Getting To Know Bristol URNU - University Royal Naval Unit of Bristol
Posted on: 28 Aug 2015
Bristol URNU, the University Royal Naval Unit for Bristol, offers undergraduates from both Bristol universities, and Bath University, the opportunity to be trained in leadership, seamanship and navigation, without any liability of call-up to the Navy itself.
The aim of the URNU is to give a good insight into Naval life to those undergraduates enrolled. There is no commitment to the Navy or Marines once graduated but it’s worth noting that a reasonable proportion of officer intake each year comes from one of the 14 URNUs across the UK.
There is a good amount of training offered, mainly in navigation and seamanship, which is put into practice during weekends at sea and longer voyages during university holidays. Not unsurprisingly there is a great social aspect to the URNU, as you would expect from a ‘club’ made up of students! There are regular formal and informal social events, which form a huge part of the overall experience, along with sporting competitions.
This all sounded like a pretty great way to spend some of your free time whilst at university so we spoke with Lieutenant James Smith, the commanding officer of the Bristol URNU, to find out a little more…
Can you give us some background about the University Royal Naval Unit in Bristol – when it was set up, what its aims are?
Bristol Universities Royal Naval Unit (Bristol URNU) was established in 1986 (so we will be celebrating our 30th birthday next year) and is one of 14 URNUs at various Universities around the county. Its aims are to provide students studying a variety of courses a rewarding, challenging and interesting experience whilst they are at University. It focuses on developing leadership and other important skills in a fun setting whilst imparting some of the history and ethos of the Royal Navy. Members are able to conduct adventurous training, get to sea on Royal Navy Warships as well as develop their CV by gaining qualifications all without any call-up liability to the Royal Navy. Plus you get paid a bit of money for your time!
How can people join?
Come and find us at the UWE, University of Bristol or University of Bristol fresher's fairs, send us a message on Facebook, send an email to Bristol-urnu@Bristol.ac.uk. or ring 0117 9668 667 or 07816 391110. There is an application form to fill out and we are holding introductory evenings at HMS Flying Fox in Bristol on Tuesday 22nd and 29th September where you can learn more about the unit and what we do. It is also an opportunity to meet the current members, hear about their experiences and ask lots of questions.
We are selective organisation but we are looking for people with a wide range of experiences and you will be surprised what leadership roles you have already undertaken in your life. There are some eligibility and medical criteria too but as long as you are reasonably fit and can swim 50m unaided you should be fine. Candidates must also be UK, Irish Republic or Commonwealth citizens. Once people have applied we ask them to attend an introduction evening and finally candidates attend a short interview with the Commanding Officer. This is a chance for us to learn more about your achievements and your character and helps us to understand your motivation for joining us.
You are attending the local fresher’s fairs for Bristol University, UWE and Bath University – is it best for students to see you there or get in contact beforehand?
If you let us know you are interested beforehand we can talk through the application process nice and early, but if you not sure if it is for you come and talk to us at the fairs and meet the current members who will tell you about all the things they have done in the Unit! If this doesn't convince you nothing will!
People can find out more about the URNU without the attending the Fresher’s fair. The URNU has its’ own webpage and we are also on Facebook. This gives people an opportunity to better understand who we are and what we do. People can also look us up on the Royal Navy website. Of course we recommend people come and see us at the fresher’s fair so we can answer any questions they may have. I personally found it helpful listening to other people’s experiences in the URNU and this is what encouraged me to join. However, you don’t have to see us at the Fresher’s fair to join.
What sort of commitment are new members signing up to?
This is a question we hear all the time. If you join the URNU you are not required to join the Royal Navy when you leave and you WILL NOT be called upon to go to war. Of course some fresher’s maybe interested in joining the Royal Navy or Royal Marines after completing their course but part of the appeal of the URNU is that we have students studying a range of courses and with a variety of hobbies. You don’t have to be looking to join the Military to enjoy your time with us.
There is a drill night each Tuesday night in Bristol at HMS Flying Fox where you can expect to learn plenty about the RN, maritime and leadership skills, followed by socialisation and good cheer in the Wardroom bar; don't worry if you're in Bath we will provide you some money to get to Bristol.
