Manifesto for Student Presidency
Elliot Horne, current Union Society chair of 2020/21 and President of the Pool and Snooker Society for the last 2 years! I am currently studying an Accounting Degree and am based at Kedleston Road. I am running for the Student President role, to further my commitment to the student body and make real change to reflect the student voice.
In my time as a student, I have been heavily involved in many aspects of the student experience. Including; academic, activity and welfare based situations.
Personal Background
I have worked in managerial roles within various catering outlets in the 8 years prior to starting my university journey, and have managed both takeaways and bars and worked as a chef. So, I am confident with organisation skills, clear communication, and high-pressure situations.
Academia
Since my first year of studies, I have been authorised to give extra top-up academic skills sessions to those that need the extra helping hand. From referencing, locating resources or assignment formatting and structure.
This in mind, I have also always been the individual in the education sector to ensure that there is a social network, through ‘What’s-app’ or ‘Messenger’, to ensure all students have a sense of unity and belonging within my relevant educational sections. This also helps with making sure students are kept up to date with all new ongoings. This could be education based or with new content/resources made available through the Union of Students.
I believe this has demonstrated great communication skills, as well as listening to the student voice on a one-to-one basis, as well as talking within a larger group.
Activities
My involvement with the union of students began with taking over as President of the ‘Pub games society’ in 2018/19, and after a rebrand, is now widely recognised as ‘pool and snooker’. Which has high membership, engagement, and strong social networking. Paying close attention to inclusivity aims and reflecting the student voice in the best positive way possible. (2019/20). Our success as a society has included winning British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) points on behalf of the University of Derby. Pool and snooker shall continue to represent the Union at BUCS competitions as a sports club in the future.
My work with the pool and snooker society led me to being elected as the new ‘Union Society Chair’ (2020/21). In this role I have overseen the workings of the society council, leading the council to approve a dozen new societies, and helped keep motivation high through a difficult year of Covid-19. This was done by announcing ‘Society of the Month’ to reward and recognise the societies that have stepped up and smashed the barriers put up by the pandemic..
Through training, I have learnt how to deal with any issues arising through miscommunication and dealing with communication from the students to the union relevant to my role to convey the student voice to the best of my ability.
Welfare
Mental health and the welfare of all students is not a light-hearted topic, and is, in my personal opinion, the most important aspect of the Union’s remit. Whether it be as part of a social group or society, and having a common purpose, students can find their place within the University of Derby and feel a sense of community. However, further resources and efforts are needed, and further action taken to ensure that the welfare of each and every student is taken into consideration. I have taken small steps to achieve this as President of the pool and snooker society, by creating a Student Liaison role to sign-post our members to the right place for any help with their welfare needs, which has become increasingly important as the pandemic carries on.
In addition, I worked closely with Lisa Varley, Director of ‘The Halls of Residence’, to ensure that we worked closely to help the loneliness statistics within halls to improve. Students moving to derby, away from parents for the first time is extremely daunting. Our aim was to make students continue to feel involved and encourage internetworking within their accommodation. Physical efforts were halted this year due to Covid-19. However, plans are already in place to continue this effort, with paperwork and pre-organised plans in place for my successors in the society.
In the past, I have taken a keen note to listen to people’s problems and become a problem solver. I believe that with conveying the student's voice to implement real change, this quality is essential to anyone undertaking this role. Many students that know me through my roles and responsibilities can attest to my problem-solving attitude as I have already been paying attention to students, even outside personal social circles. It is this very quality that will put me in great stead to convey the student's voice and help resolve any issues and implement crucial changes.
Manifesto Points
As your president, I aim to make an efficient change within the union of student, especially on my following manifesto points.
- Mental Welfare, I will strive to increase the mental welfare; budget and efforts, to improve the quality of care we can expect from the University of Derby. Throughout and following Covid-19, this will be needed more than ever.
- Library Resources, I will help students access the library resources, using priority booking systems at peak times. This shall ensure that the laptops and room bookings are given to the students who have imminent assignment deadlines and exams, in contrast to the bookings being made by regular study and social groups.
- Collaboration and Community, I will work with societies, sports and student-led services, to increase the collaboration events and student networking between all groups, under the union of students. This will help people connect with more than just their usual social groups and increase engagement amongst the university community.
- Recognisable training, I will bring extra training to all committees, including first aid training and management skills, to help improve recognisable skills attained during voluntary roles. This will increase the employability of all students and improve the student experience with extra-curricular activities.
- Better University Transport, I will work with the University of Derby to improve transport times to ensure students are able to travel safely, especially during the later hours of the day. This will help transport from campus when students have an evening lecture, as well as, society/sports being able to transport students from external venues.
- Community Recognition and Appreciation, I will promote a positive image of the student image within the community of Derby itself. With the promotion of how the student body gives back to the community.
I am running for student president, which means I hope to be on the frontlines, fighting to get the union of students back on solid ground after such a difficult year. Bringing back a sense of normality into the student experience, whilst still trying to improve the union of students with the new online skills we have learnt this year and work with the other VP roles to look out for all students to improve their education, social networking, and their personal mental welfare.
I want to thank you for taking the time to read my manifesto, and I hope that you recognise me as the vote that will reflect your student voice the best.
“Sounding the Horne for change, vote Elliot Horne”
Elliot Horne,
Student President Candidate,