Hi everyone!

I am running to be your next VP Community and Welfare! Over the last two years I’ve been the President of the Mental Health Network where I’ve supported students who may be struggling with their mental health or feeling isolated. We recently held our first ever University Mental Health Awareness Week which involved various events including a Mindfulness Writing Workshop, a yoga class and a panel discussion with the charity SANE on the impact of juggling university life on mental health. Organising this week of events confirmed how passionate I am about mental health, supporting others and developing ways to improve and expand my positive impact. Over my time at Roehampton I’ve developed from someone who could barely talk to my flatmates because of anxiety, to now campaigning to improve welfare standards in the university as your VP Community and Welfare!

What will I aim to do if elected?

I am running in the elections because I think that more could be done to provide students with additional support whilst at Roehampton. There needs to be more emphasis on educating and teaching students about ways to look after themselves and manage their feelings. Below you can find out how I intend to do this:

Working with SANE

Having already worked with SANE, there is potential for me to develop a partnership with the charity and their Black Dog Campaign. I would like to set up a programme with them to provide additional support for students and hopefully relieve some of the pressure on the Wellbeing Team.

Campaigning

As well as supporting the other Sabbs, part-time officers and RSU staff with various events throughout the year I also have ideas to work on campaigns for the following:

-        Promoting positive mental health (e.g. Pay It Forward Day)

-        Peer pressure (e.g. drinking, drugs)

Workshops / classes/ activities

-        Therapy workshops (art, drama, music etc.)

-        Yoga and sport sessions centred around mental health

-        Panel talks / guest speakers, workshops on self-care, spotting signs of depression and anxiety, when and where to get help, how to support friends. 

Additional support for students

-        Buddy support system (students can have someone to chat to and go to events with e.g. societies and sport teams.)

-        Support system for transition period to university (freshers, post grad etc.)

-        Tackling isolation – including freshers, international students and postgraduate students.

-        Engage more with off campus / commuting students

Additional support for key roles in the University

-        Mental health training for key people including senior flat reps and mental health network representatives.

-        Increasing support for part-time officers and heads of societies. Including extensions on deadlines when officer role interferes.

Any suggestions and feedback that you would like to share with me I’d be happy to take on! Message me on Facebook or come and say hi if you see me around campus!

I genuinely want to put all of you at the heart of what I do!