Sabbatical Officer Online Archive

VP Sports and Athletic Union President: Georgia Spry

It has been an absolute pleasure being your Vice President Sports and Athletic Union President for the past 2 years. There have been many challenging times but I’m so proud of the Sabbatical Officer team for their unwavering support for students and consistently challenging the University to do better.

Some of my largest highlights this year were Welsh Varsity, SU Fight Night, my amazing AU Executive Committee and increasing the visibility of Sports Clubs on social media.

This year I have:

• Launched the Let’s Talk Consent campaign educating students on Sexual Violence and how to be an active bystander.
• Produced weekly Sport Spotlights highlighting our amazing Sports Clubs and their achievements to give them more visibility and exposure on the AU and SU social media pages.
• Promoted inclusivity in sports during LGBTQ+ History Month by challenging clubs to wear their rainbow laces and ribbons to training and games and challenge inappropriate language.
• Celebrated our clubs be reintroducing Team of the Week and Club of the Month.
• Launched the Fixtures and Results webpage to promote our Club’s competition achievements throughout the year.
• Organized one of the largest student sporting events in the UK – Welsh Varsity, with 10,000 spectators and 1000 athletes.
• Ran the SU Fight Night with Kickboxing, MMA and Taekwondo growing on last year’s success with all the profits going to the Sports Clubs involved.
• Represented Welsh sport, universities and student unions as the Student Chair of Welsh Student Sports and sat on the BUCS Advisory Panel as the Welsh student representative.
• Continued the AU referral scheme to the hardship fund run by the Financial Assistance Programme in the University.
• I attended Club Give it a Go’s at the start of the year and created social media content to promote non-BUCS and less known sports.
• Restructured our committee training to make it more engaging by introducing interactive elements, new slide designs, new timetable and alternating staff delivery as well as introducing topics on bystander training and culture change.

Diolch for voting me in twice, it’s been an intense but rewarding two years and I hope I have left a better Students’ Union than I came into.

VP Undergraduate Students (Education and Welfare): Noah Russell

I’ve loved my second year in this role, working with the team has been an absolute joy and so much has been achieved. It’s definitely not been an easy year, but I am so incredibly proud of the team for persevering and making a difference to the lives of Cardiff Students. In my second and final year as a sabbatical officer I have completed much of what I was hoping for during my time here, but there is always more to do which I am excited to see from our new sabbatical officer team of 2024/25.

This year I have:

• Supported students in getting compensation after being affected by the strikes and Marking and Assessment Boycott.
• Secured free drug testing kits for all students, so that if students do decide to take substances they can know what they are taking and if it is safe.
• Helped create a new Gender Identity Fund, allowing trans and non-binary students access to gender affirming products and care. This is the first of its kind at Cardiff University and we cannot wait to see it being used by our queer students.
• Proudly called for a ceasefire in Gaza and stood with our students in supporting the victims of the genocide in Palestine.
• Helped implement the findings from our Cops Off Campus Task and Finish group, ensuring the student voice was heard and listened to.
• Monitored and supported the implementation of Blackboard Ultra, meaning the digital learning environment of students should be more streamlined than ever. This has been a very successful project and has been completed throughout with student consultation, a brilliant example of how these projects should be done.
• Pushed for a greener Cardiff University, both metaphorically and literally. This has included looking into securing bee-houses on the SU roof, pushing the Fossil Free Careers motion forward and working with the university and local community on how we can make the local environment more accessible and pleasant to our students.
• Helped revalidate dozens of programs, ensuring that when programs and modules are proposed they are fully considered with student interests in mind.
• Represented the interests of students across committees and working groups from the senior management level of the university, to ground floor projects.

Diolch for voting me in twice, it’s been an intense but rewarding two years and I hope I have left a better Students’ Union than I came into.

VP Sports and Athletic Union President: Georgia Spry

What a year! It has been an absolute pleasure being your Vice President Sports and Athletic Union President this year and I can’t wait to continue working with you all next year. My year has been full to the brim with projects, campaigns, sports and supporting our students. Some of my largest highlights were Welsh Varsity, bringing home the shield for the 26th Anniversary, pushing for more inclusivity and diversity, not only in sports but across the university, and running the first ever SU Fight Night with 2 styles of martial arts. I have enjoyed every second of it and look forward to continuing to champion our students’ voices and making sports bigger and better at Cardiff University.

Here’s a taste of the projects I have worked on this year:

