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I think I would be a good fit for this role because, having struggled with anxiety and panic attacks from a young age, mental health and support is extremely important to me. Being able to create a safe space within the club for everyone to feel they can share their struggles or find support as they need is something I would strive for as welfare sec. This role would be an incredible chance for me to give back to this club as it has always been such a safe place for me throughout my time at university, I know that if I have had a bad week, rugby will always get me out of bed, having a laugh with friends and getting my body moving. The idea that I could add to this experience for my peers in this club is a great motivator for me and I would be proud to do so. Welfare sec is the only role I have ever really been interested in as I know it is a role I could do well.
One of my ideas that I would love to implement if I got the role as welfare sec would be to introduce extra support for devs/freshers going into their first game days. For example, something to explain the timeline to expect of the day, what to bring with them and how to prepare. I know that when I started in first year, my first away game was pretty nerve racking as I didn’t know what to expect, but my coach wrote out a packing list and expected timings of the day. This really helped settle my anxieties for what to expect of the day and I would love to collaborate with the devs coach and coordinator to offer something similar.

Firstly, to say joining LUUWRUFC is undoubtedly the best decision I have made since starting Uni. This society has enabled to me find my love for rugby again and be part of a supportive, inclusive and loving community. I have an immeasurable amount of admiration for every person involved in our society and immense gratitude for the committee which make this all possible. Flo Jeff and Niamh leave behind large shoes to fill, and I hope should I get this role, that I can do it justice. I feel it’s imperative to demonstrate to you all my motivation for wanting to apply for this specific role, rooted in my own journey and my strong belief in giving back. From childhood, I have been around rugby settings, none as welcoming and inclusive as LUUWRUFC, and while this may be difficult to believe I was quiet and often intimidated by others. Joining LUUWRUFC allowed me to rediscover my love for rugby, and I think my experiences having been the injured one, the quiet one and now the girl that will literally talk to anybody would allow me to be the compassionate listening ear, problem solver and advocate needed for this role. I am endlessly passionate about LUUWRUFC and the welfare of our members and am eager to give back in the best way possible, should I get this role.

It is important to me that rugby becomes increasingly accessible and diverse. Moving forward, I think it is crucial to keep listening to our members regarding what they need from the committee, especially those who may be finding it tough to find their feet. Including for neurodivergent individuals and those with disabilities where we can implement changes to make training, matches and social activities more accessible. This is crucial to help maintain and grow our club's positive impact on its members and connections within the university and other societies.

I am an active and positive member of the society and feel that I am welcoming and approachable to talk to. I am to extent jovial but also level-headed, serious and compassionate. I also think because I am open and honest about my own struggles with mental health, neurodiversity and adjusting to new environments I am approachable and familiar to members of the society, which I think is important for incoming freshers especially. In the past, I have been both a rugby coach and referee and I think these experiences have allowed to develop the ability to safely and calmly manage sensitive and complicated situations. Having undergone safeguarding training during my time as a coach, I have a developed understanding of when a situation requires external advice and support. I am familiar with the University’s wellbeing and mental health services, having personally used these and would be able to sign post people to these services should they be needed. Furthermore, I am aware of other services in Leeds which may be available to our members such as The Women's Counselling and Therapy services. I have a wide knowledge of coping strategies and resources which I can offer to members in the short term, and I am willing to learn more ways to support people as no one person needs the same support,

While I have not attended many socials in first year, should I be elected, I would prioritise attendance at socials as an individual who very rarely drinks and would be happy to maintain sobriety for the duration of the social. I will also make it clear to members that it is completely okay if they need a breather from a busy social and would be more than happy to step outside with them for a breather or ensure they safely get in a taxi home.

I have some exciting ideas for evening sober socials, including a Traitors themed game night, the Xmas quiz and treasure hunting. I also think sober socials are an apt opportunity to listen to the club's voice regarding what they want, what price range and energy level they would like for the social. I am aware that there is a large group of members that do not go on tour, whether this for financial or other reasons but this does not mean they should miss out on the fun! During tour week, I would like to host a range of activities for those not on tour and still in Leeds, perhaps a LUUWRFUC sports day, bowling or even going to a Leeds game. I would ensure that welfare club remains consistent throughout the year but would also like to implement some changes. Once a month I would like to implement walking welfare, where welfare club involves walking and talking, exploring campus and the little gems of Leeds. I would also like to implement occasional pregame team feeds for all teams, as I noticed last year a lot of members would skip breakfast before games. I would also like to connect with other sports society to share game day breakfast ideas and create a resource with ideas and recipes to help members of our society ensure they are fuelling properly for rugby.

In conclusion, I hope it is evident how passionate I am about our members and their welfare. My main goal for this role would be to build on our already inclusive environment and support members so they can love rugby as much as I do. I hope to be able to represent members of the club and their best interests. Hopefully it is clear how committed I would be to this role and how much I genuinely love this club. I would be honoured to next year's welfare sec and thank you for considering me for this role!

