Hello everyone, I am running for the position of VP Student Experience for our Students' Union. 

Sport at Essex is BIG but I want to make it even BIGGER and achieve a spot in the top 25 sporting universities across the UK. I want to do this by focusing on our improving sporting facilities/equipment and accessibility, particularly the STP (sand-based artificial pitch), travel for our Blades teams to away fixtures by having our own minibus (or two or three), and more qualified coaches. Through my position of Vice-President of the Futsal club, I have developed an extensive understanding of the "behind the scenes" running of clubs, through sports funding, facilities/equipment and club development. This pushes my passion and drive to want to improve our outdoor sporting facilities, and promote club development through social media and promotional events like Conference Finals Day and Derby Day. This past year, I have also taken on the role of Volunteering Officer of the Futsal club. With your help, if I am elected, I want to focus on encouraging more volunteering amongst sports clubs and societies to further promote Raising and Giving (RAG). 

As a member of multiple societies, I have become more aware of the inequalities between sports club and societies. I would like to focus on improving societies' experiences through funding and ease of room bookings. Increasing the funding available for societies will allow them to run smoothly, put on great events, support their members, and be as productive as possible! 

I am a Wellbeing Ambassador, and I sit on the executive committee of the new Cultural Welcome Pack Project (project working to provide a free resource for all international students that study at Essex). This involvement has really opened my eyes to the affect volunteering opportunities can have on students, not just by improving our employability but our self-improvement and confidence. I intend to focus on promoting volunteering opportunities as much as possible!

The University of Essex consists of three campuses: Colchester, Southend and Loughton (East 15 Acting School). The student experience we have in Colchester is not the same as Southend and Loughton and I believe I have the ideas to change this! We can enhance the student experience in Southend and Loughton by looking into introducing sister sports clubs, societies and volunteering projects, for example having 3 executive committees across the 3 campuses with encouraged collaboration to run the club/society/project together. I also want to explore an increase for the Just Play budget in Southend to help fund a travel to their sporting activities! The Just Play programme is an amazing initiative which offers free sport for students, but with a little more funding, it can be even better! Finally, I want to bring Rebel to Southend and Loughton. Rebel is our free student media which provides students with the opportunity to get involved in all aspects of media, and most importantly, promote our student voice! Why not spread the Rebel love across all three Essex campuses, seems like a no-brainer to me. 

A last little note from me, if you see me around campus, please come and say hello and talk to me about anything else you want to see changed in the next academic year :)

Tanyel x

DON'T DWELL, VOTE TANYEL!