There are lots of weekend opportunities too, as a minimum you'll be doing something two weekends per term but some do much more. These weekend include going to sea in a Royal Navy Warship, HMS DASHER, sailing on yachts, doing adventurous training or supporting other events in Bristol such as Remembrance Parade or the Poppy appeal. There are also two week long deployments in Easter and summer onboard HMS DASHER where you might visit France, Spain, or even the Baltic. Any student that does commit himself or herself to the URNU can expect great rewards in the form and experience in leadership and teamwork unavailable to most students at University.
Where do you like to eat out in Bristol?
Bristol has many fantastic places to get food; of particular note is St Nicks market which provides a variety of choices in a historic setting filled with character. I was recently introduced to Grillstock and it has become a firm favourite. It’s quite a small restaurant with everyone sitting at the same table but don’t let that put you off. There’s a casual atmosphere with good music and the best BBQ food going.
Admittedly it’s far from ideal for vegetarians but I can also recommend Wagamama near the Clifton triangle. Whiteladies is also great with a mix of independent and non independents with a wide choice of styles. I can always find great cake! And there are loads of all you can eat buffet places such as ZaZa Bazaar, which have a really wide range of food and are quite affordable.
What's your favourite place in Bristol?
I love the Floating Harbour. The view from the water is great including Brunel’s SS Great Britain, M Shed, Arnolfini, and the Amphitheatre and Waterfront Square. It is a wonderfully picturesque part of the city and can be viewed the best way via the tours and ferries that leave from the city centre landing. Is proximity to the city centre and easy access means that is a must-see part of any time in Bristol.
Where do you see Bristol URNU in 5 years time?
Like any student organisation, the URNU is a dynamic group of people, with new members every year and it’s very exciting to see how the unit develops with each new intake. We are always trying to find new events and activities for our members to take part in. With the support of the Royal Navy and the enthusiasm of our members we can do things very few other organisations are able to provide. I imagine Bristol URNU will continue to provide unique opportunities in leadership, teamwork, and the maritime and naval lifestyle to students from Bristol, UWE, and Bath. I also expect to see Bristol URNU going even further in helping to attract talented young people to the Royal Navy or otherwise spreading the navy ethos of Courage, Commitment, Discipline, Integrity, Loyalty, and Respect for others via its alumni.
What advice would you give to any organisations and clubs in need of new members?
You must be proactive and advertise your organisation. If the activities you offer are exciting and the group is able to engage well with Freshers then the numbers should take care of themselves. The most important point here is the engagement with Freshers: University organisations need to make fresher’s feel valued. That way, first year students will likely play a part in the day-to-day running of a Society. Sometimes societies can become dependent on final year students
For organisations and clubs in need of new members I would recommend talking to anyone who has potential or shows interest, not just who you think might be interested. People can surprise you, and can bring a diverse range of skills or set of knowledge that can help clubs and organisations flourish. Having a good social media presence and word of mouth can not only attract new members but also get the attention of those who could offer support or resources.
To help recruitment ensure that you get involved in the university fresher’s fair and that you have plenty of identifiable (e.g. uniform / branded clothing) and enthusiastic people on the floor to increase the visibility of your particular organisation or club.
The biggest draw of the URNU is the responsibility we give to students. For instance, this Easter I sailed aboard the Unit’s own ship HMS Dasher and was responsible for a range of tasks including navigation, steering the Ship making sure she was fit to go to sea. Sat behind the wheel I found myself wondering if there were any other University organisation that would give a first year the same level of responsibility!?
If you were Mayor of Bristol for a day which one thing would you change?
If I were Mayor of Bristol for the day, I would make public transport free for everyone. I think it would encourage people to explore the beautiful city, and might convince people who normally wouldn't consider using buses to do so. I would also drastically increase the number of bike lanes linking all the key attractions of Bristol and open the local railway network. This would encourage more Bristolians to cycle or use the train which short term would help Bristol live up to the European Green Capital 2015 title.
For further information please visit www.bristolurnu.org.
Tags: UWE, UoB, University of Bristol, Bristol University, Bath University, Students, Royal Navy, URNU, HMS Dasher, Club, Society, CV.
Article by:
Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