Kaylee :

Proposed by Abby Hutchinson

Seconded by: Rani Prama

I can confidently say that joining LUUWRUFC has changed my uni experience for the better – although I've only been playing since January, it’s given me so much confidence, and I've fallen in love with rugby, and most importantly, all the amazing and inspiring people that surround me in the society. I want to be able to give back to this, and for that reason, I’ve chosen to put myself forward as welfare sec.

From experience, I know that rugby can be a really intimidating sport for those who’ve never played before. And even then, no matter how long you’ve been playing, the idea of starting all over in a new club can be scary too. For this reason, it’s really important that next year, we’re able to maintain the welcoming and inclusive environment that’s already thriving in LUUWRUFC. For me, a big part of that is making sure people feel genuinely comfortable and confident within the society - not just during training, but socially as well. I want everyone to feel like they belong here and know that everyone around them is rooting for them. I want that to encompass everyone, whether that’s those groups underrepresented by the Uni, those returning from injury or time away or simply those who had a bad experience with sport in the past, as I did, and are worried about fitting in.

I want to ensure we not only maintain but also further develop a strong welfare presence in the club, so freshers and other new members are immediately aware of where to find welfare secs and understand what we can help them with. This would start with clearly introducing welfare during give-it-a-go sessions, but also through regular, informal check-ins in the first few weeks of training, so support feels consistent and not a one-off. I’d also make sure that consistent presence is not only felt at training but at socials too. My placement day next year is Thursday, so I will be mostly sober on a Wednesday night (devastating – no more silly fresh). This works well as I can still offer solid support and maintain confidentiality at socials if people were to need me. Overall, this all contributes to making welfare feel approachable and normal, not something people only turn to when things are serious. Reaching out should never feel like a big step.

As a medical student, I am fully aware that the role isn’t about replacing important professional support; it is about being someone people feel comfortable coming to, knowing they’ll be listened to. I’m confident in navigating both the university’s wellbeing and disability support services, and local wellbeing services too, if needed. Through both my own experiences and my exposure to medicine, I can recognise when a conversation and support within the club is enough, versus when it’s important to help someone access further advice. This is also supplemented by the regular safeguarding training I received for my job as a swimming teacher, which has helped me develop awareness of non-verbal signs that someone might be struggling.

On the flip side, welfare isn’t just about difficult moments - it’s also about making the club enjoyable and inclusive for everyone. I want sober socials next year to focus on simple, accessible activities that everyone wants to come to, rather than things that feel forced. This could be group hikes, family ‘Come Dine with Me’ nights, coffee catch-ups and things like rounders or a bit of rugby in Hyde Park when the weather is good.

At the heart of it, I want everyone in LUUWRUFC to be able to enjoy being a part of the club as much as I have, and feel confident in a team that is welcoming and empowering. Everyone should have this opportunity regardless of their background, identity or personal circumstances, and I think both my love for the club and experience working with people make me a strong candidate to build on the amazing work Flo and Niamh have done this year.

Thank you for considering me, and good luck to everyone else applying for committee!

Proposed by – Olivia Davies
Seconded by – Charlotte Booth

Welfare Secretary

Proposed by : Florence Jeffcock
Seconded by : Florence Hickey

Hi, my name is Erin. I’m studying physics and have been playing rugby for around 6 years. This role is important to me because I want everyone to feel comfortable and feel accepted in the club. This club has helped so many people feel able to express themselves in whichever way and I want to help continue this legacy.

Aims in role:
☆ I aim to make people feel welcome no matter what background they are from and what they find their identity in.
☆ I will spread awareness about different issues and illnesses by partnering with the media sec and by talking to the club after training sessions. I will stay up to date with the different topics that arise in these conversations.
☆ To enable everyone in the club to feel like they have a safe space. Where they know that their information is confidential when wanting to talk about any issues they are facing - or simply a place they can express themselves without a fear of judgement.
☆ Weekly forms where people can inform any issues or concerns they have.
☆ To aid first years with the transition to uni.
☆ To create community, especially in the winter months, where the weather and deadlines can become a strain on mental health.

How I will achieve this:
☆ With the Welfare Club next year, I would like to split this time over 2 days. I think 2 hours for each day would be fair. One Welfare Club would be on a Thursday - to allow people to talk over anything especially the day after the match and social. One Welfare club would be in the evening. I wanted to change the times for this so that there is accessibility for people with different schedules.
☆ As intended, 1 sober social each term. Ideas I have include a scavenger hunt around campus with riddles (can show freshers places around campus, in groups with old girls), quiz (again because everyone enjoys these) and (kind of not a social) organising to go watch rugby league live at Headingley Stadium.
☆ In the winter months, it will be important to keep spirits high. So, either as time taken as Welfare Club, or otherwise, I would like to introduce walking or coffee mornings each week, starting mid-November until the end of term. This would last 1-2 hours, very local, so that not much time is taken away from time for studying etc.
☆ The weekly forms would include their name, what they are facing, and probably a section of if this information is wanting to be communicated to Exec, for more serious issues. Within this, ensuring there is a high level of confidentiality, unless agreed otherwise with that person.
☆ Raising awareness about the Plus Programme for those eligible: showing people with different backgrounds the opportunities they can have.

