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Vote Lauren for Wellbeing!

Hi everyone! I’m Lauren Slater (She/Her) and I’m a third year Liberal Arts student, majoring in Theatre and Performance. As Welfare Rep for Leeds Modern Dance this year, I have had the opportunity of supporting students on an empathetic level and working closely with charities to fundraise, making me incredibly enthusiastic to expand my responsibility wider and work with the union to ensure all students are living happily and healthily across Leeds.

Support

Ensuring students are aware of ALL support services available to them and how to access these

Despite a variety of support services being accessible internally and externally to the university, I believe communication of what is available is sparse. Students are often left not knowing where to look, and in a time of heightened emotions, this can be distressing. Thus, I want to work with the university to ensure ALL services are frequently communicated, and the way to access these are clear and concise.

A ‘step up’ and ‘step down’ system around university counselling

Unfortunately, the university can only offer short bouts of counselling, and waiting lists for external NHS services are notoriously long. Therefore, I will work to create support systems for individuals stuck in limbo waiting for counselling to begin as a step up, and ensure when leaving this service, they step down knowledgeable on all avenues they can access moving forward.

Assistance with applying for mitigating circumstances

As someone who has applied for extensions, additional consideration and resits due to mitigating circumstances during my time at university, I am aware of how stressful this process becomes and how little support is provided with filling out these forms. I would like to encourage the university to provide more communication and guidance regarding this process, potentially including walk throughs and meetings to assist with applying.

Stigma

Encourage prevalent discussion and support regarding housing and finances due to cost of living
Many issues are affecting a large proportion of students – such as cost of living and housing conditions – that can be incredibly difficult to communicate. As I will become a trustee for Unipol, I would like to open discussion to provide practical solutions regarding housing and living conditions, and encourage students to access charity support or services such as the Plus Programme, if struggling financially. There is no shame in discussing and asking for this help!

Increase awareness and discussion on lesser-known mental health conditions

I am well equipped for the pressures and shame associated with stigmatised conditions that the wide majority are not educated upon. The lack of education and awareness of these topics often results in students with them feeling alienated, misunderstood and without support. Using my platform, I would like to discuss taboo topics, and increase awareness so that more students are represented and know how to approach and support anyone around them with these disorders.

Safety

Continue the university and LUU’s work on topics such as period poverty, STI testing, and harm reduction with drugs and alcohol

I am aware of the university and LUU’s work towards certain initiatives and projects this year, including free sanitary products, STI testing and drug testing kits, and I will encourage this to continue so the hard work is not lost. It is important that support is embraced and encouraged in all circumstances, and no student should be made to feel that they cannot support themselves in times of need, or that they are at risk.

Provide safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals

As a LGBTQIA+ individual myself, I have often felt unsafe in disclosing this at university, especially in big social situations. I want to ensure there are spaces for queer individuals to be able to feel protected and able to embrace their identities, whether this be through a society, support group or social circle.


Societies

Encourage more inclusive and sober socials

When a member of a society, there is often a lot of pressure surrounding alcohol and drug use, especially with the frequent socials in bars and clubs! I want to liaise with societies in order to encourage more accessible and inclusive sober socials, so that no one feels they are missing out.

Provide training and workshops for committees in mental health, drug and alcohol awareness

As committee members, there is a level of responsibility to the rest of the individuals in the society. I will encourage the organisation of more training within mental health, drug and alcohol awareness so that committee members know what to do and who to contact if they are ever faced with any of these circumstances. This ensures that both society and committee members receive support through the process and everyone accesses the help they need.

Increase links and communications between societies and the union

I have very frequently seen that concerns and needs from societies are not passed on very smoothly from societies to the union, which can cause stress for committee members trying to ensure their societies run smoothly. Thus, I will act to bridge the gap for these communications to create a professional collaborative relationship so that societies can continue to be efficient outlets from university and maintain social and physical wellbeing.

If you have any suggestions yourself as to what you want to see within the union next year, or any questions about myself or my campaign, please get in touch! You can find me on Instagram (@laurenforwellbeing) or send me an email (laurenslater.109@gmail.com). Alternatively, I am frequently on campus, easy to spot (go bright hair!) and always up for a chat! I cannot wait to get stuck into campaigning, and hopefully represent you as Wellbeing Officer next year!

Hey! My name is Hannah Catterall, and I would love to be your Wellbeing Officer at LUU for 2023/2024.

About me:

I am a 3rd Year Philosophy Student. Throughout my time at university, I have tried various societies, including ballet, basketball, salsa, and PhilSoc! This year, I have mainly been dancing with Freestyle Dance, taking yoga classes, and creating content with Leeds Student Television. I am most proud of the collaboration I helped produce with the Uni Boob Team about how to check your chest. This semester, I have begun co-hosting the new Leeds Student Radio show ‘Safe Space’, which is all about mental health. I also work part time with the Residence Life team, helping them to plan and run events for students living in accommodation and adjusting to life in Leeds. As I began my degree during covid, I have struggled a lot academically, and I know I’m not alone in this. The societies at LUU have also helped me develop my interests in media, wellness, and health beyond my studies.

