COMMUNITY/WELLBEING CANDIDATES

Represents students on issues affecting their wellbeing; such as health, finance, accommodation, and security, as well as wider community issues. The Community and Wellbeing Officer is key to ensuring that students from a range of backgrounds and minority groups are represented within the University. They also ensure that students are represented fairly within the local community, liaising with both town and parish council officials.

HANNAH NIMMO | SHE/HER/HERS | VOTE FOR HANNAH, CAN SHE FIX IT? VOTE FOR Psychology

Cost of living continues to impact students, especially with rent prices and bills going up across the city. How are you going to better support off-campus students to afford rent, food, and heating?

The University needs to expand the Household Energy Grant criteria so all students who need it can access it. Similarly, YUSU could look to open a community pantry, which other SUs have already done, to allow students access to free ingredients to cook with. Most importantly, a collaborative approach is needed between the two Universities in York to help to stabilise the housing market so that students aren’t priced out of the city.

What else should YUSU bars sell for 40p?

The serious answer to this question is a bigger variety of options - other things on toast besides beans, a cold lunch alternative such as sandwiches, as well as a later afternoon/evening food option to suit all the mealtimes of the day. Hot drinks for 40p in the colder months of the year especially could also be good! However, if YUSU wanted to sell pints for 40p at some point, I wouldn’t mind that…

Three Key Manifesto Points

1. Continue to work to ensure that ALL students feel represented by the Union.

2. Push for better affordability of housing, and a more streamlined application process for accommodation.

3. Lobby to introduce more signage for wheelchair-friendly, cycle-friendly, and accessible walking paths around campus.