Statement –
Hi everyone, I’m Luke and surprisingly I am 31 years old, I say surprisingly as I really don’t look my age, some of you would possibly recognise me from around the university at Kedleston road. The position I am nominating myself for is the Parent and Carer Union Officer, as a parent myself to an amazing and equally mental 16-month-old son I truly understand how difficult it can be for young parents or even parents of all ages whilst at uni. I’m currently studying on the Business Management Foundation Pathways Course with views to going onto BA Hons Business Management and Marketing. If elected I will try my hardest to not only challenge the university to make things easier for parents and carers of all ages who chose to study at university of derby, but I will try my hardest to bring change to make things 100x easier for parents and carers that struggle with childcare and all other aspects of being a parent or a carer. Change will be difficult to achieve but together we can bring the university up to a very respectable level of inclusivity and support for parents and carers. One of the issues surrounding the university and childcare facilities is that only Keddleston Road offer a parent and child study room, one thought comes to mind, Why only Keddleston? Why not Markeaton or Brittania Mill? Surely they need the facilities as well.
Aims –
- To bring more inclusivity into the University for students with children and also for students who are carers, provide more leniency with attendance due to childcare issues, and due to priorities regarding carer status
- To work with the university to bring a more clearer support plan for students that are either parents to young children or students that are carers for children/elderly or disabled relatives. Enabling them extra time for assignments.
- To investigate the possibility of bringing a day care/nursery back onto campus for the use of students and teachers
- To attempt to change the face of facilities that parents may face with additional Baby/Toddler changing facilities, especially within the library as the closest changing room is 1 floor above the parent/child study room. With this I’d hopefully work with the University to offer either a discounted rate for students and for teachers or even possibly free day care for students at Derby University.
- Also I’d like to look into the possibility of potentially dedicating one of the floors in the library at Keddleston road solely for the use of Parents or Carers, who are on sight with either their children or the person they care for so they can fell free to come into the university and get work done.