Shout About It: Community Officers

Hello everyone,  

This Shout About It Week I am taking the opportunity to celebrate our incredible Academic and Inclusion Community Officers (COs). I have had the privilege this year to have 121s and oversee the COs and I have been in awe of all there work this year. I am finding it really hard to find the words to express how proud I am of the COs. Working with them has been a highlight of my year as VP Wellbeing & Diversity. THEY ARE INCREDIBLE!

Right enough of me being sappy I am now going to highlight some of the COs achievements below if you would like to see more there will a display of achievements in the library all this week (19 – 23 May) for you to look at and we will be hosting an event to celebrate these achievements on 23 May 17:00 – 19:00 with nibbles and drinks and we hope to see you there! 

Piya Kher our Black & Global Majority Students’ Community Officer 

Piya has done such amazing work this year! Especially through her work leading on Black History Month. Piya championed this year’s theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ by hosting events, writing blogs and posting on social media.  

Delilah Ferry-Swainson our Commuting Students’ Community Officer  

Delilah became Commuting Students’ Community Officer in January, but this has not stopped her from being an unbelievable Community Officer. Delilah has worked with the university to improve the campus experience for commuting students, hosting online events to support her community and participated in the commuter student insight survey. 

JJ Littleton our Disabled Students’ Community Officer  

JJ has been such an advocate this year. Working on room accessibility, exam accessibility and working with the EDI reps within their department. JJ has also led on a variety of impactful campaigns including Disability History Month being involved in the planning the whole way through, hosting events and raising awareness through social media. JJ also worked on Deaf Awareness Week alongside a fellow empowered community member. Both of these campaigns were so impactful for the Disabled Students’ Community. 

Farha Faizal our International Students’ Community Officer  

Farha has worked tirelessly to make members of her community feel heard and to build an inclusive community. She has actively supported her community through advocating and lobbying for better accommodation support, working with the SU Advice Centre and accommodation teams. Farha also was involved with the SU’s international student survey ensuring her community could have their voices heard. She hosted a cultural fashion show, as part of Campus Unity Week. This cultural fashion show provided a space for students to showcase their culture through fashion, song and dance. This event was so impactful that this is now a permanent feature of the welcome period for international students. She truly creates a home away from home and the international students' at Royal Holloway are lucky to have her. 

Mohan Dave our LGBTQ + Students’ Community Officer  

Mohan has been such an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community this year. Leading on LGBT History Month hosting events and even performing in the Queer Creativity Showcase. Also, Mohan has representing LGBT+ Students across the SU and university within the LGBT+ Equality Groups and is the first person to advocate for their community. Mohan has also campaigned for more gender-neutral toilets and has established valuable ground work for inclusive spaces in the future. 

Naomi Tchesse our Students of Faith Community Officer  

This is Naomi’s second year as Students of Faith Community Officer and I have had the pleasure to see her achieve so much in both years. This year Naomi has hosted a plethora of events including worship nights and faith based workshops to support her community. She has worked closely with the Multi-faith chaplaincy team and delivered an amazing Interfaith of Harmony Week. Naomi is also the first person to support her other community officers whenever they need her. It has been amazing to work with her over these past two years! 

Poppy Coates our Women Students’ Community Officer 

Poppy has been absolutely incredible this year she has been involved with a plethora of campaigns run by both the SU and the Sabbs. She co led on SHAG week with Sharanya and produced 5 podcasts. Poppy led Women’s History Month from start to finish. She managed social media content, organised events, and attended every meeting. Poppy’s main focus was her Period Dignity Campaign. Poppy gathered evidence and feedback from students, societies, sport clubs, academic reps, the ALS team, department staff, and other universities to create a report to ensure further distribution of free period products. This campaign also expanded the range of period products available at the SU shop and ensured that these were provided at cost value making them accessible to all students. I am so proud of Poppy and there is no one I would have rather passed Women Students’ Community Officer over too and have loved watching the direction she has taken her community in this year.  

Suhani Malhotra our Post Graduate Taught Students’ Community Officer 

Suhani has worked hard to support her community this year and represented the PGT Community across University and Student Union groups. Her biggest achievement this year is her PGT Week and PGT Gratitude Event in term 2. PGT Week offered support to her community and hosted a variety events to create a sense of belonging for her community. The week highlighted support available for the PGT community and hosted networking events for the PGT community to meet each other! 

I am so proud and grateful for each and every one of the COs and cannot wait to see what they do next – Liv <3