Hello Roehampton!

My name is Sharon and I am a final year Biological/Biomed Science student - or should I say your next VP of Community and Welfare. You might recognise me as your current Black students' officer, SET's race equality champion for Life Sciences or as the previous VP of the BAME society! My work this last year has really highlighted the most prevalent issues on this campus. I would love the opportunity to not only tackle these issues, but also to continue the incentives I have started this last year. I aim to focus on the following areas: 

Low-Income Students

• Re-vamp the Student Hardship Fund - payment more than once an academic year, re-view the criteria to be met and greater promotion to reach a wider number of students. 

•  Free food pantry - regularly stocked food pantry with essentials for students who may struggle to afford groceries. 

•  Accomodation - reduced price for students who meet certain criteria and option for commuter students to (infrequently) rent vacant rooms. 

•  Reduced gym prices.

•  Reduced meal prices - Significantly lowered prices in the final hour leading up to the daily closure of canteens. Rather than disposing of perfectly edible food and contributing to food waste, a greater percentage of it would be put to use (and going to students who otherwise would not have been able to afford a meal!)

•  Free shuttle bus - an extended timetable with a more frequent and later run.

Representation for POC

• Black History Month - continuing what I have completed this year! This includes the podcast, film festival, mental health panel, Growhampton collaboration, library display, book club, student celebration and more!

• Racial diversity in the historical photos displayed around campus.

• Culturally diverse food in campus canteens. 

• Consistently re-viewing the curriculum in order to de-colonise and diversify it. 

• Online Moodle anti-racism resources in order to create a more inclusive and socially aware campus environment.

Mental Health

• Casual drop-ins for students to offload and express any concerns.

• University counselling - longer sessions offered, shorter waiting lists and greater visibility about services.

• Conferences and panel discussions.  

• Mandatory Mental Health First Aid training for those in student leadership positions.

Student Safety and Engagement

• Improved lighting around campus - especially on Whitelands.

• Support for Christian faith based societies and the Chaplaincy team. 

• Training for the Bystander Intervention Team to accompany students walking home from late-night events (BOP, Karaoke etc.)

I have had the best time as your Black students' officer and have loved meeting and working with so many of you! I would really appreciate your vote to be your next VP of Community and Welfare, so that we can continue to make this university great :)

For any questions, or to keep up with the campaign, please follow @shar4communitywelfare on Instagram.