Candidate for the position of Community Officer

About Me

Throughout my time at university I have been involved with BUST, the Green Champions, the Edge, and I am currently sitting on the Societies Executive Committee; I just recently started performing slam poetry. I am an incredibly driven individual who never carries out a task without putting 100% into it. Except for rowing, which I tried (and failed) during my Fresher’s year.

Four years ago, I stepped completely out of my comfort zone and decided to move to Wales. I did not speak the language and felt very out of place to begin with. It ended up being the best decision I made, and is the sole reason I am at this university today. I want to contribute to what makes this university so special, and want to make sure that every student has an equally fantastic time at uni.

I hope you will trust me with your vote; I am more than ready to step up to the challenge and work with you next year.

My name is Francesco, and I want to become your next Community Officer.

Top Priorities

  • Increase the number of counsellors at the university and expand the wellbeing framework available for us
  • Lobby Fresh to lower the prices of basic food and hygiene items, ensuring everybody has greater access to a healthy diet and necessary sanitary products
  • Liaise with the Activities Officer to ensure the creation of Inclusivity Reps in societies’ committees
  • Create a landlord and agency rating review platform, for past students to share their experiences with letting agencies and landlords

View manifesto

Manifesto

I deeply care and feel strongly about the issues that students of this amazing community face every day. I would be thrilled to put my skills, organisation, and passion at your service; if elected, here’s what I’m going to do:  

Your Welfare

  • Promote safe nightlife off campus. I will: 
    • Create a framework for increased collaboration between the Students Union and venues in town
    • Increase cooperation with Nightwatch to improve street safety in Bath during weekends.
    • Expand the Never Okay and Good Night Out campaigns to maintain the movement against sexual harassment, and to tackle issues such as racial and LGBT+ harassment.

 

  • Provide free sexual health tests and products on campus

 

  • Work with Accommodation and Hospitality Services (AHS) in order to create a deal on the purchase of keep cups and  lunch boxes to promote and incentivise sustainability on campus.

 

  • Reform the Student Hardship Fund and Short Loan System programmes to make them more accessible for students in need

 

  • Lobby Fresh to lower the prices of basic food and hygiene items, ensuring everybody has greater access to a healthy diet and necessary sanitary products.

 

Mental Health   

  • Increase the number of counsellors available at the university: the service is at full capacity and waiting times need to be shortened.

 

  • Link the counselling team to SU support groups (such as Nightline and Student Minds) to raise awareness within the student body more effectively.

 

  • Ensure students’ personal tutors receive mental health training prior the beginning of the academic year.

 

A University for everyone

  • Liaise with the Activities Officer to ensure the voice students of all backgrounds are represented in their groups by creating Inclusivity Reps in societies’ committees.

 

  • Work to make cultural festivals more central: Promote Black History Month, LGBT+ History Month, and international events.

 

  • Ensure cultural societies do not have to reach 30 members: some communities are small, but deserve to be recognised.

 

  • Increase the accessibility of campus areas and the Virgil Building for disabled students and staff members.

 

  • Create a platform for prospective students to direct specific questions to relevant Diversity & Support Groups.

 

  • Increase the number of gender-neutral toilets on campus

 

  • Increase the capacity of the Writing Skills Centre by reducing waiting times.  This has been a consistent issue this year, particularly affecting International students.

 

  • Promote incentives to SU groups who successfully participate in the Inclusivity Awards.

 

  • Work with volunteering groups to support their causes as well as expand their outreach to the local community.

 

Housing

  • Work with AHS to lower rent on a number of student accommodations, to keep it affordable for students of lower socioeconomic backgrounds to study at Bath.

 

  • Create a landlord and agency rating review platform, for past students to share their experiences with letting agencies and landlords.   

 

  • Lobby to reinstate the landlord accreditation scheme, where owners need to meet basic requirements and are held accountable if they do not meet them.

 

  • Cooperate with the local council to ensure that new housing policies positively affect the availability of student housing in Bath.  
My Minute Manifesto