VP Welfare May Blog
Hey guys, I know were deep in exam season now, so I just wanted to remind you all myself or SU advice are available if you need any support. I think this might be my last blog on here, so I just wanted to say thank you all so much for am amazing 2 years it’s been so great working with all the council reps and SCO’s and meeting so many students and having a few great opportunities.
As always, I want to keep you all updated on what I’ve been working on, so here’s the latest. But as ever feel free to get in touch if you have any questions!
Awards week:
It’s been such an honour presenting at all the awards this week as someone who was heavily involved in sports, societies, VTeam and was SU student staff it was so amazing and felt like a full circle moment presenting at them. And anyone who tell me very emotional at the end of sports award knows just how appreciative I am of the committees, execs and teams I was a part of that gave me such a great student experience.
I also really loved being in charge of the decorations at the Representation awards and when Ashley set me the task to make it better than last year I think I accomplished that and the year in democracy and year in education gridwalls were very well received ( I’m so glad as they took hours of searching for photos, printing and laminating).
I will always be a TAS former president and alumni, and Peter Pan and the nutcracker will always have a special place in my heart and the lifetime achievement award is still very proudly on my shelf.
I will always be an Essex blades girlie: pole (I’ve still got the bruises and still remember the applause in the studio when I finally nailed my Ballerina Spin), Dance I’ve still got memories of after Jazz, Ryan trying to teach my ballroom and being hungover after FED cleaning my flat kitchen after hosting FED Pres. Oh and who can forget Softball still can’t believe I managed to captain us to the finals last year. The Essex Softies were the true underdog to winner’s story. Forever and always backing the blades❤️🖤
Being Deputy project lead of the Cultural welcome project in VTeam was so much fun. Me and Tanyel did a lot of work trying to help international students settle into Essex a lot better and I am forever grateful to Chris Moore for his massive support with all my crazy performance-based fundraisers – One Man Down, Essex Got Talent, Charity Showcase.
Extraordinary Senate
At our recent Extraordinary Senate, the academic calendar was officially passed and is now moving forward to be reviewed by the University Council. A big step in improving how the academic year works for students.
Recruitment:
I’ve been involved in a fair bit of recruitment this year, on both the SU and university side. Most recently, I helped recruit our two new student staff members for next year as we say goodbye to our incredible Lydia and Alex. Although, we’re not really losing Alex... he’s just moving into a new role as your next SU President! 🎉
Module Costs Transparency
This term, I had students applying for SU Emergency Loans to cover unexpected costs tied to certain modules. After speaking to the Student Development Team and discussing it in the Cost of Living Working Group, I raised the issue with Lara, the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education.
Some students weren’t told in advance that modules like SC362-6-SP-CO (Visual Cultures) would include required gallery visits, with transport costs only partially reimbursed. With places like London or Ipswich on the list, £10 doesn’t stretch far.
Another module, SC920 (Colonialism), has been flagged for being taught off-campus at Firstsite, which wasn’t made clear in the module directory — a key issue for students in on-campus halls who now need extra transport.
While these are optional modules, students rightly feel these additional costs should be clearly listed beforehand. I’ve asked the University to revisit previous work on removing hidden costs and improve transparency in module information. If you’ve experienced this too, let me know — the more examples we have, the better we can advocate for change.
Course-Specific Costs
Off the back of my work with the Cost of Living Working Group and SU Emergency Loan requests, I’ve also been working with the University's Funding & Fees Team to make published cost estimates more visible — and more specific.
The current “How much does university cost?” (Cost of Living - University of Essex) page offers general figures, but I’ve suggested adding course-specific extras like placement travel, laundry costs for East 15 and healthcare students, and mandatory therapy costs for some counselling courses. I’m now working with education managers and reps to highlight which departments could benefit from these updates.
Mental Health Awareness Week
I’ve always been a strong believer that mental health awareness shouldn’t just be limited to one week as it should be part of our everyday culture. But having a dedicated week still gives us the chance to really focus, reflect, and reach people in powerful ways.
This year, we took it one step further at University of Essex Students'​ Union. Our goal wasn’t just to raise awareness. It was to spark real, honest conversations and give students the tools to look after their wellbeing long-term. Here’s a glimpse at what we got up to:
🎨 Wellbeing Activities – From Sip & Paint to an inclusive Misfits dance workout ran by Becky Scott, we created spaces to relax, recharge, and connect.
🧠Wellbeing Hubs – Pop-up spaces around campus where students could drop in, pick up resources, talk to someone, or just take a moment for themselves.
🗣️ Peer-Led Conversations – Real students sharing their real stories to help break down stigma and remind others they’re not alone.
🧰 DIY Wellbeing Tools – From self-soothe bags to fidget toys and practical resources, we made sure students left with things they could use beyond the week.
Let’s keep the conversation going. Let’s keep checking in on each other. And let’s keep building a culture where mental health is truly prioritised not just for one week, but every week.
A massive thank you to my amazing team at SU Advice for helping bring the Wellbeing Hubs to life. Thank you to Jennifer Day, Sophie Atherton, Santiago Felipe Cortes Carvajal, Rob Neale, Chris Moore for your support throughout the week (and for setting up many, many tables, chairs, and gazebos!). And to Lorna Elliott, Ellie Shackell, and Sophia ÄŚaikin thank you for turning the ideas in my head into a vibrant and engaging campaign. I genuinely couldn’t have done it without you.
BelongFest:
I am working with One Essex Inclusivity group (Chairs of our Staff Networks) on #BelongFest’25 – a celebration aimed at boosting engagement with our staff networks, the Faith Centre, and SU EDI-related societies. The event is intended to spotlight the many communities that make Essex vibrant, and to help everyone “Find your people. Share your voice.” It is very early days of planning atm but will keep you guys updated.