Hi, 

My name is Holly Irvine and I am running to be your welfare officer this year. Having studied with Leeds Beckett throughout my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, I have seen first-hand how the changes over past two years have affected the university community and highlighted the growing focus in protecting our mental health and the financial struggles we may all experience during our degrees. I for one, have been in work alongside my studies for both my degrees in order to financially survive, which at times has affected my mental health through added stress.

During my time here at the university, I have already undertaken the role of both course representative and academic representation assistant of the Law School. My commitment to these roles has seen me work with the Student Union as well as the Law School itself to improve the student experience at the University.

Throughout my degree, I took a particular interest in welfare, with one of my main achievements being liaising with the undergraduate course director to decongest the exam timetable for students, with the aim of easing the pressures of the exam period. I am also helping the university by being part of the Mental Health Charter focus groups, taking place later in the year, and will be involved with planning events for a mental health week that is going to run later in the semester.

My aims, if elected, are to rebuild the university community post-covid through:

• Liaising with the academic officer to rework the timetable to ensure time is allocated for the student community on a university-wide scale to take part in society activities that will support their mental health and welfare.
• To help create an inclusive environment to all, by channelling mental health considerations in societies and promoting their activities which focus on helping students protect their mental health.
• Organising ‘student activity sessions’ with external mental health and welfare organisations to provide direct contact and support in a safe environment. This will be promoted through campaigns, events and socials.
• Introduce a welcome information pack for fresher’s students, detailing services available to students relating to welfare, that the University, Student’s Union, and wider city community currently have in place.
• Develop clearer signposting for both students and staff to make accessing the support students needs as easy as possible to alleviate the added stress unclear signposting system causes.
• Continuing to liaise with the council and emergency services in improving ways to keep students safe both when on campus and off campus in light of the recent spiking crisis.
• Introduce ‘chatting benches’ to both City and Headingley campus’ to help combat loneliness and encourage interaction within the student community.
• Promoting and improving the accessible food programmes in place at the university for those struggling financially during their studies.

Thank you for considering my manifesto.