My latest update as your Student Activities President comes after an incredibly busy few weeks on campus, and I’m excited to share everything I’ve been working on since the last blog. From catering and WiFi improvements to supporting clubs, societies, cultural events and major student initiatives, it’s been a packed and rewarding period.
One of the biggest areas of progress has been catering. Societies and sports clubs are now officially allowed to use approved external caterers for their events, which means better cultural food options, higher quality, and more affordable prices compared to the standard provider. We had our first external caterer at the Diwali celebration, which turned out to be a huge success and completely sold out. Chartwells also acknowledged the student feedback we collected, and while these conversations will continue, we’ve already opened the door to meaningful change. As part of this progress, we have now secured a new food truck on campus, Desi Deli, located on the Quad every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 11am to 6pm until the end of term. Desi Deli is run by a Brunel alumnus, and it’s great to support our alumni as they continue their journeys beyond graduation.
(Photos from Diwali 2025)
Another major concern this term has been the WiFi situation on campus. At the Union we ran our own wifi survey, the results clearly showed widespread dissatisfaction with connectivity. we escalated this feedback directly to the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, and work has already begun to address the issues raised.
Alongside this, I’ve been actively representing students across a number of important university structures. We met with the Vice-Chancellor to discuss what the University can do to strengthen the Union Hardship Fund, which is often a lifeline for students. I have also attended various key meetings such as Senate, Trustee Board, Student Assembly, and the Health & Safety Committee. Beyond formal meetings, I’ve continued supporting individual students with mental health concerns, accommodation challenges, and navigating university support services.
I also had the chance to attend my first ever BUCS Women’s Super Rugby fixture at Ealing. Brunel won the match, and it was a brilliant introduction to a sport I hadn’t watched before. It was inspiring to see the team’s performance and the community support around them.
In terms of events and cultural celebrations, I helped plan Diwali with the Indian Society and Hindu Society, and also supported the Garba event. I’ve also started early conversations about organising a student and staff event during Ramadan to promote community connection across campus.
There has been exciting movement on esports as well. I’ve continued developing the Brunel Cup and am now planning its launch in Semester 2. I recently visited St Mary’s University to tour their impressive esports arena, and after discussing the visit with our Vice-Chancellor, we’ve begun exploring the potential for creating a similar dedicated esports space at Brunel. This is a long-term but very promising project.
(Photos from trip to St Mary's Esports Arena)
Work has also continued in governance and elections. I supported the DRO and served as a committee member during the Autumn Elections, helping to ensure a smooth and transparent process. I’m currently helping to plan the AGM, and I’ve been approving new clubs and societies while processing funding requests to help them grow and thrive.
On the community and sustainability front, I’ve followed up on student feedback about Dott Bikes and cycling around campus. Progress is ongoing on cycling-related initiatives aimed at improving mobility, sustainability, and affordability for students.
I also represented the Union during the recent Open Day, speaking to prospective students and giving them insight into what student life and activities look like at Brunel.
Lastly, I want to touch on an issue that affects many students: loneliness. We all know that fitting in and making new connections can be difficult. Recent articles have highlighted the growing concern about loneliness across UK campuses and the crucial role the Union plays in supporting student wellbeing. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking closely at what more we can do to ensure every student feels able to thrive at Brunel, because nobody should feel alone on campus.