• I ran a DisAbility Sports campaign where we ran 3 para-sport events and released a podcast to raise awareness of disabilities in sports.
• Sober Socials Week highlighted the importance of clubs and societies hosting socials accessible to all members.
• I ran a Winter Wellbeing Campaign to tackle the winter blues. We hosted events, signposted, gave away wellbeing essentials and recorded a wholesome podcast on our experiences with winter blues and exam stress.
• Promoted inclusivity in sports during LGBTQ+ History Month by challenging clubs to wear their rainbow laces and ribbons to training and games.
• Organized one of the largest student sporting events in the UK – Welsh Varsity, with over 9000 spectators and 1000 athletes.
• Lead Team Cardiff to another huge Welsh Varsity win over Swansea (33.5 – 13.5!)
• Represented Welsh sport, universities and student unions as the Student Co-Chair of Welsh Student Sports and sat on the BUCS Advisory Panel as the Welsh student representative.
• Improved communication between the AU and its members through monthly newsletters, social media and regular emails.
• Met with Club presidents twice a year to set goals as well as offering regular committee drop ins and meetings.
• Continued the AU referral scheme to the hardship fund run by the Financial Assistance Programme in the University.
• Recorded many podcasts covering a wide range of topics that link to the SU’s many campaigns (you can listen here!)
• Introduced Disability awareness training and Bystander Training as well as pushing for Wellbeing Training for the University Sport’s IMG teams.
• I updated the Tier System to include realistic requirements and reduce the jump between tiers. The new system requires an increase in Club effort as the tiers go up and consider the size of a club.
• Successfully ran the Students’ Union’s first ever Fight Night with Kickboxing and MMA.
• I attended Club Give it a Go’s at the start of the year and created social media content to promote non-BUCS and less known sports.
• Facilitated record numbers of students at our freshers fairs.

VP Postgraduate Students (Education and Welfare): Micaela Panes

I’ve had a busy year as your VP Postgraduate! I’ve loved representing and advocating for students this year and can’t wait to continue next year. Here’s a list of just some of what I’ve worked on and my student wins in my first year:

This year I have:

• Ensured students who had their studies impacted by industrial action received compensation.
• Ensured that Graduate Tutor and Demonstrator contracts were implemented in all schools and chased down those who did not comply.
• Run a ‘PGRs: Know your Rights’ campaign to ensure that all Postgraduate Researchers were aware of their new rights under the new teaching contracts.
• Lobbied against the Welsh Government’s decision to axe Postgraduate grants and got over 2,000 signatures on the petition in a month. The petition was discussed by the Senedd’s Petitions Committee which made the Education Minister conduct and publish an equality impact assessment.
• Brought back ‘Postgraduate Welcome Fortnight’ and ran two weeks of sold-out events.
• Created the first ever ‘Research Aid’ boxes for Postgraduate Research students.
• Increased the library loan limit from 35 to 50 for all students and staff.
• Increased the Postgraduate Study Zone opening times to 24/7.
• Run 5 Postgraduate Exclusive Give it a Go trips to Oxford, Stonehenge and Salisbury, Bath, Rhossili, and Tenby – for only £5 (with HEFCW funding)!
• Grew the Postgraduate Association’s reputation and began rebuilding a strong Postgraduate community.
• Ran the first ever ‘Postgraduate Big Unwind’ to help students de-stress and meet new people.
• Created a ‘wellbeing area’ in the Postgraduate Study Zone with board games and colouring books.
• Began work on creating a cross-University PGR mentoring scheme.
• Wrote the first-ever Student View on the PGR Student Experience which covered teaching and demonstrating, community and belonging, funding and financial struggle, academic and student support, and supervision.
• Led a register to vote campaign in the lead up the 2024 General Election.
• Supported the University in reviewing the PGR Extenuating Circumstances and Interruption of Studies policies which now include huge wins for PGRs, such as simpler and a more accessible process, phased returns, working at limited capacity, and great support on return to study.

Is-lywydd Iaith, Cymuned a Diwylliant Cymru: Deio Owen

Roedd hi'n fraint cael bod yn Is Lywydd Iaith, Diwylliant a Chymuned Cymru cyntaf yr Undeb, ac rwyn edrych ymlaen i weld beth fyd Is-Lywyddion y Gymraeg y dyfodol yn gwneud. Mae'r rôl yma wedi dod yn dilyn blynyddoedd o ymgyrchu gan fyfyrwyr ac mae'r gwaith yn parhau i sicrhau fod cyfleoedd, cefnogaeth a darpariaeth Cymraeg yn rhan o fywyd dydd i ddydd y Brifysgol. Roedd hi'n gyfle anhygoel i fod yn Is-Lywydd ac i ddysgu mwy am sut mae'r Undeb a'r Brifysgol yn gweithio a sut mae gallu cydweithio er mwyn cael y gorau i fyfyrwyr Caerdydd. Er fod y rôl hwn mewn lle bellach, mae'r angen i ymgyrchu, cymryd rhan a codi llais dal yno, i sicrhau fod myfyrwyr Cymraeg yn cael chwarae teg, ac er mwyn sicrhau fod y Gymraeg ar gael i bawb sydd yn dymuno ymgysylltu â'r iaith, boed drwy ddysgu Cymraeg, ei ddathlu neu fel arall.

Eleni rydw i wedi:

• Sefydlu rôl Is Lywydd y Gymraeg llawn amser yn dilyn blynyddoedd o ymgyrchu am y rôl.
• Datrys problemau sydd yn codi ynglŷn â asesiadau cyfrwng Cymraeg, mynediad at y Gymraeg a'r safonau.
• Derbyn cydnabyddiaeth Cynnig Cymraeg Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, er mwyn dangos ymrwymiad hir dymor yr Undeb at wasanaethau Cymraeg a chynwysoldeb.
• Rhedeg amrywiaeth o ymgyrchoedd gan gynnwys dathliadau Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, Iawn Mêt? a Pride.
• Cael y Brifysgol i chwifio baner Dewi Sant ar Ddydd Gŵyl Dewi am y tro cyntaf ers blynyddoedd.
• Creu polisi Iaith newydd ar gyfer yr Undeb.
• Cadeirio Cyfarfod Diogelwch myfyrwyr Caerdydd.

