This month has been incredibly busy, but also very meaningful.

Alongside continuing my work as VP Welfare, I have been campaigning as I am rerunning for the role. It has been a really energising experience speaking to students, listening to their concerns and sharing what I want to continue improving for our community.

Since the last council, a lot of work has been happening behind the scenes. We have been having regular meetings to discuss the SU’s position regarding the upcoming restructure. These conversations are important because they shape how we support students and staff moving forward.

I also spent some time working with and shadowing cases at SU Advice. It was a valuable experience to see more closely the kind of challenges students bring forward and the support that goes into helping them. It reminded me how essential these services are for our student community.

This month we also held our AGM, where we shared updates with students about the SU’s position and ongoing work. Transparency and communication with students is something I really care about, so it was good to be able to summarise where we are and what we are working on.

I had a really productive meeting with Kanisha where we discussed campus safety and what steps might come next. We also talked about the transport campaign we are working on together and agreed on the agenda for our next meeting. Transport is something many students have raised, so I am looking forward to moving this work forward.

Another exciting development came from one of our Women’s SCOs who suggested introducing a women’s hour in the gym. I met with James from the gym to discuss how we can make this happen and the idea is currently in progress. It is a brilliant initiative that could help make gym spaces feel more accessible and comfortable.

SHAG Month has also been a highlight of this period. The Sexual Health Awareness Guide events have been amazing and the engagement from students has been incredible. Every event was a success, and the bingo event in particular was a huge hit. It was great to see students learning about sexual health in a fun, open and comfortable environment.

On the governance side, I attended the Tackling Racism Committee and also chaired both the HR Committee and the Finance Committee this month. These meetings are important spaces where decisions and discussions happen that shape how the SU operates.

For International Women’s Day, I had the chance to film some of our female SU staff members for a small feature. They really enjoyed sharing their experiences and it was a lovely way to celebrate the incredible women who work here.

I also left small handwritten notes in the Greenhouse and the Kitchen for students. It was a simple gesture but it meant a lot to see the responses. Some students sent me really sweet messages afterwards and it genuinely made my day.

This month I also travelled to Reading to attend the Southern Conference. It was very informative and it was great to meet representatives from other Students’ Unions and hear about the work they are doing. Sharing ideas and learning from each other is always valuable.

At the Student Experience meeting, I raised questions around Report and Support and asked whether the ongoing redundancies might affect the services provided by SWIS. I stressed that students are already experiencing delays in responses and it is important that support services remain accessible and responsive.

Food affordability work has also continued. I have been meeting with Alex and the Commercial Team to finalise details for the food bundles we have been working on. We have now agreed on key aspects and they should be introduced very soon, which I am really excited about.

I was also invited to attend a roundtable discussion organised by WISTEM for International Women’s Day. It was a really insightful conversation about women in different spaces and how we continue building more inclusive environments.

Beyond meetings, I made sure to attend a number of student events as well. I joined the rugby charity event for Women’s Day, attended the Grand Iftaar organised by ISOC and visited several other society events. Being present at these moments is always a reminder of how vibrant and diverse our student community is.

I also attended the University of Sanctuary meeting where I raised concerns about students from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East who may be struggling due to the impact of war and conflict in their regions. I asked if the university could consider additional academic support such as assignment flexibility, extensions and better communication for those affected.

Finally, I also attended Senate this month, continuing to represent the student voice in those discussions.

It has been a very full month, but it has also been incredibly rewarding. From governance meetings and campaigns to small moments with students, every part of this role reminds me why student representation matters.