Welcome!
Hi everyone, I hope you’ve all had a fantastic start to the year! It’s been such a busy first few weeks, but also exciting to see campus buzzing with energy again. I’ve loved catching up with so many of you at events, induction sessions, and just around campus, and I wanted to share a quick update on what I’ve been up to and what’s coming next.
Freshers Week Highlights
Freshers Week is always one of the most exciting times of the year, and this one was no different. It was amazing to see campus buzzing with energy as new and returning students came together to kick off the year. I made sure to attend as many events as possible, and it was great to meet so many of you in different settings. The absolute highlight for me was the Freshers Fair, seeing thousands of students exploring societies, sports clubs, and opportunities was a fantastic reminder of how much our community has to offer.
Student Union Induction Sessions
As part of welcoming new students to Brunel, I also attended several induction sessions to introduce the Students’ Union and explain what we do. These sessions are always a great opportunity to connect with students at the very beginning of their university journey, answer questions, and highlight the support and opportunities available to them. It was fantastic to see how engaged many of you were and to help show how the Union can be a vital part of your time here.
Building External Relationships
This year, one of my priorities is to build stronger connections with people and organisations outside the university who can make a real difference for our students. To start this off, I invited our local MP to attend the Freshers Fair, and I was thrilled that he accepted the invitation. Having him on campus gave us the chance to talk about how students can feel more connected to local and national politics.
During our conversation, I suggested an idea that I think could be exciting for our student community: arranging a Parliament tour for Brunel students, where they would not only get to see how Parliament works but also have the chance to meet the MP in person at the end of the visit. This would give students a unique opportunity to learn more about the democratic process, ask questions directly, and see politics in action.
The MP responded positively and said he would look into how this could be organised. I’ll be following up with him in the coming weeks to try and make this opportunity a reality, and I’ll keep you updated as things develop.
While he was here, I also took part in the hanging challenge with Danny and a few of the other officers. I actually won, but I’m still waiting on the chocolate prize that was promised. I’ll be chasing that up just as much as I chase up the Parliament tour!
Food Provision on Campus
Another major area of focus for me has been food provision on campus. This is something that many of you have raised concerns about, and I’ve been working to make sure your voices are heard. Recently, we invited representatives from Chartwells, our catering provider, to attend the Student Assembly. This was a key opportunity for students to put their questions directly to them.
It was encouraging to see such a strong turnout and to hear students raise issues around affordability, quality, and variety. Having Chartwells there in person meant they couldn’t avoid the tough questions, and they left with clear feedback on what needs to improve. This kind of accountability is so important, and I’ll keep pushing for real change in this area.
Community Organiser Training
Alongside events and meetings, I also took part in community organiser training. This was all about learning the principles of community building and understanding how to gather people around the issues that matter most. It gave me some useful tools for listening to different voices, finding common ground, and turning shared concerns into collective action.
I believe this training will be invaluable in my role as a sabbatical officer, as it will help me to better support students in coming together to push for positive change both on campus and beyond.
Celebrating One Brunel
Alongside these projects, I’ve also been heavily involved in One Brunel events. One Brunel is about bringing together different parts of our university community to celebrate our shared identity, while also recognising the diversity that makes us unique. This year’s opening was a fantastic celebration, and it was great to see so many of you taking part.
I also had the chance to attend Navratri-Garba Night, which was a brilliant example of how cultural events bring vibrancy and richness to student life here. It was joyful, energetic, and a real reminder of the talent and creativity in our community. These moments are just as important as the big policy wins, they create spaces where students feel seen, included, and connected.
Looking Ahead
It’s been a packed but rewarding start to the year. From strengthening external relationships to holding catering providers accountable, and from celebrating culture to building new skills in community organising, I feel proud of the momentum we’ve built together already.
Looking ahead to the coming months, two big priorities are on my agenda:
- Disabled Students’ Focus Groups – I’ll be running focus groups with disabled students to understand what specific barriers or negative experiences they face when coming to university. This will give us a clearer picture of the changes that need to be made to create a more inclusive and supportive environment.
- Union Hardship Fund – I’ll also be working on raising funds for the Union’s hardship fund. This fund is a vital safety net for students facing unexpected financial difficulties, and I want to make sure it’s strong enough to support everyone who needs it.
As always, I’d love to hear from you. If you’ve got ideas, concerns, or suggestions, please get in touch, your input shapes everything I do in this role.