SU President: Gina Dunn

I have absolutely loved my second year as a sabbatical officer, stepping up to the role of President. This has been an extremely challenging year to be a student, with the Cost-of-Living Crisis and Industrial Action having a big impact on University life, but it has also been a fantastic one. The officer team have worked tirelessly to ensure students are represented in every decision made by both the University and the Union.

Some of the things I’ve been working on includes:

• Getting the first ever VK Vending Machine.
• Increased the capacity of our club nights by opening the Balconi bar.
• Supported students through the Cost-of-Living Crisis by introducing £2 lunches, Feed Your Flat: The Essentials, free tea and coffee in the lounge and free breakfasts during exam times.
• Interviewed and appointed the new Vice Chancellor of the University.
• Reverted the Cardiff University Bursary to be available in cash.
• Reverted the Cardiff University Bursary to be available in cash.
• Ran Revision Aid in both exam periods with the entire team, introducing free breakfasts and printing in both the Cathays and Heath Park Campus.
• Booked in Blood Drives in the SU for November 2023.
• Ensured mitigation for exam boards during the Marking and Assessment boycott.
• Worked closely with the Welsh Language Officer to ensure a smooth transition to the new full time Vice President role.

VP Sports and AU President: Olivia Evans

It has been an absolute pleasure being the Vice President Sports & Athletic Union President this year. It has been a year of unbelievable moments and memories. Being able to be a big part of organizing and running the first home Varsity since pre-pandemic, in which we achieved the biggest win for team Cardiff ever recorded, has been the resounding highlight. However, the diversity work I have done this year has also been central to my experience. This year I strove to make sports as accessible to everyone as possible through disability sports initiatives as well as an extensive rainbow laces campaign. I hope that I will leave the sports landscape at Cardiff a more inclusive and safe space than it was when I arrived.

Here is a taste of what I achieved as VP Sports & AU President:

• Ran two rainbow laces days – getting over 1200 athletes wearing them in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
• Produced a large rainbow laces video campaign, giving voice to some of our LGBTQ+ athletes.
• Organized one of the largest student sporting events in the UK – over 8000 student spectators and over 800 competing athletes.
• Lead Team Cardiff to a record Varsity win over Swansea.
• Organized an awards ceremony for the Athletic Union, hosting 500 attendees. Worked to develop disability sports at Cardiff.
• I represented Welsh sport in the BUCS community by sitting as the Student Chair for Welsh Student Sport as well as, as the Welsh representative on the BUCS Advisory Panel.
• I was a panel member on BUCS Disciplinary Panels.
• Spoke live on BBC Wales about Welsh Varsity.
• Organised a plethora of guest speakers on diversity and inclusion.
• Improved communication from the AU to its members through social media and newsletters.
• Improved the training of new committee members by returning training to in person, meeting with presidents twice in the year, and starting committee coffee mornings.
• Set up the first Athletic Union Hardship fund to support students through the cost-of-living crisis.
• Provided first aid kits to all BUCS playing teams.
• Improved conduct and behavior by introducing a new code of conduct and new training for clubs in conjunction with the university.
• Ran a successful Spring in Your Step Campaign accessible to both Cathays and the Heath.
• Ran a successful Nighttime safety campaign to signpost students to safety initiatives at the start of the year.

VP Societies and Volunteering: Shreshth Goel

It has been such a wonderful year for Societies and Volunteering this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as VP Societies and Volunteering and am extremely proud of everything our student groups have achieved this year. From marking Gair Rhydd’s 50th anniversary to celebrating student accomplishments at National Societies and Volunteering Awards, we have done it all! Whilst the year did not come without its challenges, we have managed to grow the Guild membership and have welcomed new societies to the guild!

Raising 1000s of pounds for various charities, our students have shown real dedication and commitment to Raise and Give this year and I am looking forward to seeing what’s next for them all.

I would not have been able to do any of this without help from my team so a special shoutout to Ellen O’Dwyer, Hannah Snape, Sophie Irving, Rhys White, Paul Jones, and Rachel Mattey. This year we have started some exciting new things and I really hope they act as building blocks for what’s to come and these are events and campaigns that can grow even bigger and better in the future!

