Hi,

I am a first year Social Work class rep and asking for your first vote for Education and Social Sciences School Officer (would be honoured to receive your second vote). I promise to take this role seriously and to work with other students, societies and saabs to ensure the student voice is heard and listened to at all levels of University.

I believe it is important to be fully accountable. I voted there must be a referendum on potential strike action so that the wider student voice is heard. I intend to vote yes to strike so that those who wish to strike will not be penalised for upholding their rights

About myself:

I am an LGBT+, disabled, mature student. As such accessibility, diversity and inclusion are vital to me. I have first-hand experience of what can go wrong when students are not considered first during our learning experience and I have fought to win changes including longer assessment times, changes to assessment formats and longer seminar sessions. I take my role as rep seriously and am always available to listen and act on concerns raised.

Since studying at UWS I have:

1) Attended every Student Rep Council and have had 3 policies overwhelmingly passed including more accessible materials in advance of lectures, more accessible toilets for our disabled students and hybrid Student Councils to allow students with extra commitments, including childcare and work, to take part.

2) Attended every Student Staff Liaison Meeting to represent the views of other students.

3) Founded the Social Work Academic Society including arranging outside speakers and networking.

4) Sat on the University and Union Equality and Diversity Committees to ensure student voices are heard and a more accessible student experience is enabled.

5) Assisted to run various campaigns including 16 days of action

Pledges if elected:

I promise to -

1) Ensure mental health is treated as a top priority. Students are struggling and we are not receiving enough support. I promise to work with others, including Saabs, to ensure equipment and resources are provided for all students.

2) Work with the Welfare Saab and University Counselling team to ensure support services are transparent and outreaching. Services need to be more proactive in reaching out to students instead of relying on students coming to them which is incredibly difficult to do with poor mental health.

3) Hold regular check-ins with all students, reps and officers who require support. My phone and email are always open to students I represent.

4) Provide regular bulletins to what I am working on so that students know their voices are being represented and I am taking the position seriously

5) Ensure timetables are provided in advance of the semester starting. It is not acceptable for students to lose work or have to rearrange care responsibilities due to timetables not being released.

6) Work with accessibility to education society and others to ensure materials are provided in advance, available from the library and accessible.