Manifesto
My name is Alisha Lobo and I am running to be re-elected as your Community Officer. In my 7 months in the role, some of my successes have been putting more international food and black hair products in Fresh, launching the Report and Support tool as part of #NeverOK, producing the video series Blue Table Talk, getting home sharing approved, securing an additional £10,000 for refugee scholarships and implementing a tool where students can rate their landlords and estate agents, through a partnership with Marks Out Of Tenancy,
During my time as a politics student, I have been elected as a NUS conference delegate, a Lead Peer Mentor, Editor-in–Chief of Bath Time, and Freshers’ Week Event Manager. I’ve also campaigned on housing, VC pay, #NeverOK, and opposing PREVENT whilst attending as many Happy Hours as possible.
Diversity and Support
Provide a fund for Widening Participation students to facilitate their participation in the SU.
Work with the University to address the attainment gap of black students.
Formalise the relationship between Diversity and Support groups and the Inclusivity Award.
Provide support for students who would like to know more about underrepresented groups.
International Students
Have an earlier welcome for international students to provide them with specific information related to their experience i.e the healthcare system, visa restrictions, and British culture.
Have a careers event for companies willing to sponsor international students.
Improve University and SU provision during term breaks i.e. facility opening hours and activities that are on offer.
Work with the Education Officer on addressing the placement fee discrepancy between international and home students across departments.
Improve financial support available for international students.
Mental Health
Improve the feedback system and provide information on the referral systems of the mental health services provided by the University.
Improve the awareness of the cultural competency of the Well-Being Advisors in Student Services.
Lobby the University to provide multi-lingual counsellors.
Provide Mental Health First Aid training for all relevant student groups.
Housing
Oversee the rollout of the home sharing pilot scheme where students reside with elderly residents for a subsidised rent
Lobby the University to provide subsidised University housing for students who face unexpected challenges with their housing during the year.
Local Community
Work with the University on creating an engagement strategy with the town, to improve our profile and the work of students.
Continue working with the local council to broaden the reach of #NeverOK in town to clubs and bars frequented by students
Volunteering
Re-examining external international partnerships to move away from reinforcing harmful stereotypes. i.e voluntourism
Sport
Work with Welfare and Inclusivity rep and Sport Officer to provide incentives for teams to engage with diverse recruitment strategies.
#NeverOK
Improve the transparency of the Report and Support Tool and work on bettering information surrounding it.
Continue to increase the awareness of #NeverOK across campus and provide bystander training to as many students as possible.
Follow my campaign – Alisha for Community - on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.
Vote Alisha for Community!