Some of the things I’ve been working on includes:

• PrEPare Campaign where I promoted the use of PrEP, encouraged sexual health testing among students and even brought a variety of free contraceptives to the SU.
• I worked with the International Students Officer to organize and host ‘Culture Cwtch’, a celebration of Diversity. This event was a massive success and we managed to sell out with having to introduce extra standing tickets on the door!
• Introducing more mirrored spaces in the Union for our student groups. Securing more University rooms and buildings for student groups.
• Restructured the tier system – For the first time, this was passed by Societies Forum after a year of development and consultation with students.
• Pronoun Badge Distribution campaign where I gave out 100s of pronoun badges to students to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment around campus.
• Presidential Meetings where I held myself accountable by receiving feedback from individual society presidents by hosting 1-2-1s and working on their reviews.
• Lowering the Guild Costs for Erasmus Students.
• Promoted Volunteering by hosting a Volunteering Fair and working alongside the Volunteering Executive Committee on Student Volunteering Week.
• LGBTQ+ History Month where I hosted a range of events throughout February to promote LGBTQ+ history and support the community.
• Getting the first ever Drag Queen DJ in the SU for Pride YOLO in February.
• Opening the first ever eSports Suite in a Welsh Students’ Union.
• Introducing Taf Sunday Carvery Loyalty Cards for students during National Student Money Week.
• Improving Societies Committee Resources by writing a new Committee Handbook and Redesigning the Societies Website.
• Hosting Focus Groups with underrepresented societies to understand how the Union can support them better.
• Getting Free Cloak Rooms in YOLO and reaching out to the venues in Cardiff to urge them to do the same.
• Worked together with the officer team on Revision Aid.
• Submitted a Student View to the University including wanting cheaper travel options between the two campuses.
• Represented Students on Various University and Union Committees.
• Organising and hosting Societies, Volunteering and Media Awards 2023, introducing a range of new awards and increasing ticket sales by almost double from the previous year.
• Amended the Activities Laws to include set rules about Save a Society and Micro Societies.
• Sat on the Judging Panel for National Societies and Volunteering Awards.
• Organised the University and Union’s presence at Pride Cymru to ensure we stand together with Pride and support our LGBTQ+ Students and Staff Members.

VP Welfare: Rebecca Deverell

Being Vice President Welfare has truly been an honour and it has been an experience I will never forget. Going from Mental Health Officer to this role, I have loved meeting every single student. Interactions mean a lot to me, and I have made so many wonderful connections this year. It has been a pleasure getting to know so many students and making a difference to their university lives. My campaigns and events have meant a lot to me, so I am so happy to have made an impact. My highlight of the year has to be my Big Unwind Events. A campaign I created when I was Mental Health Officer, The Big Unwind has proven extremely successful with over 700 students engaging and I am so happy it has been a success.

What I have worked on during my year in office:

• Increased the number of therapy dogs in the SU from 2 to 7.
• Helped to implement a quiet room during freshers.
• Ran The Big Unwind (a day full of craft activities) every weekend during Freshers with attendance from over 600 students.
• Signed the SU up to the Manifesto for Change.
• Implemented a Sober Social Week for the first time.
• Ran Winter Wellbeing sessions including a Big Unwind Christmas Special.
• Worked with Residence Life on Time to Talk Day.
• Ran the most successful Palentines event ever wither over 120 students attending.
• Welcomed Empower Periods to the SU for the Period Dignity Campaign.
• Worked tirelessly with the South East Wales Mental Health Partnership to successfully implement the Mental Health University Liaison Service.
• Helped run over 11 Feed Your Flats and introducing Advice and Money into the event.
• Won a Parliamentary recognised award for my work in the Cardiff Alcohol Partnership in the 18-25 category.

VP Education: Noah Russell

My first year as a sabbatical officer has not been what I expected, there have been plenty of highs and lows and it’s been a tumultuous time, but I’ve come out on the other side incredibly proud of what we have achieved. Below is a sample of the projects I have furthered or completed throughout the year, and I cannot wait to update you on what I achieve next year.

This year I have:

• Secured later opening hours for the CSL.
• Successfully lobbied against the CU Bursary being converted to an online voucher.
• Pushed for and completed a Cops Off Campus Task and Finish group, leading to the SU resolving to limit its ties to South Wales Police and other local policing institutions.
• Pushed the University to remove fossil fuel-based companies from careers advertisings in line with the Fossil Free Careers student motion.
• Supported the UCU and students through MAB.
• Ran educational sessions on police abolition, trans rights and more.
• Posted LOADS of animal facts.
• Helped run lots of Revision Aid and Feed Your Flat stalls, providing physical support to Cardiff Students.
• Represented the interests of students across committees and working groups from the senior management level of the university, to ground floor projects.

Diolch for the constant support and pob lwc bwlyddyn nesa.

SU President: Hannah Doe

I have thoroughly enjoyed making a difference to the student experience during my time as Students’ Union President. Throughout the year the Officer Team have worked incredibly hard to represent Cardiff University students. My highlight of the year was engaging with thousands of students in the Wellbeing Takeover campaign and confirming a full-time Vice President Welsh Language, Culture and Community from 2023/24.

Some of the things I’ve been working on includes:

• The Lounge Library where you can enjoy a selection of books to take home, swap or read in the building.
• Winter Wellbeing campaign which showcased amazing charities and wellbeing support available to students.
• Crazy golf!
• Wellbeing Takeover campaign providing you numerous events and activities to enhance your wellbeing.
• Pause and Relax events offering you the opportunity to try something different and make new friends.
• Learning Community Partnership Project bringing together the research from the first year of the project and putting it into action, including workshops with academic staff.
• Zero To Hero campaign encouraging sustainable purchasing of food products and other items.
• Photography Competition providing you the opportunity to have your own photography displayed in your school.
• President’s Executive Committee where the officers regularly gathered to discuss their goals and challenges students are facing.
• Student safety, including drink toppers and spiking test kits provided in the venue.
• New brand and strategy launch to the Cardiff community.
• Full-time Vice President Welsh Language, Culture and Community confirmed from the 2023/24 sabbatical officer year.

