Skip to main content

My Manifesto

Take a look at my orginal manifesto that was written when running for Acivities Officer. 

Manifesto

My Pledges and Updates

 

Enhancing Student Groups
 

  • Streamline administrative process for student groups, reducing excessive workload and giving societies more time to focus on running their activities and events. 
     
    • August Update:
      • The new event planner system has been launched which is a 1/3 shorter than last year.
    • October Update:
      • The Activities Exec have been tasked with gaining broader feedback around al aspects of event processes.
      • In December, we will be holding a two-day development session mapping out all our process from new events, external speakers and finance to identify key areas of improvement.
         
  • Ensure societies and group memberships remain affordable and accessible for all students, including international and postgraduate students. 
     
    • September Update:
      • The Societies Area Membership remains at £3 for the fifth year in a row.
      • We have relaxed eligibility requirements around Societies Membership Fund to make funding more accessible for groups.
      • We have removed the cap on the number of societies that can join the SU and have added an additional window for applications for new societies in Semester One.
      • A new Postgraduate Network has been created as an additional space for PG and Mature students to run events and lead projects.
         
  • Create a transparent and accessible SU with open student forums to improve communication and accountability.
     
    • October Update:
      • The Activities Exec will be kept informed on my progress as an officer to provide elected representatives outside of SUmmit an opportunity to hold me to account and to share key projects.
      • I’m still looking into ways of making the SU more transparent. The officer team are attending more events and key activities throughout the week to answer questions and hear any concerns. You can keep contact me via suactivities@bath.ac.uk.
         
  • Work with societies to help them generate passive income through building partnerships and commercial activity.
     
    • October Update:
      • Increasing awareness of sponsorship channels for student groups.
      • Currently looking at updating guidance to student groups and the SU approach to external companies.
         
  • Increase awareness and funding for non-BUCS opportunities, by working with SU Sport on programmes such as Bath Active, recreational sports and intersociety events.
     
    • October Update:
      • We’re starting a project with the Sports Exec to a create more collabs with societies. I know that many societies already have great sports programmes, and we will look at increase recreational sport through this.
         

Leading on Sustainability
 

  • Establish a clear SU sustainability action plan with student-led focus groups to drive environmental initiatives. Ensure accountability on these key targets with regular communication to the student body.
     
    • July Update:
      • The SU has published a public action plan that sets out the key aspects of our organisation we plan to target in the years ahead.
    • October Update:
      • I’m currently in the process of setting up a SUstainable SU Student Forum which will allow students to share feedback and ideas around key targets. This will be launched shortly and run throughout the rest of the academic year.
         
  • Continue to apply pressure and support on the university to meet core sustainability targets, especially net zero and providing strong climate policy and strategy.
     
    • September Update:
      • I’m delighted to share that this has been designated as my Top Ten point for 2025/2026. This means the SU and university will be working towards this as a key priority this year.
         
  • Develop a long-term strategy for climate awareness, building on Green Week, which I successfully brought back in 2022. Work with environmental groups to ensure sustainable practices, such as a clearer transport strategy.
     
    • September Update:
      • I’ve been working with the Sustainability Team at the university around key projects we can link up on and strengthen link between their ambassadors and our work.
         
  • Bring back the sustainable accreditation programme for student groups and leaders, ensuring environmentally responsible practices within societies and SU events.
     
    • September Update:
      • We’ve got the Sustainability Award as part of the SU Awards Ceremony in April but I’m looking at how we can relaunch this to our student groups without increasing workload.
      • In the future, sustainability has been identified as a key competency for the Bath Award. In future years, student leaders will be able to choose sustainability as a goal to work towards and be recognised for their contributions.
         

Improving Student Opportunities
 

  • Expand funding and support for student-led initiatives, projects and events, ensuring that students have full access to the scope of resources available to them and look at expanding funding eligibility criteria.
     
    • August Update:
      • We have relaxed eligibility requirements around Societies Membership Fund to make funding more accessible for groups.
    • September Update:
      • I’m working with our Voice and Societies Team on building up stronger Academic Communities which will bring resources and support from various student leaders and to increase engagement at a departmental level and allow all students to shape events/ideas.
      • I’m working with Peer Support to identify key areas that will have the most impact and how we can better support individual students with projects.
         
  • Enhance professional development and transferable skills programmes to help students develop key skills for the future, such as expanding the Bath Insights programme and prioritising career advice for Widening Participation Students. 
     
