Hi everyone! I’m Rebecca Fernando, and I want to start by saying a huge thank you to everyone who voted for me, believed in me, and elected me as your VP Southend. Your support means so much, and I’m proud to represent you this year.

Over the summer months, I’ve been busy building the foundations to make Southend campus an even better place for students.

Here’s a look at some of the work I’ve been doing:

📚 Training and Development

As part of my role, I completed a wide range of student leadership training to ensure I’m fully equipped to serve you effectively. This included:

• HR, Finance, Governance, Trustee, and Democracy training

• WONKHE community organising, Commercial, Retail, Health & Safety

• GDPR and Policy training

• First Aid and Food & Hygiene training , I’m proud to say I achieved a full 100% score in Food & Hygiene

These sessions gave me the knowledge and skills to represent you confidently, make informed decisions, and ensure that Southend students’ voices are heard at every level of the SU.

🌐 Conference and Networking

I attended the Southern Union Conference, which was a fantastic opportunity to connect with other student leaders across the country. This allowed me to:

• Share best practices and ideas for student engagement

• Gain insight into successful initiatives that could benefit Southend

• Network and build relationships with other SU officers to strengthen our influence and collaboration

This experience has already helped me bring fresh ideas and strategies back to Southend, ensuring we can make meaningful improvements for all students.

🤝 Student Engagement and Community

Being a good VP Southend means listening to students and making sure their priorities are heard. Over the summer, I:

• Collected and raised Southend student feedback at SU meetings

• Engaged with students through fun and interactive activities like karaoke with Alex, SU President, which helped build a stronger sense of community

• Set up a SU lock-in grid on campus, giving students a clear pathway to join the SU family and get involved in societies and events

These actions ensured students felt heard, supported, and included, which is at the heart of my role as VP Southend.

🏫 Understanding Campus Services

I also spent time learning about the practical side of the SU to better represent students’ needs:

• Gained deeper insight into SU stores including the Mini Store, SU Bar, and Pizza U

• Progressed my Big Plan to reopen the Southend canteen

• Completed First Aid and Food & Hygiene training, which supports safety and wellbeing on campus

Understanding how our services operate helps me advocate effectively for improvements and ensures that Southend students get the best possible experience.

🎯 Goals and Next Steps

All this summer work has set the stage for the year ahead.

My key goals for Southend are:

• Create more societies to build community and opportunities for all students

• Improve food options by reopening the canteen and making meals more accessible

• Introduce monthly free hot meals to support wellbeing and campus community

• Increase engagement with SCOs and student reps, ensuring they feel confident, supported, and empowered