Vice President Education: Gina Dunn

It has been a pleasure to be VP Education this year and work alongside such fantastic people. Seeing the return to campus after two years of COVID and the transition back to face-to-face teaching has been wonderful and I’m so grateful that I got to contribute to the new learning environment. This role has been incredibly rewarding and I’m really excited to continue to represent you in the next year as your SU President.

Some of the things I’ve been working on includes:

• Running the Revision Aid Campaign, with free printing in the SU.
• Introduced therapy dogs to the Students’ Union on a fortnightly schedule.
• Triggered a review of the amount of face-to-face teaching when we returned from covid online learning.
• As a team we worked on student safety, increasing our safety measures in our venues, including getting drinks toppers in our clubs and spiking test kits in the venue. I contacted clubs across town to ensure they were doing enough to keep our students safe during the rise in drinks spiking.
• Introduced the Feed Your Flat campaign as part of Revision Aid, giving you free ingredients to make a meal.

Vice President Heath Park: Sebastian Ripely

My time as VP Heath Park has been among the most memorable of my University experience. I helped students navigate a very challenging period throughout the pandemic, many students were studying courses and working as key workers throughout this time.

Here are a couple of the projects, as a HP Team and with key University staff, we have worked on:

• Provided evidence and driven the conversation around the financial difficulties faced by Heath Park students. Specifically around expenses and Bursary payments.
• Agreed and begun work on a refurbishment of social study space on campus. To begin steps on becoming a stakeholder when it comes to campus development.
• Explored opportunities to improve students' placement experience, through proposing a student experience case study with In Place. This was agreed by the steering group and should look to go ahead after first stage implementation.
• I lead a “Heath Park on Tour” initiative, engaging with students on placement locations for the first time in SU history
• I delivered a “Spring in Your Step” campaign supporting students with mental health through spring, by providing packs for planting and growing herbs

Vice President Postgraduate: Orla Tarn

It has been my absolute pleasure to return to the Students’ Union Sabbatical Officer Team this year, in far more optimistic circumstances than my previous year ended in. The role of VP Postgraduate could not be more different to my previous role and I have been thrilled to explore the more nuanced elements of the student experience, and push for wins that not only impact the academic experience and wellbeing of our Postgraduates, but impact the University community on the whole.

I have been delighted to see the campus come alive once again following two very challenging years of COVID restrictions, and it is motivating and heartwarming to see it return to pre-COVID levels and beyond. Unanticipated levels of student enthusiasm and engagement have made this year so much more rewarding than I ever imagined, and I hope to take this away as I embark on new challenges as your next NUS Wales President.

Some of the things I’ve worked on this year include:

• Getting Cardiff University students from Classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022 the Graduations they deserve
• A renewed University commitment to support the most vulnerable students within our community, including those who are transgender, disabled, and marginalized in other ways
• Working with UCU and Cardiff University to address the imbalances that leave space for Industrial Action mandates, and mitigating the impact of potential action on students
• A brand-new Postgraduate Study Zone, which has now been made a 24/7 study space!
• A tuition fee reduction for returning Cardiff Students embarking on Postgraduate Taught students
• Connecting students at Cardiff University with the wider student movement, with engagement through NUS Wales and NUS UK
• A commitment to the experience of our international students in the way the University handles the visa process
• The continuation of fair and transparent extenuating circumstances policy
• A Welcome Team experience in 2021 that assisted 7,000 new students in their transition into University life – thanks to our incredible team of Union staff and Volunteers who made this happen!
• The clearing of Wednesday Afternoons for taught Postgraduate students
• The relocation of key writing spaces for Postgraduate Research students
• A commitment to employment status for Postgraduate Research Students who teach as Graduate Teaching Assistants – GTAs
• Re-establishing the Postgraduate Association, running 8 highly successful social events, and becoming a truly Postgraduate-centred space within the Students’ Union to encourage engagements and social connection
• A brand new method for harnessing PGT feedback in the new CUPTS survey that rolled out in March
• Co-chairing the Mature Students Partnership Project to look into the difficulties faced by a huge student demographic

Vice President AU: Megan Somerville

What a year it has been!! Being the Vice President Sport and AU President has not been easy at all but I wouldn’t change any of it. There is no job like it and nothing will prepare you for the what this job throws at you. It has been amazing working alongside the committee members, the AU team and staff throughout the students union and university, these connections are one of the reasons I have enjoyed the job so much. The start of the year was not easy for our clubs with covid still around but our sport clubs worked extremely hard to get themselves back up and running, and they all should very proud. The success on and off the pitch this year cannot go unspoken, all our teams have done incredible from winning leagues to raising large sums of money for charity. I would like to give a special shout out to our female teams and athletes who have across the board had a hugely successful year with several of our teams moving into premier leagues and best of all every team won at varsity.