Experience:
☆ I am very organised, especially with google forms and spreadsheets. I have made risk assessment forms for physics practicals and filled out spreadsheets with budgeting and other plans for our 2026 rugby tour.
☆ 25/26 Physoc Treasurer: taught me how to communicate with different committee members and I was trusted with handling the society’s finances, which shows I can be trusted with different information, problem solving and working in a team.
☆ 25/26 Captain of 2XV: this season was important for keeping people’s spirits up, whilst also giving constructive feedback, because of the hardship of losing games for a while this season. I feel like this position made people in the club recognise me as someone who is easy to talk to, and them knowing that I will help and not judge if anyone needed guidance on or off the pitch.
☆ I am used to talking to large groups of people, highlighted when I was Senior Prefect (talking at Open Evenings) and Captain - which will be useful for post-training talks to the club.
☆ I was a Youth Group Leader at my church for around 3 years. This role was important for shaping who I am today. I truly feel that listening to people who have been through difficult experiences from a young age taught me to be open minded towards different people, from different backgrounds. This role was important in teaching me the privilege I have, and how I can accommodate other people’s needs. This experience highlights how I want to make the freshers’ transition into uni the easiest and most welcoming it can be.

Thank you for reading! :)

I am running for Wellbeing Secretary because I want to give back to society the way it has helped me and make sure every LUUWRUFC member feels supported, included and valued, on and off the pitch. My experience working full-time with SEND children has shaped my caring and empathetic nature when supporting others. It also has given me a strong understanding of safeguarding and handling confidential information which I know is crucial to the wellbeing role. Through my work I also developed clear and compassionate communication skills and the ability to adapt to all kinds of people which I believe is the core of creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

Throughout my time at university, I’ve used several of the support services -including the Wellbeing Hub, Disability Services and the Plus Programme- so I understand how overwhelming and confusing the information from the union can sometimes feel. As Wellbeing secretary, I would like to make this support more accessible by sharing it with members in a way that feels approachable rather than intimidating in hopes to help their time at university. For example, the Plus Programme can offer transport refunds to training and matches. By signposting these services sooner and more clearly, it may provide some financial relief to some of the members who need it.

Through my experience supporting people with mental health challenges, I’ve seen how important it is to create social spaces where everyone feels comfortable and able to connect. With this is mind, it is essential that no one feels excluded for not drinking. I hope to introduce more sober socials to help this. My ideas include craft nights, movie nights, quizzes and a running group. Also, to help boost the morale at training sessions, I would love to encourage music during warmups and fitness blocks.

Finally, we know how special this club is, and I want more people to have the chance to experience it. One way I believe we could do this is by encouraging “bring a friend to training” opportunities, where people can invite someone along to give rugby a go in a relaxed environment. This could make the difference for students who have never played before, as coming with a friend removes some of the initial nerves and makes trying something new feel less intimidating.

Ultimately, I’m naturally friendly and approachable person who loves a chat, so I’d be confident welcoming new faces, hosting welfare drop‑ins, and helping people feel comfortable from the moment they join the club.

Thank you all for reading and considering me for this role!
Olivia Horsley

Proposed by: Florence Hickey
Seconded by: Abby Hutchison

Hi guys- for those that don’t already know, I’m running to be your welfare sec for next year!

We all know how brilliant Niamh and Flo Jeff have been this year- always supporting us and providing a safety net for everything we do with LUUWRUFC, so it would be a priority for me to provide the same care. Just for ease of reading, I’ve split the manifesto up into some bullet points as follows:

- I understand how important it is to welcome people into the club properly next year, having felt a lot of anxiety myself when I joined. Therefore, I’d be dedicated to taking the extra steps to collect people who find it stressful to get to Weetwood, privately message and communicate with those that might need support, helping to make the process as smooth as possible.
- I’m an organised person, and confident in managing logistics, so I’d make sure to stay on top of the consistent year-long presence that welfare needs to provide. Events like Welfare club would be a massive priority, with nobody being left out if they’re too busy to attend- if you need help, I’ll find a time that works for you to provide it.
- Outside of rugby, I volunteer as a Community First Responder, so I have clear communication and empathy skills, and a pragmatic mindset, as well as being dedicated to keeping sensitive chats strictly confidential. I have training in dealing with emotionally charged situations, so I know how to manage them calmly, as well as understanding when an issue requires more support.
- As a member of the plus programme, I understand the burden of financial stress and know generally how stressful Uni can be - I’m confident in navigating these systems, and would always be available to signpost members to where they can find help.
- I do love a sober social, and would love to organise some quizzes, movie nights, and sports events, as well as listen to what you guys would love to do. Having said that, I’m comfortable around and do enjoy our weekly socials, and would be on hand as someone more sober to chat to or seek support from if needed.
- Again, I know so much of this club runs on teamwork, so as welfare sec I would also be prioritising my communication with team coordinators, making sure we offer tailored support for injuries, tackle readiness, and any other niggles that come with playing a sport like rugby.

Thanks for giving this a read, and lots of love to everyone else running for committee! 💚

Sophie Welham

Proposed by: Niamh Cowan
Seconded by: Florence Jeffcock