Candidate Hub

How to Write a Personal Statement:

As part of your nomination, you’ll need to submit a personal statement which answers the below questions:

• What qualities do you have that make you the strongest candidate for this role?
• What relevant experience do you have that you’d bring to this role?
• What is one thing people should know about you?

To help you cover these questions, and write a personal statement that will catch voters’ eyes, we recommend considering the following points when writing your answers:

Building Your Campaign

Campaigning is your way to show voters that you’re the right person for the role and convince them to vote for you!

Everyone has a different style when it comes to campaigning, and different approaches work for different people. We understand it can be a little daunting, but running a campaign is a great way to build skills and have fun. Below we’ve put together some tips on how you can reach students and run a successful campaign to get them to vote for you.

Firstly, you need to understand your campaign - Your campaign should follow the five W's:

• Who are you?
• What are you running for?
• Why should someone vote for you?
• When can they do this?
• Where can they do this?

Next, you need to think about ways you’d like to reach students. Here are some ideas:

Make a Poster/Leaflet - The best way to start is by designing a poster or leaflet that highlights your manifesto points, who you are and how people can vote for you. A good way to do this is through www.canva.com which has a host of ideas and free templates available to you. Be sure to check the Election Rules & Regulations around printed materials and campaign spending.

Go Speak to Students - It may seem obvious, but just going up and speaking to people is a great way to get your name out there. Try not to interrupt people, but head over to introduce yourself to someone on their lunch break and ask if they'd be interested in learning why you’re the best person for your chosen role. Some other tips to keep in mind when engaging students:

• Think about how to stand out from other candidates and factor this into your approach
• Prepare your message first. Know your key talking points and have a clear defined goal for the conversation to ensure its productive.
• Practice makes perfect! Public speaking is a skill, and it takes a lot of confidence to engage students. Don’t worry if you’re not immediately perfect at it – it takes practice and time but you’ll build strong communication skills over time.
• Develop unique conversation starters and talking points.
• Targeted engagement is the best. Try not to approach students who are busy. Instead, look for students who have a free time to listen to you.
• Keep positive and happy! First impressions count, so make sure you speak to everyone –not just voters—respectfully and politely. After all, Elections are all about having fun.

Make Use of YOUR Social Media - A great way of campaigning is to use your social media to let people know you're running and what you stand for. Don't create a new account as people who don't follow it won't see your amazing ideas. Use your own social media channels and tell people about your campaign. You can create great graphics using Canva. Don't forget to create content that appeals to your audience.

Make a Campaign Video - Another great way of using social media is to make a campaign video. It doesn't have to be the next Avengers film! it just needs to be you speaking to the camera about the five W's we mentioned above!

Have a Catchy Slogan - We use STV (Single Transferrable Voting). The truth is not everyone is going to vote for you. Some people may already be supporting their friends and you won't be able to change that. However, the benefit of SVT means that you can still potentially be their second choice. When speaking to someone, kindly ask that "if I'm not your first choice, please consider me for your second or third choice". The final count can change drastically as votes are redistributed to second and third choices.

Remember to Have Fun! - These elections are an opportunity for you to put yourself out there, try something new and push to enact real change at Roehampton, but don't forget to keep a smile on your face and have fun with your campaign!

Keep it Accessible

When you’re campaigning or creating content for Elections, it’s important to consider how you can make it accessible and inclusive, so that everyone feels part of the Roehampton community and has an equitable opportunity to engage in your campaign.

Accessibility can look different for everyone, but it’s helpful to create a variety of materials that are inclusive and accessible for different people.

Here are a few simple things you can do to improve your campaign:

Written materials

• Try to use a 14pt font size which is accessible to a larger audience. We also recommend using accessible fonts such as Ariel, Tahoma, or Calibri.
• Make sure you choose your colours carefully as this will impact the colour contrast of your materials. It’s recommended that text has a high enough contrast from its background. There are different tools to help you check this, such as the Contrast Checker where you can compare the two colours you are using.
• Think about the format you’re using. Where possible, align text to the left and keep a consistent layout.
• Use images and diagrams to support any text.
• Keep your content short, clear, and simple.

To help you cover these questions, and write a personal statement that will catch voters’ eyes, we recommend considering the following points when writing your answers:

Online materials

• Use accurate, meaningful alt text on every image you post. Alt text (alternative text) is a short, written description of an image added to digital content, such as websites or documents. It is primarily used by screen readers to help visually impaired users understand visual content. You can also create alt text for Instagram posts too – click here for more information.
• Add captions to videos.
• Use capital letters at the start of each word in a hashtag.
• Utilise the tips in the written material section for online content too.
• Consider what information could be made into video or audio material, over text.

Best Practice for Candidates

Elections are a great opportunity to develop transferrable skills and experiences for the future, as well as meet new people. They’re also meant to be fun and light-hearted for the Roehampton community.

As candidates, you must follow the Election Rules and Regulations at all times to ensure everyone has an equitable election experience. We’ve also put together guidance below on the best practices that will make you a star candidate in the election, and help you run a successful, ethical and impactful campaign.

Plan ahead

• Start by understanding your voters – what their needs and concerns are. This will guide you in writing your personal statement but also help you strengthen your campaign messaging.
• Create a campaign timeline with key dates for election events (i.e. banner making sessions), releasing campaign materials, and engaging with voters.
• Develop a clear budget plan to manage your campaign finances effectively.

Be a Role Model

• As a candidate, you are telling voters that you are the best person to be their representative and lead them. To that effect, your actions should be reflective of a leader and embody positive qualities.
• Respect your fellow candidates and focus on promoting your own campaign. Avoid negative campaigning, personal attacks, and getting involved in any drama.
• As a potential representative, embody the core values of the Students’ Union throughout the Elections process.

Importance of Wellbeing

• Elections can be overwhelming and tiring, so make sure you get enough rest and look after your physical health.
• Seek support from the Elections team if you feel overwhelmed or need any support.
• Manage your time effectively. Campaigning is important but should not take priority over your health or any other responsibilities you may have.
• Regardless of the outcome of elections, make the most of the experience and gain as many skills as you can for the future.
• Plan fun things to do during the elections to look after your mind and boost your mood. This could be going out with friends, cooking a delicious meal, or short boosters such as going for a walk or playing sports.

Campaigning Responsibly

• • Elections are a time to make friends and showcase your best qualities and talents. Although you’ll be running against other candidates for the same position, it’s important to look after peers and remain supportive and respectful.
• Maintain respectful engagement at all times, including both online and in-person interactions.
• Be mindful of people’s personal space and boundaries.