Sport clubs positively impact upon students experience at university, they have the ability to make or break some ones time at uni, without the netball club I wouldn’t of made the friends and memories I did at uni. I would recommend to anyone that they join a club, it is why I am happy that our clubs are open to beginners as well as athletes. It is why it is so important that the AU president is there to voice the concerns of the clubs and ensure both the AU and university continue to support them in the ways needed and possible. The investment into facilities, opportunities and development of sports club needs to continue to ensure our clubs remain functioning to the best of their abilities.

I hope that even though some of the clubs will never be happy with me for the yolo queue I would like to hope that improved the student experience in my year as AU president. I would also like to thank everyone that has supported me this year, special shout out to Julian Turner, Raechel Mattey, Anna Russel and my team.

I thought it would be nice to share ym favourite memory of the year but ii actually couldn’t pick, varsity and AU ball have beent he 2 major highlights of my year and they made all the hard times worth while. I was extremely proud at both events to be AU President to such amazing sport clubs on and off the pitch and it was a pleasure to celebrate with them all the wonderful achievements.

Things I’ve been working on include:

• Ensuring all sport clubs get back on their feet after covid
• Worked closely with stakeholders across the university and the SU to ensure improvements and progression continue to get made to sports
• Making sure the Athletic union runs efficiently and transparently
• Been a key representation for student at Cardiff university.
• Worked alongside other sport sabbatical officers across Wales and England to ensure that we could work collaboratively to support one another.
• Acted as the main point of contact to 67 sport clubs and over 500 committee members and over 5000 club members. Concentrating on helping students to develop their activities to make them accessible
• Provided pastoral care and advice to key student leaders and volunteers.
• Organised and delivered key events; freshers’ Fairs, Welsh Varsity, guest speaker talks and the Athletic Union ball.
• I have worked closely with sport clubs to squash any antisocial behavior and intitations that are now banned by BUCs
• Provided training to clubs to help enforce inclusive behavior
• Continued the work of Jude to ensure that clubs have wellbeing officers within their committee to ensure that all members have the guidance and support they need
• Ensured I have a good relationship with the presidents and committee members so they feel as though they can always drop into the office and ask any question
• Ran 2 guest speaker talks with both reaching attendance over 300 people.
• Ran spring in your step campaign which was to encourage students to get outside and be active.
• Have worked closely with the marcoms team to improve the social media of the Athletic union.
• I would like to just finish off by saying thank you to everyone who has made this year the most incredible year for me, I am sad to leave but excited to see what comes next for me.

Vice President Welfare: Charlotte Towlson

My time as VP Welfare and Campaigns was an amazing experience full of great achievements but also many challenges! The job role has such a wide breadth of duties and getting to grips at first is tricky. Despite this, this position has provided me with an experience I will never forget!

Achievements in this role include many things such as creating a campaign raising awareness of sexual harassment and reporting it which can be the foundation of many more campaigns.

I co-led the AccessAble (digital accessibility guide) business case in which it was purchased by Cardiff University which will benefit students massively in the forthcoming future.

I led projects such as Cardiff Inspire Alumni Talks which were rewarding to host and I hope they will inspire many students in the future.

SU President: Tomos Evans

Some of the things I've been working on includes:

• University Accommodation Rent Refunds.
• Implementing a fair and functioning Safety Net Policy for Students.
• Reducing Accommodation Costs.
• Supporting students returning home for Christmas safely as well as those who stayed in Cardiff.
• The Review of the Quality of Teaching.
• Campaigning for Tuition Fee Reimbursements.
• Improving the Student Rep systems so that it is updated and is able to actively inform decisions of the University.
• Leading the Student View Partnership Project on Student Complaints.

Vice President Education: Hannah Doe

It has been my honour to be your Vice President Education this past year, through what has been a challenging time. Whilst for many, this has not been the experience you had in mind, do remind yourself that your sacrifice this year has helped rebuild the UK and beyond. I could never had imagined working on so much at the start of this year, it has been an amazing opportunity. I look forward to continuing as your SU President next year.

Some of the things I've been working on includes:

• Revision Aid Campaign.
• Covid-19 related complaints procedure.
• Implementing a fair and functioning Safety Net Policy for 2020/21 academic year including uncapped resits, 2-week self-certifying resits, secondary rule and cohort scaling.
• SabbChat: The Sabbatical Officer Podcast. Listen here
• Study Packs to support students during assessment periods.
• Improving the Academic Feedback System where you can now provide anonymous and rapid feedback using the portal on the Vice President Education webpage.
• The Personal Tutor Campaign, informing students that they can change their tutor.
• Personal Tutor signposting document informing tutors and their tutees of services across the University.
• Extension of the Remote Study Policy for Semester 2 allowing students to study away from campus during the pandemic.
• Core Textbooks and Lecture Capture for all students.
• Bookable Library Slots and extended lengths of time you can study.
• The introduction of a Study Café where you can come along and study without booking, while enjoying SU food.
• Continuing work and research into Student Learning Communities through the Learning Community Partnership project.
• Virtual Study Hangout Facebook group welcome to all Cardiff students where you can make connections, study together and feel motivated.
• Safe student return home for Christmas.
• LinkedIn Learning for all students.
• Spring in Your Step campaign where we encouraged students to get active, get outside and get mindful. This involved many fun freebies such as T-shirts and water bottles because of your activity.
• Weekly virtual drop-ins for students to speak to the Heath Park Campus Team.
• Improving the communication of ‘bad news’ to students.
• Campaign for transparent placement allocation policies.
• Pressuring the University to introduce a financial support fund for the costs of placement.
• Increase awareness of the Students’ Union at the Heath.
• Developing the Heath Park Community.
• Along with Luke Evans worked on the ‘Lead the Mindfulness’ section of the Spring in your Step Campaign.

