January Community Executive Updates:

This month our community leads have been working hard planning and delivering events for LGBT+ History Month, as well as starting to come up with ideas for International Women's Day which takes place on March 8th. 

Community Officer Updates:

This month I have continued to work alongside staff and students to deliver activities from students across campuses. Most recently I ran a series of 'Model UN' events as a public speaking competition. I have also written an article discussing campaigns, how to get involved and have a potential prize for someone to win if they submit a new camapaign for the semester. As part of my manifesto I have also worked alongside the other officers to continously deliver 'pop-up' stalls across campus to bring in more engagement and and information about the Su and our roles as officers. 

This weekend it is both National Student Pride and Amnest International Conference in London. I will attending these as a student representative as an opportunity to network and learn more about student democracy. Next month I will be working with amnesty International again for the running of an online session for International Women's day.

Community Engagement Lead Updates:

Alex Powell - LGBTQIA+ Community Engagement Lead:

February was LGBTQIA+ History Month. Lots of events were planned, including a crafternoon, SU takeover and Queer Words. All of the events went really well, thanks so much to everyone who attended and engaged. We’re still working on the Trans+ Awareness Training for Pheonix+, it is currently planned to be ready to launch in semester 3. If you have any ideas of events or campaigns you’d like to see for the community please get in touch, we want the community to support everyone. 

Nutan Shah - Global Majority Engagement Lead:

This month has been a busy one for our community. We have a few very fascinating events lined up such as charm bracelets design, mini canvas painting, and tote back painting- the event has been approved and the dates are still under discussion; this will be a monthly eventt. On the 19th of feb 2025 we held the firs of these art and crafts event in leaf library from 2-5. It got really busy around 4 and had 8 people join in. They enjoyed their time with tote bag painting and said it had been long since they actually did something creative.  

We’re also planning for future trips around UK hopefully in oxford as awll as planning to make a group chat with all the members for events updates and society interaction. I would also like to take this time to celebrate that we have gone from 1014 to 1823 members this academic year!! 

Layna Forbes - Disabled Community Engagement Lead:

As the Community Engagement Lead for the Disabled Students Community, I’ve been working on several exciting initiatives to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for our community. Here’s an update on the progress so far: 

• Neurodiversity Training for Students and Staff - I have partnered with Phoenix+ to develop neurodiversity training tailored for both students and staff. This training will focus on raising awareness, promoting inclusivity, and equipping individuals with practical strategies to support neurodivergent peers and colleagues. The project is progressing well, and I look forward to sharing more details soon! 
• Sensory Rooms – Progressing Behind the Scenes. I am currently working on an initiative to introduce sensory-friendly spaces at the university. While the project is still in the approval stages, I have been collaborating with Interior Design students to explore potential designs that will best support our community. More updates will be shared once plans are finalized! 
• Collaboration with the Health & Well-being Department - I recently met with the university’s Health & Well-being team to discuss new updates to policies that will make reasonable adjustments easier for students to access. These changes aim to create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all. I’ll be working closely with them to ensure our community is aware of these improvements. 

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 

• To recognize and celebrate neurodivergent students, I am currently planning an event for Neurodiversity Celebration Week! This event will highlight the strengths, experiences, and contributions of neurodivergent individuals while also providing opportunities for education, discussion, and community-building. Stay tuned for more details! 

I’m excited about all the progress we’ve made, and I’m committed to continuing this work to ensure our community feels supported and valued. If you have any ideas, feedback, or would like to get involved, feel free to reach out! 

Getting in touch:

Thankyou, for reading though this month's Community Executive Updates.

You can find out more about what we have going on, or how to join a community through the communities page.