Officer Blogs

Experience & Community Officer Blog

Hi I’m Sophie, your elected Activities & Community Officer. I came to Keele in 2020, from a little town called Solihull on the outskirts of Birmingham to study a dual honours in Forensic science and Psychology. However, at the end of ym first year I realised my heart was with forensics and so moved onto the Masters in Forensic and Analytical Sciences course. I first got involved in the SU when I joined craft, KRAP and American Football back in my second year, as my first year was spent in COVID.

I have been a part of 12 different clubs and societies during my time here. Outside of my role I am interested in music, from Taylor Swift to Bring Me The Horizon, and a bit of musical theatre here and there.  I’m also obsessed with my baby boy, Gizmo, who is a tiny chihuahua who will sometimes come and visit me on campus in my lunch break or after work, in his bumblebee harness.  

I ran for Experience and Community officer because I saw the impact I had in my many volunteer roles I had alongside studying, and really felt like I could have a positive impact doing this full time.  

My priorities: 

  • Give societies the representation they deserve and give clubs the support they need to flourish. 
  • Make an inclusive SU and build a strong supportive community. 
  • Ensure students feel prepared to apply for jobs, university should give them the skills they need to succeed. 

I love Keele because I love the close community feel. We might be one of the biggest campuses, but it feels like everyone knows everyone. 

The advice I’d give students this year is to push yourself! Do things you haven't done before, meet new people, study new things. But if there's things you feel you're only doing out of obligation or the words of others, let go, and do what's truly you, not what others say you should be.  

Talk to me about...  

  • Clubs  
  • Societies  
  • Careers and Employability 
  • International student issues 
  • Mature student issues 
  • Local student issues 
  • Commuter student issues 
  • Activities and Events 

Email me at su.communityofficer@keele.ac.uk

Mon 02 Dec 2024

December AGM 2024

Hello again! 

We are officially in December now, and over the past few weeks I held the first AU Council of the year, with a room full of attendees, we discussed topics such as transport, sports strategy and AU ball. A lot of feedback was gathered which will be put to great use over the next semester.  

The first Soc Forum of the year was also held, with a record-breaking number of attendees. We discussed the issues with room bookings, and the new solutions, as well as new society socials, and  

I have also had the opportunity to join the We Are Staffordshire's’ Youth Advisory Group, alongside other key representative from youth organizations across Staffordshire. In this group we can feedback directly into what would make life in Staffordshire more attractive for young people. The first in person meeting is next week! 

Zoe and I went to meet the Student Services team over in Claus Moser and spent an afternoon packing free period products to give out to our students as part of the universities striving to end period poverty.  

We attended the beautiful armistice day remembrance service held in the chapel by the wonderful team of chaplains to recognize and remember all lives lost through war.  

The officer team attended a moving service held by Keele LGBTQ+ society, in solidary with our trans community. We felt it was imperative to show commitment to the #NeverOK campaign, as there is no place for transphobia on our campus. 

We all travelled down to London to attend a conference at Westminster University to have conversations with many other elected officers and learn other students' union approaches to current topics such as cost of living, as well as sharing some of our own strategies in the hopes of creating a more positive experience for students across the country. 

Have a very Merry Christmas, and Happy Hannukah, Yule or whatever celebrations you take part in over the next month!  

Sophie