Vice President Heath Park: Sebastian Ripley

It has been fantastic to see the hard work and resilience of the students at the Heath Park Campus. In a year where students have been supporting the NHS in crisis, all the while carrying the pressures of academic life, it has been a privilege to serve the students of the Heath Park.

Things I’ve been working on include:

• Weekly virtual drop-ins for students to speak to the Heath Park Campus Team.
• Improving the communication of ‘bad news’ to students.
• Campaign for transparent placement allocation policies.
• Pressuring the University to introduce a financial support fund for the costs of placement.
• Increase awareness of the Students’ Union at the Heath.
• Developing the Heath Park Community.
• Along with Luke Evans worked on the ‘Lead the Mindfulness’ section of the Spring in your Step Campaign.

Vice President Postgraduate: Jane Chukwu

We are all set now for a farewell parade, and I am so proud of everything I have been able to achieve this year despite the obvious challenges. Supporting the Postgraduate Community in Cardiff University has been one incredible journey and I am so glad I signed up for it.

Here are some of the things I worked on throughout the year:

• Lobbied for parking spaces for PGRs traveling to University Campus to undertake blended learning/teaching with the help of relevant stakeholders, securing temporary parking spaces at Senghennydd Court/Cranbrook Street and Column Drive/CASSIM.
• Lobbied for an upgrade to the University HR systems to include access for PGRs and student workers. Now all demonstrators and casual student workers can view payslips and PAYE documents online.
• Worked with University IT and University Library on a one-year extension for access to IT and Library services for Research Postgraduates who are looking to remain in academia.
• Worked with University IT and University Library on developing a closer relationship with Cardiff Alumni, specifically around access to University resources, where allowed.
• Lobbied for more office spaces to be made available across all colleges for PGRs. Thanks to the Deans, there are current provisions being made to accommodate more doctoral students who may need to do more work from home.
• Worked on a University-wide campaign for Student Parents and Carers and was able to arrange some care packages for students who have had to take up caring roles/responsibilities even during the pandemic.
• Led the Black History Campaign in collaboration with Students' Union ACS, SSAP, Black History Wales, the SU President, the VP Welfare and other relevant stakeholders who effectively supported and made it the success it became.
• Launched the Black History Book Club, which is led by the BME Officer for all students who are keen on becoming a part of a learning community, growing with one another through books and book reviews.
• Facilitated the How-to-Finance campaign to help prospective Postgraduate Students know where to look for available financial support and resources to help fund their Masters/PhD programme at Cardiff University.
• Launched the PGR Awareness Week campaign to help promote visibility of the PGR community and the unique needs that puts them aside from the wider student population. The campaign was multifaceted, leading onto employment rights for PGRs, the code of conduct checklist and Mental Health Awareness Week for PGR students.
• Worked on the Personal Tutoring campaign "If you don't click, don't stick" with the VP Education, raising awareness to students that they can change their personal tutors if they find the relationship unhealthy or not effective to their learning progression.
• Supported students all through the year, including managing a 400+ Facebook group and a 100+ persons WhatsApp Group to engage students pre-arrival, setting up a Friday Facebook catchup for postgraduates during the Fire Break, virtual social events during Freshers' week and more social events to accommodate students who didn't travel home for the Christmas Break.
• Worked to promote visibility, consistency, and structure in the dissemination of information from the different departments responsible for postgraduates.
• We worked with the University Library to ensure that students could have access to a wholesome reading list of relevant books, an extension of 3 hours for library space use, 30 minutes of printing slots and an extension of booking slots from once a week to three times a week.
• Created a cross-promotion communication around Internships and Graduate Schemes for Postgraduates at Cardiff University and beyond.
• We worked on transforming Assessments for Blended Learning so students could better manage workload and assessments' deadlines.
• Supported the Partnership Projects; the Learning Communities Partnership Project and the Students Support Services Partnership Projects.

Vice President Societies and Volunteering: Luke Evans

It has been an enormous pleasure to be able to represent student groups this year, especially societies & volunteering activities. This academic year has most likely been the most difficult year in the Guild’s history. We faced great challenges including activity restrictions and social distancing. Nevertheless, the tenacity and passion that committees have shown has been a true testament to the energy and drive of Cardiff students. With £1000’s raised for charity across groups, many hundreds of committee members completing new digital training as well as hundreds of committee members and societies coming into drop-in sessions & forums- this year has paved the way with solid foundations that will hopefully allow for continued progression and progress as activity eases post-lockdown.

