I propose the establishment of a Sanctuary Seekers Campaign Officer within Cardiff University Students’ Union.

The role would provide student-led, democratic representation for students seeking sanctuary (including asylum seekers and refugees), ensuring their voices are formally embedded within Cardiff Students’ Union’s decision-making structures. The Campaign Officer would work alongside existing officers, including the Vice President International Students, while maintaining a distinct remit that reflects the specific academic, wellbeing and structural issues faced by sanctuary-seeking students.

This proposal aligns with Cardiff University’s Sanctuary University status and Wales’ commitment to becoming a Nation of Sanctuary, translating these institutional commitments into meaningful Students’ Union representation.

Sanctuary-seeking students experience systemic and intersecting barriers within higher education that are not currently addressed through a dedicated role. These include:

Academic and professional barriers (e.g. placements, progression, professional requirements)

Wellbeing pressures linked to trauma, displacement, and immigration uncertainty

Limited access to trusted advocacy within student governance

Inconsistent follow-through when sanctuary-seeking students raise concerns or contribute to initiatives

Although the Students’ Union has structures for international students and school-level representation, sanctuary-seeking students are not a homogenous subgroup of international students. Their experiences are shaped by forced displacement, restricted rights, and heightened vulnerability, requiring specialist understanding and representation.

The absence of a designated Campaign Officer means:

Sanctuary-seeking students often do not know who to approach within the Students’ Union

Participation in student democracy is reduced to fear, mistrust, or lack of clarity

Contributions made by sanctuary-seeking students risk being fragmented or lost within wider agendas

A Sanctuary Seekers Campaign Officer would address this gap by:

Providing clear accountability for sanctuary-related issues within the Students’ Union

Supporting student-led participation and consultation with sanctuary-seeking students

Acting as a structured link between students, elected representatives, and relevant university teams (e.g. Sanctuary coordination, wellbeing, academic services)

Ensuring sanctuary-seeking students are meaningfully involved in decisions that affect them

In addition, the role could support policy-aligned initiatives such as:

Embedding Refugee Week into the Students’ Union annual calendar as a recognised equity and inclusion priority

Supporting awareness-raising that reflects lived experience while remaining student-led

Strengthening the Students’ Union’s contribution to the University’s sanctuary commitments

This proposal responds to concerns raised by sanctuary-seeking and supports the Students’ Union’s commitment to representation, inclusion, and democratic participation. It offers a practical governance solution to ensure sanctuary-seeking students are represented within, not alongside’ Students’ Union decision-making.