Dan Lay

Why Dan? 
I’m running for this position at the SU because I want to ensure that every student has the best university experience possible; that all students feel included and equal.

I care for vulnerable individuals in both my work life with young offenders and their victims, along with my family life which I believe provides me with the necessary skills to make me the perfect candidate for the role.

In my first year I struggled with my mental health and adjusting to University life where I coped by drinking so much that I put myself in danger. I didn’t feel there was enough support and I had no idea where I could turn to for help.

I want to make sure no one at Keele must struggle in silence, so I am running for Welfare & International officer to make a difference.

As a student voice representative, I have been able to work with the school of Psychology to address students’ grievances. I am the current Psychology society Welfare officer making sure that the society is there to support students alongside their studies and to assess the welfare of students during events the society host.

I am currently one of the Academic and Career Societies Executive Officer. I have been involved with the planning of society ball, the creation of new societies and the funding of societies. When it came to approving grants and applications, one of my biggest concerns and interests was the impact of students’ welfare and wellbeing as well as ensuring that societies were as inclusive and open to both home and international students.

In my free time I volunteer with two youth offender services. I sit on community panels with both victims and offenders, making sure that both their needs are met when designing restorative justice and rehabilitation plans. 

Lastly, I’m a young carer for my two siblings who have autism and my older brother who has cerebral palsy, restricting him to a wheelchair.  Due to this I have an understanding in the challenges facing those with invisible and physical disabilities. 

1. Ensure the welfare of all students:

• Reducing spiking on nights out; by having security at high profile events implementing door checks. Propose that Stewards on nights out put ‘spiked’ flags in drinks which are left unattended for too long as students found this raised effective awareness.
• Continue with the Sexual harassment prevention programmes on and off campus. I will uphold a supportive environment for students coming forward and reporting when being sexually harassed or made uncomfortable during their time at Keele. To work with organisations on and off campus to provide support for students.
• Encourage that all societies elect a welfare officer on their committees and are trained with basic wellbeing methods.
• Continue to support campaigns for sanitary products for all students who require it at the SU.
• #NeverOk – Continue to operate all of Keele daily life, Campaigns and polices on a Zero tolerance policy for hate and discrimination against any students. I will continue to provide a safe environment for any student who feels targeted by other peers and work with student services to prevent the situation continuing.

2. Reform programs to tackle mental health issues;

• Promote more mental health awareness schemes across the whole academic calendar, especially for men. Pairing these with stress and wellbeing workshops to provide students with better coping mechanisms
• Look at investing in better mental health experts being brought into Uni; waiting times are too long and sessions deemed ineffective by service users.
• Investigate alternatives to Big White Wall which students criticise for staff having limited training.
• Work with service providers in the local community such as Morton house for those students living off campus seeking mental health support.

3. Support liberty groups so all Keele students get the best University experience as possible; Inclusion is not an illusion

• I will seek to bring back the international ball, allowing international students to meet each other before the start of term. Reinforce an inclusive environment for international students showing Keele as an inclusive and accepting place for all.
• Create a more publicised platform for international students.
• Work closely with BAME & LGBTQ+ members so that their needs are being met by the university, and that all societies and events held by the SU are as inclusive as possible, and that these groups feel represented.
• Work with members with physical and invisible disabilities to make sure their educational and welfare needs are met. This ensures that lecture capture is used across all courses. That every building has disability access and to investigate how to shorten routes so those with physical disabilities don’t have to take longer routes to get to their destination. 

4. Make the SU more transparent;

• I will work with management in the SU to make programs, campaigns, and the actions of the elected officials more widely publicised.
• I want to have an allocated slot during the week where students and welfare officers of societies can come and talk to me about welfare issues facing them and the societies, they represent.

5. Non-welfare priorities; I would work with the other elected officers to improve further issues across Uni & the SU:

• Improve Keele nightlife; looking to bring back lockdown Mondays, address the issue of repetitive music by asking students to submit playlists of music they want, and reducing the number of DJ sets bought which hike the entrance prices.
• Work with the educational officer and UGM members to challenge the uni on the deadline time of 10am to making it later in the day. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my manifesto and considering voting for me.
Think Different, Think Lay.
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