An introduction-
Hi everyone! I’m Freya, and I’m running to be your welfare rep for the 23/24 dance year. Despite strongly believing all committee roles in this fantastic society are equally important, I think welfare is crucial to every university student’s life. I would love to promote its importance in the wonderful Leeds modern dance community. Throughout my manifesto, I hope to enlighten you with what I wish to achieve as your welfare rep in the next academic year and hopefully gain the privilege of being elected by you!
My background-
For those that don’t know me, my name is Freya. I am currently a second-year Philosophy and Politics student (yes, I am a 2nd year despite the big ‘F’ on my forehead every social, lol). Despite being a second year, this was my first year in modern dance, and I greatly regret not joining in my first year more than you can believe. I have danced since I was three, and over the past 17 years I have gained such a genuine love and passion for not only the art of dance but the community that comes alongside it. This past year I have been lucky enough to carry on my love for modern dance in the intermediate jazz competition team and have adored every second of my experience. I hope to carry on my dance experience in the 23-24 dance year by continuing to attend jazz classes as well as potentially joining in with other styles. Despite this, my true goal for this next academic year is to hopefully be the best welfare rep I can be for my dance family, as it is something I genuinely am so passionate about.
My experience with welfare-
For as long as I can remember, I have had a love for wellbeing. I have always been drawn to helping others, whether that be through charity work or just with a friendly chat. I have experience working with charities such as Made with Hope, an organization close to my family that empowers Tanzanian children through education, girls’ menstruation support and clean water. Moreover, I have worked closely with social supermarkets that provide local people with accessible and affordable food and household items.
Alongside my experience with charity work, over the past 7 months I was given the fantastic opportunity to work with the BBC to create a truthful short documentary about my experience as a student during the cost-of-living crisis. I talked about the struggles of uni life during this challenging time and the strain it can put on your mental health. The documentary is on BBC iplayer and is called ‘The Cost of Learning’, please give it a watch! #myclaimtofame
Alongside this, I have found welfare to be a massive part of my university experience. In my first year of university, I struggled massively with my mental health. I hope to use my first-hand experience to help promote mental health awareness and aid those in need of support in our dance society. As we all know, mental health is a pressing issue in the dance community, especially when it comes to eating disorders. I hope to work alongside the society BEAT to aid wherever I can. Alongside the importance of assisting in our dance community, it is essential to state that you do not need to struggle with your mental health to be aware of the importance of prioritizing your mental wellbeing. Wellbeing is simply what is best for you as an individual!
What I wish to achieve as welfare rep-
What follows is what I would like to accomplish as your welfare rep.
1. Firstly, community is a big part of our wellbeing and a big part of modern dance! I want to introduce an icebreaker session starting from the next academic year. Getting to know the people we are dancing alongside will allow friendships to flourish, both new and old, leaving no one to feel anxious about making friends in the society.
2. Secondly, I would love to follow in the footsteps of this year’s lovely welfare rep Lauren and continue to post welfare Wednesdays. These posts are a great place to share tips and tricks to ease the struggles that uni life can throw at us.
3. I would love to keep the dancer of the week announcement going. Dancer of the Week allows our lovely teachers to shine a light on one of our outstanding members; this announcement cannot be forgotten.
4. I am passionate about creating awareness about the stigma surrounding mental health. I want to use the platform that comes alongside the role of welfare rep to create awareness for mental illnesses, such as OCD and BPD, with the realities that come alongside the disorders. Together we can combat those stigmas!
5. I would also love to introduce study sessions during exam seasons. These sessions would include complimentary tea and coffee and allow us to work in a safe space and ‘hopefully’ help us not procrastinate.
6. I would also like to work closely with our new social secs on some sober socials, we all love a mischief Wednesday, but socials can include much more than dressing up in bin bags or as grannies. Perhaps group trips to yoga classes or something as simple as a movie night.
7. Lastly, I aim to work with charities as much as possible. Fundraising will be essential to me as welfare rep, and I would love to work alongside other societies, such as BEAT, to aid wherever possible. Moreover, I would love it if, as a society, we come together and vote for a charity/ organization we feel would best benefit from the fundraising we will do throughout the year. Your involvement is so important to me and I would hate to decide important things, like choosing charities, without asking our dance community first.
Why you should vote for me-
The most important reason why you should vote for me is because I am truly passionate about people’s wellbeing. I would love the opportunity to work alongside my fellow modern dance members in a committee that has a shared love for dance but also puts its members first. Hopefully, allowing an environment where everyone feels safe, represented, and cared for to flourish in our society. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank this year’s committee for the fantastic job they have done this year; you have created big shoes to fill! Thank you for taking the time to read my manifesto, and I hope you can put your trust in me to fulfil all your well-being needs.
Freya xxx
