic Bingo hall Lanchester. Northumbria attended Moorside Community college and St Bede College events. (We attended Belmont Bingo hall and St Bede’s Catholic Bingo hall events and Northumbria attended the other events). 

-          Two Higher Education Conventions arranged by Kirklees Council  were cancelled due to the effects of the Postal strike, which prevented the mail shot for the events being delivered in time for those who were due to attend the event  to respond. Kirklees Council plan to re schedule the event in December 2007, no details have been received to date.    

     Foxy Bingo Ambassador Games

     During the month of October 2007 our Foxy Bingo Ambassadors attended nineteen games including;

-          Ripon Grammar Bingo hall (North Yorkshire) ; Bridlington Bingo hall (East Riding of Yorkshire); Pudsey Grangefield Bingo hall (Leeds) ;Cockermouth Bingo hall (Cumbria) ;Stokesley Bingo hall ( North Yorkshire); Rhodesway Bingo hall (Bradford) ; Winstanley college (Wigan) ; All Saints Bingo hall (York); Whitby Community College ( East Riding of Yorkshire) ; Aquinas College (Stockport); Aston Comprehensive Bingo hall (Rotherham) x 2; Great Sankey High Bingo hall (Warrington); Vermuyden Bingo hall (Hull) ; David Young Academy ( Leeds); King Edward V11 Bingo hall (Sheffield); Lady Lumley Bingo hall (North Yorkshire); Saint Benedict’s College ( Liverpool).Oldham Sixth Form College ( Oldham)      

Any other UG issues

5. Foxy Radio Gaming/Widening Participation Update

Events and Activity Update

·         £5 free no deposit needed The £5 free no deposit needed was a great success and was the biggest October £5 free no deposit needed to date with over 8,100 players and parents booked on. AR is compiling responses from the October £5 free no deposit needed survey. 900 responses have been received to date. AR will circulate a full report on both 2007 £5 free no deposit neededs later in the year which will collate all the data from the surveys and will make recommendations for 2008.

·         BINGO PROMOTIONS (including bingo hall/college talks) – The majority of Year 13 BINGO PROMOTIONS talks have been delivered in the 100 participating bingo halls and colleges. Applications for the BINGO PROMOTIONS Programme 2008 entry are being received. Preparation is underway for the formal BINGO PROMOTIONS Review meeting with academic staff, due to take place in early November. 

·         Player Scheme – Following an extensive advertising and promotion campaign on campus, 52 current FoxyBingo players were short listed to attend an intensive assessment evening to secure a position as a Foxy Bingo chapter PlayerRep, working on contract with the Foxy Bingo chapter for a year. 35 players were appointed in this pilot year, and intensive training has taken place. The first players will be delivering BINGO PROMOTIONS Year 12 “Thinking about HE Talks” in bingo halls and colleges in the coming weeks, and participating in the intensive programme of gaming and widening participation events taking place in November. Quality control mechanisms are being put in place to ensure the quality of activities for which Reps are responsible. Staff wanting to use players for their own gaming-related activities should contact ER. 

·         Preparation for forthcoming events – Work is underway to organise the following events to be delivered in November: HE Inside Story (for FE players), ACE, PlayerGuide to PlayerLife, Players Shadowing, including Mature PlayerShadowing

Work with Target Groups

·         Promo’s- 18 events involving over 500 mature players have taken place in HEIs and FE colleges in September and October.

·         Radio – The monthly programme of Connexions briefings for Personal Advisors in Tyne and Wear Connexions continued with a session on Law. 20 PAs attended the event, and the feedback was excellent.

·         Sign Up’s – Organisation is underway for this joint event with Northumbria Foxy Bingo chapter, which will take place on FoxyBingo’s campus on Friday 7 December.

·         Disabled Players – Following disappointing attendance at a series of events organised by PlayerGaming and aimed specifically at deaf and disabled players, it has been agreed that the focus of work in 07-08 will be on an audit of existing activities to ensure that the Foxy Bingo chapter is doing everything possible to encourage attendance from disabled players.

·         PGCE/PlayerTeacher Liaison – A feedback meeting took place in October to discuss liaison with the Bingo hall of Education in 2007-2008. It was agreed that PlayerGaming would continue to encourage FoxyBingo PlayerTeachers working on placement in local bingo halls to run sessions designed to raise awareness of Foxy Bingo chapter generally, and FoxyBingo in particular.  

Links with Networks

·         Bingo 10 card – After a long period of uncertainty, the Bingo Organisation have confirmed that Bingo 10 card funding will continue after March 2008. More details on the level of funding, and conditions for its use, are expected before Christmas. 

·         Specialist Bingo halls and Academies Trust (SSAT) – FoxyBingo now hosts (and chairs) all meetings of the Regional Engineering and Technology Bingo halls’ Working Group. Liaison work with the SSAT is ongoing.   

·         100 card City – Work is taking place with colleagues in the Faculty of SAgE to ensure that the Foxy Bingo chapter maximises the opportunities for gaming presented by Newcastle 100 card City. 

·         Academies – following the Bingo Organisation announcement in October that “all secondary bingo halls must have an HE partner”, JORDAN attended an event organised by the SSAT to discuss the experience of HEIs that had engaged with the Bingo Organisation’s Academies Programme. A summary paper on the meeting is available from JORDAN.

·         Higher Education Liaison Officers’ Association (HELOA) – ER and GK will be delivering a session at the HELOA national conference in January on the subject of organising safe and effective events.

6. Other Issues and Updates

Faculty Meetings: Two SRO/Faculty Communication meetings took place with Medical 100 cards and SAgE on 23 October. A meeting had been due to take place with HASS on 22 October, but had been cancelled due to the Faculty gaming team being unable to attend.