Who am I?
Hi, I‘m Edd Keeler, I studied Sports Science in my time at the University of Stirling and I have been the Sports Union President for the past year. I am rerunning as I want to use everything I have learnt and established this year to make our sports union as strong as ever as when we recover from the pandemic.
I love sport and I represented the university in American football and Water Polo during my time as a student.
In short, I believe that sport should be a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone, and I want to make sure that is the experience of any student who engages with our sports union.
Why should you vote for me?
- I will lead the fastest return to sport possible
- I will continue work to promote positive mental health and wellbeing
- I will continue to widen the access and inclusion for students who identify as Disabled, LGBTQ+ and of ethnic minority
- I will work to ensure that each club is supported regardless of size and membership numbers
- I will continue to negotiate better gym prices
How will I do this?
I will be able to ensure the fastest possible return to sport. This is due to two key factors; My experience and how much activity I helped to happen this year. My experience this year gives me the best ability to get all our clubs up and running as fast as possible when restrictions allow as I have coordinated this twice already and likely will a third time following this current lockdown. During my term, the Stirling area was repeatedly placed in higher restrictions than many other places throughout the country, despite this overwhelming challenge we had some of the highest levels of activity across universities in Scotland.
I have plans to further support mental health and wellbeing. I will make Scottish mental health first aid training compulsory for at least one committee member on each club. I have already worked out that this is possible with current funding levels. I would hope to open it up to more people from larger clubs and will continue to work on the funding for such an opportunity.
My second intention is to set up an anonymous reporting line so that people can report instances of bullying, harassment, or discriminatory behavior.
I will continue to widen access and inclusion for students who identify as Disabled, LGBTQ+ or of ethnic minority backgrounds by furthering the implementation of the BAME students experience report, and to continue securing additional funding to provide trainings (race, LGBTQ+, disability inclusion) and ensuring policy to protect all.
Finally, I will work to ensure that each club is supported regardless of size and membership numbers. I believe that all clubs should be able to develop and will continue to support this.
In conclusion, if you feel that a sports union’s purpose is to help the many and not the few then;
Use your head and re-elect Edd.