Autumn Elections 2016 Candidates Manifestos
Part Time Officer Positions International Students’ Officer Janna-Carla Niemi Re-open nominations
LGBT+ Officer Alexandra Wells Re-open nominations
Student Disability Officer Fran Storey Re-open nominations
Welfare Officer
Charlie Russell Danny Gregory Lisa Preece Re-open nominations
International Students’ Officer: Janna-Carla Niemi
My name is Janna and I’m a third year student here at University of Worcester. My time here in Worcester has been amazing and that is why I’m running for the International student’s officers. My goals as an international student officer will be the following.
To ensure all international student will get as good an experience out of their time in Worcester as they can To try and make us international students become a closer group with activities and events To try and organise more trips, events and activities for international students
I promise to listen and help any international student with any issue or suggestion they might have to really make them comfortable and happy here in Worcester. I believe I would be a good international officer because I’m interested in people and helping them and I believe I have the right kind of attitude towards this position and ensuring that all students get treated equally. I’m hoping to give all international students the same kind of experience and the same kind of support I have gotten from the previous international officers. I have experience from working as a StAR that I believe will help me when working as an international officer. I’m glad to answer any of your questions so if you see me around just stop me and we will have a chat. Just remember to vote to get your voice heard!
LGBT+ Officer: Alexandra Wells What would it be like without both Equality and Diversity? Would there still be a fair chance for everyone? Without both Equality and Diversity, there would not be a fair opportunity for a majority within society. The Equality act 2010, has enabled for fairness of individuals to progress for example within work places. Although the act is still fairly young, it has been noticed and credited within society. Throughout the past four years, I have delved into the ideas of both Equality and Diversity. As both a student and a young adult, I feel that there should be a consistency of this throughout both University and places of work. As an Equality and Diversity ambassador previously, my duty was to make awareness of both Equality and Diversity. Through this, I had created a variety of posters, leaflets and flyers to attain awareness. I had also attended a variety of meetings in order as part of the students voice. This in particular, had allowed for myself and the three other colleagues I had worked with, to raise any concerns and enabled us to change or improve communication between both student and lecture. I feel as an individual that communication is key, as this heightens student satisfaction and this to enables change or improvement. If I am allocated the position of being an LGBT officer, I can promise with confidence that I will listen to advice and feedback. I will be supportive of students and there feedback or ideas.
Student Disability Officer: Fran Storey
I'm Fran Storey, a 3rd year Forensic & Applied Biology Student and the current Disabled Student Officer. This year we have successfully worked together to ensure that disabled students have an audible voice within the university, we have looked at inclusion and accessibility issues and started an ongoing dialogue to ensure that disabled students achieve the same student experience as their peers. If you re-elect me I aim to: maintain and develop further the budding relationship with student services; to question the university whenever inclusion and/or accessibility issues arise; to work with you to ensure that your student experience is the most amazing and memorable time; to run a disability fair that gives you information for your present and future. So please vote Fran Storey #1 for Student Disability Officer and let us discover, together, what we can achieve this year.
Welfare Officer: Charlie Russell
Hi I am a second year Criminology and Sociology student. I am the Chair Woman of the UWVV. If elected as Welfare officer I will: 1. I will improve the bus service so it’s more accessible for all students. 2. I will bring the sexual health clinic to uni 3. I will campaign to provide healthy meal options in the canteen and in the vending machines 4. I will invite addiction charities Beat and AA to provide support groups on campus. The buses are late and do not turn up. First Bus scrapped the 31b service last year meaning very few buses stop directly at the main St Johns or Riverside and Arena sites. I will campaign to get the service reinstated and improve the reliability of the buses serving the campuses as a whole. Sexual health There are two sexual health clinics in the town centre and one will not offer treatments to patients over twenty five years of age. If elected I will campaign for a group in clinic on campus. Well being I would campaign for r educed prices of food, improved labelling for dietary allergies and more healthy options on campus. Mental health. I would invite addiction support charities BEAT and Alcoholics Anonymous on campus to run support groups. There is currently not a Beat support group in Worcester. I want to enable students to receive mental health services on campus.