    • September Update:
      • ​The Bath Award has been relaunched which allows you to gain formal recognition for the skills and experience you develop through volunteering, leadership and paid work alongside your studies and show these to skills to employers.
    • October Update:
      • I’m working with the Skills Centre to look at ways we can develop a global employability skills platform to allow students from all backgrounds to engage with and build up transferable skillsets for the future.
         

Supporting Student Wellbeing
 

  • Continue working on an affordable housing strategy, fighting for increased student rights in both university and private sector accommodation.
     
    • July Update:
      • As an SU, we are closely monitoring the Renters’ Rights Bill to see the impact on students.
    • October Update:
      • I’ve been attending key student forums to find out more about B&NES local plan that will ultimately shape housing in the city for the next 10-15 years.
         
  • Ensure the longevity of bursaries, financial assistance and emergency aid packages, making sure students continue to have access to this support.
     
    • October Update:
      • I’m attending some upcoming meetings with key stakeholders across the SU to discuss this as it links with other officers manifestos.
      • We also have received again £5000 as part of the SU Alumni Access Fund, which allows students to gain financial support towards SU extra-curricular activities and opportunities.
         

Arts Development
 

  • Develop a transitional plan to secure The Edge as an SU only building, creating even more space for groups and societies. 
     
    • September Update:
      • We’re so pleased to now have ownership of The Edge café, now The Corner, where we can deliver affordable food and drink to students.
      • When The Edge was handed to the SU in 2020/2021, there was not a formal agreement in place. As a result, part of this work will be looking at strengthening what the agreement is to ensure we can take control of all spaces.
      • The university now only uses The Edge Theatre for part of the week to allow shows and events more flexibility in the space but we want to ensure this for the long term.
         
  • Transform Scala into a vibrant SU city hub right in the heart of Oldfield Park as an additional practice and community space.
     
    • September Update:
      • Benji and I are looking at how we can increase usage in Scala during the daytime as well as the evening.
      • The Activities Exec have been tasked with gaining more feedback around what equipment/resource students want to see invested in Scala. Particularly, I’m looking at how we can support groups with cooking facilities in the space to increase capacity.
         
  • Build on the bidding process for The Edge spaces, providing more equal opportunities for all societies and student groups.
     
    • October Update:
      • I’m looking at how we can increase engagement with student groups who aren’t Arts groups in using the space. We want all student groups to know they are able to use our venues to host performances and showcases throughout the year.
         
  • Introduce a showcase in Semester Two for non-performance societies to showcase their work.
     
    • September Update:
      • I’m working with the Arts Team and the Arts Liaison to launch what a showcase/exhibition for non-performance societies could look like.
         

Strengthening Volunteering
 

  • Embed volunteering and fundraising opportunities within student events and societies, making it easier for students to engage in charitable initiatives. 
     
    • October Update:
      • I’m working with the Volunteering and Fundraising Team to create a new toolkit that shows groups how they can engage with a wide array of opportunities. The aim to show that many of groups existing activities can already be applied across the local community.
         
  • Build up a strong volunteer recognition scheme to formally acknowledge and recognise students’ contributions.
     
    • September Update:
      • The Bath Award has been relaunched which allows you to gain formal recognition for the skills and experience you develop through volunteering, leadership and paid work alongside your studies and show these to skills to employers.
      • I’ve sat on the Reward and Recognition Group of the SU to find new ways to acknowledge our Student Leaders. I’m currently exploring whether a model based of off the Swedish Ovvo (badge system) could be used in our SU.
         

Faith and Cultural
 

  • Launch a renewed cultural festival to celebrate Bath’s cultural diversity in Semester Two.
     
    • September Update:
      • I’m in discussions with the Skills Centre around international faith and cultural events that we can run across the year.
      • We’re looking in the Societies Team around re-running a multicultural fair to highlight our incredible Faith and Cultural Community.
      • I sat on the Interview Panel for the new Coordinating Faith Leader so will continue work with the newly appointed candidate on ways we can increase faith celebrations across our community.
         
  • Create more tailored and specific events for international students during the first semester to help build a sense of belonging.
     
    • August Update:
      • Our FWEMs have worked hard across the summer to build a designated programme of events that ensure all students have a warm welcome to Bath. There are set events for PG and International Students, as well as increased events down in the city so even for students not living on campus, they immediately feel part of our community.
    • October Update:
      • Angus, Sports Officer and I are continuing discussions around what our Activities Officer could look like to students who are also distant learners or on placement so they can still engage with the SU even if they aren’t physically in Bath.

 

Powered by MSL