The reason I have chosen this role is because I am passionate about helping people. Last year, I unfortunately lost a family member due to their mental health. I want to use this experience and grief for good, and try my absolute best to ensure that no one is left feeling as alone or hopeless as they did. I have struggled with anxiety and depression throughout my life, and I access support from the university. However, I had to search hard for it. This is one thing of the many things I want to work to change!
Health:

• Unify Mental Health Support - I want support to be far more visible than it currently is, and work to unify the support between the union, university, and NHS to be easily accessed and more known. When you’re struggling, the last thing you need is to jump through loads of hoops just to receive help. I also intend to lobby with the university to increase their appointment capacity for students accessing the service.

• Compulsory Training for Welfare Reps - I want to ensure that every society at LUU has a committee welfare rep, and that all welfare reps are trained on ways to direct their members to support. I want the reps to be a wealth of information; they are not mental health professionals, but they need to be resourced so they can guide members of their societies. This is one of the best ways to spread information, as thousands of students join LUU societies.

• Period Poverty - I also want to lobby with the university to increase the amount of free menstrual and sexual health products in teaching buildings and libraries. Period poverty is real for so many students, especially with the cost of living crisis. Although the union and university provide these products, they are not available in large sums, despite the fact that they are needed daily by many students.

• Stigma-Free Drug and Alcohol Support - I want to continue the incredible work of the current Wellbeing Officer, Emily, and ensure that there is stigma-free drug and alcohol support within the union and university. Leeds has a large drinking and drugs culture, and often students feel judged by GPs for partaking. I want to continue to lobby that the university moves towards a harm-reduction policy, instead of zero-tolerance - the former is far more realistic. This includes but is not limited to drug-testing kits, support for spiking victims, and increased precautions in the union.

Student Life:

• Cost of Living Aid - I also want to have free fruit and veg days in the union and have more free breakfasts, to help with the cost of living crisis. How can students be expected to learn if they can't afford food? I also want to lobby with the university to offer more welfare grants, as so many students need it at the moment.

• Covid and Strike Support - I want to collaborate with the Education Officer to lobby for covid and strike disruption to be taken into account when marking every assessment. My cohort, having started in 2020, has been particularly impacted by these disruptions. I fail to understand how we can be expected to academically perform to the same level as previous cohorts. Additionally, some present or incoming students didn’t sit GCSEs or A-levels; teaching schools must adjust their expectations, as it causes students so much academic anxiety.

• Climate Anxiety - I am personally anxious about the future in terms of our planet, and I know this impacts many other students. I want to collaborate with societies like PlantSoc and VegSoc to run workshops on sustainable living, on a budget. This could include plant-based cooking, meal planning, and herb-gardening. I also want climate anxiety to be recognised and for students who worry about the future to be supported.

Finally, I can’t do this without you, or your feedback. From a first hand perspective, I won’t know your specific experience as a student in Leeds. There may be things I haven't mentioned in this statement which are incredibly important to you. I always want to listen, learn, grow my ideas, and be here for anyone who needs it. I would be so grateful to be your 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice when you vote in LeadLUU 2023.

Big love,
Hannah

Carol with an E vote for ME

Hey, I’m Carole and I'm a mature, disabled, alternative entry, estranged from family and a commuter student studying MA in Social and Public Policy. Although I’m a home student, I’m not native to Leeds. I moved from London to Leeds nearly 9 years ago, so trust me when I say I know how daunting a new city and what having no friends feels like. I was School representative for the Lifelong Learning Centre for 2 years. I am currently a Learning Champion and a former member of Mature Student Advisory Board. I have campaigned for greater representation of mature students within LUU and the wider university. I have also been vocal in reducing the stigma around mental illness.



Mental Health Training

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to reduce the suicide rates among the student population, but what we can do is make it easier for students to seek help and support from support officers and services. If we

Provide mental health training to all student support officers across faculties, it means that they can better support students in times of crisis and if

Encourage new positive discussions between students around suicide and suicidal thoughts and feelings through workshops and awareness campaigns in collaboration with clubs and societies.



Cost of living

People in this country are facing an economic crisis of a magnitude not experienced for decades. Just as in the pandemic, this crisis will affect all of us to some degree, but it will hit those who are already most disadvantaged. I believe we should

Provide healthier and cheaper food and drink options in the refectory and across outlets in the LUU building to help students.

Encourage LUU and JobLink to pay staff the real living wage as suggested by the Living Wage Foundation

Provide increased financial help for travel, housing, and heating costs for international, postgrad and mature students who are not living in halls.



Fostering a sense of belonging

Do you feel invisible on campus? Do you feel like the University and Union don’t see you or feel like you not are represented in campaigns, clubs and societies and discourses. To achieve better belonging I believe

Poor personal tutoring is worse than none! By working collaboratively with tutors and students, we can learn from each other and work new improvements into normal working practices that benefit all. Positive support helps increase integration and belonging.

I want to create increased platforms and opportunities in LUU for representation and dialogue with under-represented groups so that their voice is heard.



I know how frustrating it is to be feel invisible and like you don’t belong. If you (Carol with an E), vote for me, I will work to make sure your voice is heard and that there is increased representation for marginalised groups at all levels of university.