Welfare Officer: Danny Gregory
I chose to run for Welfare Officer because I know what it is like to be at university and feel alone and to need to improve my own welfare due to mental health so I have a partial understanding of what support is wanted by students, but I am unaware of everything. You are having your say for who represents your welfare, if you want something to change then I can be your voice and together we make change happen. I already hold an interest with mental health and welfare issues with my current role as Internal Coordinator/Project Lead with the Nightline service at this University. I also have volunteered with a number of mental health and wellbeing charities. My main aims: Work on a sport & society buddy system where students who’re shy or have anxiety about being in new situations will have a volunteer buddy attend a session with them so they know someone in attendance. Continue to improve the Nightline service, providing a place for students to have someone who will listen to them. Work on either creating a new service or widening the Spectrum support group. Working towards making a service for people with mental health issues to be able to chat, interact and socialise with others who are also going through life with similar issues in a safe social environment. I will also be open to any ideas people have and we need to work together to improve and maintain welfare within the SU.
Welfare Officer: Lisa Preece
I am a mature, part-time student with a lifetime’s experience of mental health difficulties. I knew going to University wouldn’t be easy but with persistence and plenty of support I am nearing the end of my degree. I know, however, that many students don’t know how to access support at University and quickly feel overwhelmed. My aims in office will be:
Help spread the word about support for stress and mental health issues Seek opinions from students as to where the gaps in support are Help staff and volunteers within the Students’ Union understand and feel confident in providing support to students facing difficulties Help all students feel welcome in the Students’ Union and student societies Look into creating care packages with information on how to support yourself or your friends who are experiencing problems
I have spent 3 years as a full-time student and am now in my third year part-time trying to finish my degree. I was an active member of student council for 2 years and was elected Mature Students’ Officer before my illness flared up again. I have had support from the University Mental Health team and the Chaplaincy. As you can see, I’ve kind of been around a bit and I feel my experiences at University make me a good Welfare Officer candidate.
Student Councillor Positions Postgraduate Student Representative Verity Postlethwaite Re-open nominations
Worcester Business School Representative Kirk Wood Re-open nominations
Postgraduate Student Representative: Verity Postlethwaite
I became a postgraduate student at the University of Worcester, in October last year, and want to continue to actively contribute to the student body of Worcester. The university is clearly ambitious in its growth and progression in the coming years; therefore, it is vitally important that the students have a voice. The group I would want to represent is postgraduates, in particular research based students. I have a connection with the students that make up the postgraduate community as I am the Chairperson of the Research Student Society and work in the shared study space of research students in Jenny Lind. Combining both my interest in voicing students opinions and my connection with the postgraduate student community, I would be an ideal candidate for the Student Councillor role. Additionally, I have experience in two other universities of representing and voicing student opinion. At undergraduate level I was on the committee of a sports club for all three years, including participating in a student led facilities review. When completing my masters part time, I again took on significant responsibility in a sports club, this led to being an elected member of the Student Council representing the large sports teams across the university. From these experiences I not only understand the time needed to dedicate to being a Student Councillor, but also the types of skills and techniques to be the most effective Councillor and representation of postgraduate views.
Worcester Business School Representative: Kirk Wood
KIRK WOOD Student Councillor – Worcester Business School Rep Second Year Computing Student
Currently working as a Student Academic Representative (StAR) for Computing students at Worcester Business School, regularly communicating with peers and members of staff to create a better academic experience. Also working as a Student Demonstrator and at The Hive, providing technical assistance and demonstrations to students and the general public.
Goals:
1. To ensure that WBS students are represented equally within the university. 2. To improve communication between St.Johns Campus and City Campus/WBS. 3. To increase the presence of the Student Union and societies over on City Campus. 4. To ensure that WBS students feel confident in expressing their views in the union. 5. To further improve the StAR system by discussing and implementing new ideas.