Officer Blogs

Wellbeing Officer Blog

Hi I’m Tom and I'm your Wellbeing Officer for this year. My job is to ensure that students across all disciplines and levels of study feel that they are included and that they have a positive experience of their time here at Keele. This includes sitting on panels, running campaigns, and emphasise accessibility and inclusivity as well as deal with any problems the student body might experience personally and they need support and guidance.

At Keele, I studied Sociology. As a student, I worked with the Student Union on the bars, with Student Voice and with the University where I was a Senior Student Ambassador. Outside of University, I love socialising, travelling, gaming, and cats.

Talk to me about:

  • Mental health campaigns and concerns
  • International Student Inclusivity and Diversity
  • Accessibility needs and allyship

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

Thu 08 Feb 2024

My February UGM Report

Warmer Winter Campaign

The Campaign has absorbed much of my time but is close to its conclusion and was a massive success. 220 individuals were given free energy-saving items and 101 individuals (out of 670 attendees at the housing fair) completed the Green House energy-saving quiz. I was also featured in a WonkHE briefing (a big higher education sector organization news organization) and they would like me to write an article on the campaign, my motivations etc.

Multifaith rooms

I have been pushing for more multi-faith spaces on campus and the increased consideration of multi-faith rooms in prospective buildings. Currently, I have support from the head of student services and the university’s COO and I am drafting a paper in preparation for the arrival of the new head of estates to get a public and sincere commitment.

CCTV

CCTV has been a recent point of contention and is due for renewal - this is something I have been pushing for behind the scenes between estates, campus security and University executives. I have managed to get the process to a point where a project manager has been assigned and there are campus visits to other Universities currently underway.

Closing gaps

Access and Participation: Sam and I have been promoting the student voice across university meetings which are aimed at closing gaps in course success and progression for groups such as care leavers, Black students etc.

Casework: Ethnicity differences in casework (appeals etc) have been alarming and have been something I have raised on a few platforms. One issue was around ECs, so I have got the lady who compiles the stats to draw further attention to this at the EC review committee.