During my 4 years at Stirling I have been heavily involved in the student movement, working on campaigns such as Help not Harm, University of Sanctuary, and 9k4what, working with solidarity groups, Stirling Climate Festival, and the National Union of Students (NUS).
but I have also experienced how marketisation takes a toll on our mental health and communities. I have more to give to build a stronger student community and student movement.
My aims are to:
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Be active in NUS Scotland’s campaigns
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Foster more collaboration and communication with clubs/societies
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Campaign for better student housing
I also want to further links between the Student Union and the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU), make the union more accessible and inclusive through ongoing consultation, and ensure that students know their rights at work.
Be active in NUS Scotland’s campaigns:
The NUS Scotland campaign this year has been: to increase grants and bursaries, get a rent freeze for students, cut transport costs for all students studying in Scotland.
A lack of finances often causes students to accept poor housing standards and often leaves a negative impact on our studies and mental health. We don’t have to accept this.
Our student union has been active with the NUS this year and I’d love to continue that work to ensure that students know about these campaigns and to support anyone who wishes to be involved. Ensuring that we are fighting for better buses, better housing, proper mental health support, and increased funding.
Foster more collaboration and communication with clubs/societies:
I’ve been involved in many societies and through that I’ve been involved in a lot of cross-society collaboration and have seen how powerful that can be. I’d like to enable more opportunities for collaboration. Such as, cross-society charity sports days.
We also have a lot of talented creative societies. I'd like them to have the opportunity to create content for campaigns and for the student union in general.
I will also support and help out with any campaigns which clubs and societies wish to run. Our last and current VP communities, Alyson and Jess were both incredibly supportive of the Help not Harm campaign and divestment campaign. I’d love to continue this support.
Campaign for better student housing:
The university has gone from 14,000 students to 17,000 without providing new affordable accommodation. This means that rent prices have risen. Meanwhile the quality of homes has gone down. We need better, affordable, and more housing.
The Scottish Government has taken student accommodation out of the rent freeze, it is highly likely that student accommodation costs are about to rise.
Stirling has a housing crisis and we need to be raising our voices about it. We deserve a living space which is fit for purpose, not one which negatively impacts our mental health and leaves us skint.
I will build and engage with student campaigns for better housing on and off campus, campaign for more affordable accommodation, and ensure everyone knows their rights as tenants.
