Wellbeing Officer Blog

December AGM 2025

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:13:49 Z

Hey guys, hope you’re all looking after yourselves and keeping yourselves warm during the start of winter months. As we’re approaching the end of Semester 1, here are a few things that I have been working on:

First Bus:

Collated 50+ student responses, implemented a short-term extra 8-9 am bus to deal with capacity. Advocating for longer-term solutions before (and after) the implementation of X25, in collaboration with University executives, SU and First Bus teams.

Cost-of-Living Exam packs:

£1000 secured towards giving free food - including hot soup, snacks and drinks - as well as fidget toys to students during winter exam season. Working with the library and SU teams around the logistics of giving these out January 12-23rd.

Neurodiverse inclusivity:

Implemented a wellbeing space in the library, with free period products, crafts, free book swap, a wellbeing book collection and a student notice board.
Surveying Tawney building for a permanent student sensory space (to be in place before I leave as an officer!).
Provided extensive feedback from a student perspective on the Inclusive Education Framework in Steering groups, academic lecturers and Executives of the University

Lecturer/academic staff/PhD students' wellbeing induction training:

We are in the early stages of exploring the development of wellbeing training for front-facing academic staff, in collaboration with University HR and the Head of Student Services.
Discussions at the Student Services Half Away Day highlighted a significant gap in support in this area, alongside a growing complexity in student mental health cases. This further reinforces the need for greater involvement from academic staff - or at least the opportunity for those who wish to undertake relevant training. Currently exploring the opportunity for optional “opt-in” sessions for academic lecturers.
Also created wellbeing officers training for clubs and societies, and working with the relevant teams to present this at the annual training session.

Physical disability report:

Officially presented in the EDI Steering group in October. This is following a wheelround campus held back in March, lead by the student Disability Network and Head of Estates. A couple of the wins so far are:

New benching has been installed across campus. Will be consulting with Estates further on the hot spots for these benches and move them where appropriate
Modern composite benching has been installed.
Women's health in the medical curriculum:
There’s a lot of national data showing that women’s health is a serious issue - one example being that it often takes 7–10 years on average for someone to finally receive an endometriosis diagnosis. Because of this, I’ve been working with Mike Farrar (CEO of the NHS in Northern Ireland) and gathering evidence to get SU Officers involved at a national level. I’ve already reached out to Glasgow and Lincoln SUs to link our campaigns, and my aim is to build this into a wider campaign with the Women's Network during the rest of my time as an officer. The goal is to put pressure on the GMC and push for women’s health to be included in the regulations for assessments for medicine students. I know this will take much longer than my term in office, but I want to lay the groundwork now.
Cleaning on the library accessible entrance is now in place.
Campus safety vehicles are now informed not to park on or blocking any of the accessible parking bays.
Looking into the adjustability of lecture hall desks for wheelchair users as part of the pool teaching space improvements
Looking into an accessible campus-wide student map

World Sexual Health Day

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 20:07:19 +0100

World Sexual Health Day 2025 will be observed on September 4. The theme for this year is "Sexual Justice: What Can We Do?", focusing on raising awareness about sexual health, rights, and justice for all. This day aims to promote education and ensure access to services that support sexual health and well-being.

worldsexualhealthday.org

What is Sexual Justice?

Sexual justice is the pursuit of equity, safety, and human rights in all aspects of sexuality, ensuring everyone can express themselves freely and consensually without discrimination or harm.

Examples of Sexual justice include:

A woman choosing whether or not to be sexually active without being judged or coerced
A person accessing healthcare for STIs or contraception without facing stigma
A queer teen seeking to access inclusive sex education where accurate information is provided and their right to understand and express their sexuality is respected

What are sexual and reproductive rights?

Core sexual/reproductive rights include:

The right to autonomy and bodily integrity
The right to consent
The right to explore and express your sexual orientation and gender identity without fears, stigma or violence
The right to comprehensive sexuality education that empowers healthy choices
The right to sexual and reproductive healthcare (contraception, STI testing/treatment, gender-affirming care, abortion services and more)
The right to privacy (engaging in consensual sexual activity without intrusion/punishment by the government or others)
The right to live free from violence, coercion, or discrimination

Sexual justice for LGBTQ+ youths

How does a lack of sexual justice affect those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community?

Higher rates of discrimination and violence
Lack of inclusive sex education (purely heteronormative, non-inclusive teaching leads to unsafe practices and misinformation for LGBTQ+ individuals)
More mental health challenges (higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide among LGBTQ+ youth)
Barriers to healthcare, including discrimination or even outright denial to healthcare
Legal and policy gaps (where LGBTQ+ identities are criminalise)

Access to information

Access to information is really important to ensure reduction of the risks previously mentioned

Why else is it important?

It protects healthy and wellbeing
It fights shame, stigma and isolation
It builds confidence and self-advocacy
It promotes equity, creating conditions where everyone can be sexually safe

It enables informed choice and consent. Without information, there is not real autonomy

How can Keele SU empower sexual justice?

Provide the spaces for marginalised groups to either campaign (LGBTQ+, women, GEM network and more), or find a safe space (all our societies can be found on the Keele SU website)
Period poverty scheme - providing free period products to use in most of the main buildings on campus
All undergraduate students can access gender-affirming items through the Access and Success fund, currently lobbying the University to include postgrad students in this too!
Free contraception in the local Keele Pharmacy next to forest of light, including birth control
Keele University can also provide sexual violence support with their team of qualified SVLO’s (sexual violence liaison officers). Contact Student Services at student.services@keele.ac.uk

If you have any further ideas of how to amplify empowerment of sexual justice at Keele, let us know su.wellbeingofficer@keele.ac.uk

December AGM 2024

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 15:27:57 Z

Hey guys! Hope your semester is going well so far and you’re taking care of yourselves.

This year nearly £4,000 was raised for Movember at Keele, with over 23 sports clubs actively participating in fundraising and advocating for men’s health. More than a quarter of the total was contributed by 9 women-dominated clubs through stalls on nights out, highlighting their solidarity and reinforcing the message that men’s health is a concern for everyone.

I gathered many personal stories from students, as well as the Vice Chancellor and Steve from the Sports Centre, to bring a heartfelt connection to the cause. I also launched an ongoing series titled “What Does Masculinity Mean to You” to highlight the diversity of men’s experiences.

As a strong advocate for neurodivergent inclusivity, I have continued to actively pursue multiple funding opportunities to establish a sensory and wellbeing room within Keele Students’ Union for students to destress and have space to chill. On top of this, having discussions with the Library team to implement a tea and coffee station (although bit more complicated than first planned!).

Cooperated with Student Services to prevent any future dead-naming of trans students during graduation ceremonies, ensuring forms are sent out in good time for the winter ceremony and planning a more permanent solution for next summer.

Collaborated with a chain of pharmacies in the North West to offer a free NHS online service, enabling students to access contraceptive pills at no cost.

Pushing for “Keele Induction” to be shorter, more engaging, and tailored to the individual needs of each student.

Participated in the Phil Soar Scholarship panel to select students for funding.

Thanks for reading and take care,

Zoe