For this year I have had a clear focus of ensuring that students feel supported, represented, and able to thrive throughout their university experience.
For this year I have had a clear focus of ensuring that students feel supported, represented, and able to thrive throughout their university experience. Across a range of priorities, from wellbeing and inclusion to financial and practical support, I have worked to turn student feedback into meaningful action.
A key part of my work centred on mental health and student support. Through initiatives like Wobble Week and Destresstival, I collaborated with 10 university and Union departments to deliver over 30 activities aimed at helping students navigate the challenges of university life. These initiatives not only reached hundreds of students but also contributed to a measurable impact, with first-semester withdrawals reduced by 3.2%. Most encouragingly, 83% of students reported knowing where to access support, showing real progress in empowering students to seek help when they need it.
In response to sector-wide challenges such as staff changes and redundancies, I prioritised student voice and continuity. I worked to ensure students were supported during periods of uncertainty, advocating for clear communication from the University and reinforcing the importance of maintaining an up-to-date Student Protection Plan.
Financial pressures remain a key concern for students and graduates, on a national level I joined the NUS in campaigning for a fairer student loans system particularly significant parts of this campaigning include protesting outside of parliament on the launch of the spring budget and lobbying MPs on the NUS National Lobby day to ask how they were going to support Derby students and Graduates. Locally, I launched and expanded the Clothing Swap, which has already supported over 280 students with access to free clothing, helping reduce financial strain while promoting sustainability and inclusion.
A significant part of my role has been ensuring students feel seen, valued, and included, particularly those from underrepresented communities. I launched a Gender Library to provide access to gender-affirming items and worked to improve the quality and inclusivity of gender-neutral facilities on campus. While engagement with the library is still growing, groundwork has been laid to ensure it becomes more visible and accessible in the future.
I also focused on building community and celebration through LGBTQ+ initiatives. During LGBTQ+ History Month, I supported the delivery of seven events, and over the course of the year engaged with over 100 students and staff. Beyond this, I helped re-establish a regular LGBTQIA+ Community, creating a safe and welcoming environment for students to connect and support one another.
Supporting disabled students and accessibility has been another core focus. I ensured 100% of relevant Union staff completed disability awareness training and worked to embed accessibility into wider Union practices. Although some initiatives, such as sports club adoption of sunflower arm bands, faced barriers, I continued to work closely with students and University teams to address challenges and advocate for improvements. My involvement in the Disabled Student Commitment working group has also helped place accessibility at the centre of long-term institutional change.
Overall, this year has been one of progress, learning, and impact. While not every goal was fully achieved, each challenge has provided valuable insight and laid the groundwork for future improvements. I am really pleased with the progress and changes I have made within this role, it has been an incredibly enjoyable experience to work within a team of so many amazing people at the Union and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to do so. Also I would like to say a huge thank you to all of the students who elected me to be the VP (Welfare) and all who have supported me within the role. I am really looking forward to the coming year and seeing what additional impacts I can make within the Union and University, within my new role of Union President.