Amber Ahmed.

Candidate for VP Wellbeing & Diversity

My name is Amber, and I am running for VP wellbeing and diversity. Having experienced a range of wellbeing services during education, I believe student welfare needs continuous improvement, and I want students to feel both heard and helped. Therefore, I will advocate for changes to wellbeing services and raise awareness about issues students experience. I hope you will vote for me, so I can amplify the voice of every student. :)

1. Improving student support:
   • Commuting students: breaks between lessons can be daunting. I will organise support and workshops on managing time. These are applicable for non-commuters too. Additionally, making friends can be difficult, so I will arrange events for commuters to socialise.
   • Learning disabilities: raising awareness on different types, identifying signs of a condition in yourself, and accessing support.
   • Disability and neurodiversity service: currently, accessing the service is challenging without a diagnosis, which can take years, by when students may have graduated. I will advocate for provisions for those with signs of physical/learning disabilities who are having difficulties being diagnosed.
   • Collaborating with VP education, ensuring wellbeing in courses is continuously being improved.
   • Designated ‘safe spaces’ in SU venues which students can use to take a break, or report misconduct/harassment.
2. Hands-on mental health support:
   • Implementing anonymous services: students may struggle to utilise wellbeing services, leaving them suffering in silence. I will advocate for provision of anonymous mental health chats, e.g telephone or online.
   • Aiming to introduce mental health representatives: student volunteers, with personal experience, who provide advice and support for struggling students on a peer-to-peer basis.
   • Easily accessible resources in lessons: e.g. information cards on accessing support within university.
   • Improving RH Be Heard (misconduct reporting) service: the anonymous form does not allow students to explain events in detail, therefore, they may experience misconduct without being able to report it. I will also publicise the service more, as many are unaware of its existence.
   • Designated ‘safe spaces’ in SU venues which students can use to take a break, or report misconduct/harassment.
3. Improving living standards:
   • Cleanliness: students have expressed concerns that accommodation is dirty, with incidences of rats. I will advocate for a more regular cleaning schedule, and support for students on keeping living spaces tidy.
   • Maintenance: concerns are pushed aside, leaving students with broken ovens and malfunctioning heating. I will advocate for a more organised maintenance approach, improving student welfare.
   • Negative behaviour: students have complained misconduct in accommodation is not handled accordingly. Advocating for a firmer approach to negative behaviour will help students feel more comfortable.