Thursday 18-04-2024 - 11:12

We won! This is what campaigning is all about: the fight, the ask and the win!

 

We’ve helped make changes to a key process here at Edge Hill, which is a huge deal at the SU.  So let’s go back to March 2023, yes, over a year ago, but I ran to be your FAS president, with the mission to tackle inclusivity, student morale and placements. And as you all know, I won those elections and was hard at work from day one. The passion was ready to hit the ground running!

 

This issue at hand was a personal one for me and many of my close friends and peers in FAS. We had been complaining for too long, that the hidden commute and living costs when undertaking a placement were too much. Covering our own commute costs, on top of the general cost of living was too much to handle. All for the sacrifice of wanting to do better and grow in our degree skills and employability.

 

On to July 2023, where from day one, I got the ball rolling, meeting with Careers, and George Talbot, our FAS Pro Vice Chancellor and so many more! When starting a campaign, you need 3 vital things (in my opinion) – the issue, the evidence and the support. With these three things – the student voice is amplified and strengthened. 

 

October 2023, so many FAS students joined me in my consultation telling me the truth about their placement experiences and just how hard it is to succeed and survive at the same time. “The stereotype of being an academic just doesn’t prove to be enough anymore” was continuously relayed to me. And I understand, I have been in those shoes. In addition, 410 of you told me how you wished you could go on placement but are unable due to not being able to afford the extra costs. That is the fact.

 

We recognise the vicious cycle that we are trapped in - no job without experience, yet no experience without a job. Breaking that cycle became our mission, and together, we found a solution: to pursue placements, enhance employability, and succeed without sacrificing survival.

 

Together we came up with a solution. We want to be able to go on placement, enjoy student life, enhance our employability and be successful without worrying about where our next meal will come from or how much money we will have left if we choose success over survival! It is the Students' Union’s job, and my personal mission to identify crucial issues that students are going through today and bring this forward to the university to sort out.

 

And this is exactly what we did.

 

The Student's Union team and I, set up a meeting Fay Sherrington and Alison Clark. These are the heads of Student Life and Student Services with the PVC, yes, the woman of the university heading up on student experience, Lynda Brady! What an amazing meeting that was, they really did listen, and they really did care for what students wanted out of their university.

 

So, what did we ask for?

We would like the eligibility criteria in the Student Opportunities Fund (SOF) to be reviewed and amended, to move towards inclusivity and remove barriers for students who wish to partake in short term elective placements with specification on how they can be supported by the University financially regarding travel costs.

This was a lovely and instant approval. Students! Go to the SOF, with a strong enough case and you can now apply for funding for your elective placements!
 

That is the big one for me! The Students’ Union also now has a seat on the selection panel for the SOF, so the student voice shall be heard thereafter too.

What this means for you as a student, is that you are now supported to be greater, and you can succeed and survive at the same time!
 
A small but mighty win for Edge Hill University Students! This is what we do. Thank you to all of you for your unwavering support, and from the Students’ Union team, we take a bow and prepare for the next win. If there is ever anything you feel needs changing, then please tell us. It’s our job to work with you and help you.

 This is certainly just the beginning so stay tuned.