This summer has been packed with learning, planning and getting involved in some exciting projects. I’ve done training on policies, GDPR, finance and what it means to be an officer, and I’ve also been able to connect with student leaders through team bonding and by helping host the Southern Conference. I met with the Vice Chancellor to share some of our big ideas, which she was really enthusiastic about, and I’ve started working on campaigns like reducing hours or securing paid placements for HSC students, supporting our Gaza and anti-racism statement, and planning a bidet project for gender-neutral toilets with Ata. I also worked with Ata and Chloe to put together a welcome handbook for international students, and in the Student Experience Committee we talked about food prices, inclusivity, housing closures and how we can improve communication. On top of that, I’ve been learning more about SU Advice and the policies they use to support students. I also spent time with our student staff to learn about the commercial side of the SU and thanks to Tania, I now know how to make coffee frappe properly!

I’ve also been busy working on projects to make life better for students day to day. With Alex, I’ve been pushing the Bus Campaign to get discounts and free rides for HSC students, and we met with Helena Newton about bringing back the meal deal and reintroducing the Too Good To Go scheme to help cut food waste and save money. I’ve caught up with all the Student Community Officers to hear about their goals and offer support, and I really enjoyed getting involved in Freshers’ activities, from the Loughton Fair to leading tours in Colchester to welcome new students. It’s been a really busy start to the year, but I’m excited about what’s ahead and the difference we can make together