Re-elect Olalere Bamigbade
It has been a privilege to serve at the student union over the past year, especially during these trying times. The challenges I have come across had made me more determined to achieve a stronger community of students with a great support system. My proudest moment in the year is having the opportunity to echo the voices of the students at Wolverhampton University during this unprecedented time.
Through the uncertainty I found myself whilst elected, I have been able to access resources beneficial to student’s wellbeing and support during my first year as VP community.
Key achievement as the current VP community are as followed.
- Helped team members distribute personal food items during the Christmas break to students self-isolating and experiencing hardship due to COVID-19
- Delivering food vouchers to students who were unable to work
- Signposting new home and international students on campus during the first lockdown at Walsall campus.
- Sabbatical teamwork in lobbying the university to provide funds up to £700,000 to distribute to students from the OFS during the pandemic.
- Helped champion to reduce evidence needed for extenuating circumstances.
- Helped international student’s access hardship funds unavailable to them in previous years.
- Conducting surgeries weekly for students via zoom, attending to their queries and share their concerns.
- Validating the voice of students at key meetings and sub-committee.
These achievements could not have been possible without the help and support from the student union staff and my fellow sabbatical officers. My projects have been focused primarily on the wellbeing and mental health of all students and how they can be supported, with the implementation of nightline. In my previous campaign, I also motioned for avenues to be created for students to explore entrepreneurialism and employability strategies, these are still ongoing and I hope to carry them over into my next academic year if elected.
Progress on/for nightline: With the help of SU staff we have been able to look through different avenues available to set up an independent line or create an alliance with existing nightlines by next academic year. This project will benefit all students of Wolverhampton as it will be 24hr access, ran by students for students whilst creating placement opportunities.
Progress on/for employability: Currently I have been involved in sampling workshops conducted by an external volunteer. The aim of the employability scheme is to help students recognised the skills they learn at university and maximise on them outside their study to make them more employable. The scheme includes: help in tailoring CV, focus groups, workshops, placement advice, skill sourcing.
If elected I also hope to introduce:
- An enterprise competition aimed to stimulate entrepreneurial minds at the university, with rewards and benefits included. (1st Place 10k, 2nd Place £6k and 3rd place £3k)
- To increase the level of engagement between the students and the union by creating interactive gaming events and ‘Get to know all’ mixers with staff in an informal environment.
- Promote inclusivity at the university by supporting diverse and underrepresented student groups, raise awareness around disability, Lobby against the policy for no kids on campus to allow parents bring their children on campus when we resume back to campus.
- I will also ensure our international students are constantly benefitting from pool of scholarship and hardship funding during this current pandemic and beyond.