Things I’ve been working on include:

• Supporting Society activity to take place in lockdowns.
• SabbChat: The Sabbatical Officer Podcast. Listen here
• Moving Freshers' Fair to an online platform to support online engagement.
• Produced additional wellbeing training for Welfare Officers to provide more advanced support in groups.
• Worked on course-based societies; beginning to understand how they best operate, where improvements are needed and how they can better operate in collaboration with the University.
• Re-structured and delivered new online training for group committees.
• Prepared and supported committees for Covid-19 related risks with updated documents & risk assessments
• Engaged Societies with the SU Elections through initiatives such as engagement competitions.
• Improved communications with Societies, being more open, honest and supportive with groups through Social Media, drop in sessions, forums, and check up’s.
• Co-ordinated virtual activities & events for groups to engage and highlight their skills and passions including Freshers’ Fair, Nerd Varsity & The Winter Showcase.
• Prepared and planned for more in person activities in Term 2 as activity improves with allocated spaces and on hand support.
• Secured the existence and stability of societies as for the next academic year with adapted regulations and requirements as well as closer guidance.
• Updated tier elements to allow for virtual activity, adapting elements and requirements to support group tiering during Covid-19.
• Financial support for groups in a time where there were financial difficulties with limited grants; including a wellbeing fund allocation, and a virtual activity fund.
• Helped to secure sponsorships for struggling student groups.
• Improved collaborative elements of the Guild, particularly between Cathays & Heath Park Campus’ with Sebastian Ripley (VP Heath Park) through a mindfulness campaign.
• Organised Virtual Society Awards, adding a new award; The Society Shield to recognise the work of one particular society that embodied the values of the Guild. It is hoped this will lead the way for an annual special recognition for a certain group from the VP Societies.

Vice President Sport and AU President: Jude Pickett

What a whirlwind the last 2 years has been. Being the Vice President Sport and AU President 2019 – 2021 has been a job like no other but it has been great. It has been truly amazing working alongside committee members, the AU team and staff throughout the Students' Union and University to make a difference to the student experience. Obviously, the last year has been unlike anything we could have imagined but throughout this, Sports Club committees have worked tirelessly to provide students with countless amazing opportunities and friendships. So, a huge shout out and thank you to all of you! I really do hope that sport goes back to normal, and we can continue with all our successes on and off the pitch.

Sport and sporting opportunities have the power to transform anyone’s experience at Cardiff University, therefore it is SO important for the university to invest in facilities, opportunities, and development of Sports Clubs. There has never been a better time to ensure that students can take part in sporting activities and opportunities. Without my own sports club, I wouldn’t have the best friends, amazing memories, or personal skills I have today. If you are someone that has never been involved and you want to, just do it! There is nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

I hope I have helped to improve the student experience for students at Cardiff University for years to come and thank you too all those who have supported me in achieving my goals.

Things I’ve been working on include:

• I have championed sporting opportunities and worked to improve the student experience at Cardiff University. Working closely with stakeholders across the university and SU to ensure improvements and progression.
• Making sure the Athletic Union has processes which make it more transparent and accountable.
• Been a key representation for students in Cardiff and Wales at national events and conferences. I was elected to be the Student Chair of Welsh Student Sport and have sat on BUCS advisory group for 2 years.
• Worked alongside other sports Sabbatical Officers across Wales to ensure that we could work collaboratively and support one another.
• Acted as the main point of contact for 67 sports clubs, over 500 committee members and over 5000 club members. Concentrating on helping students to develop their activities to make them accessible.
• Provided pastoral care and advice to key student leaders and volunteers.
• Organised and delivered key student in person events such as the Freshers’ Fairs, Welsh Varsity, Medics Varsity and sports club events.
• I have challenged anti-social and disruptive student cultures by improving training and enforcing initiatives that promote inclusion.
• Led the Athletic Union department through the pandemic.
• Developed and delivered virtual events which provided opportunities and appreciation for our volunteers. This included Freshers’ Fair, AU Awards and Varsity Event,engaging in total over 10,000 students.
• Created the Wellbeing Officer training platform and support for Welfare Officers, which included working with Student Advice and Student Activities to ensure that there is support and guidance for students in these roles wherever it is needed.
• Created an Athletic Union handbook which included all information for committees supporting them in their role.
• Organised Athletic Union weekly drop-Ins throughout lockdown to ensure that committee members had their questions answered.
• Lobbied Cardiff University for better sports facilities included writing the paper on ‘Llanrumney development’.
• Led on a new campaign called ‘Spring in your Step,’ which was there to ensure that students were encouraged to get outside and active during lockdown regulations.
• Lobbied for and created the Virtual Activity Fund which helped fund student activity sessions throughout the pandemic.
• Secured £10,000 of funding to help clubs and student groups that had been impacted by the pandemic.

Vice President Welfare and Campaigns: Georgie East

Things I’ve been working on include:

• Supported Campaign Officers with delivery of all internal campaigns, including LGBTQ+ History Awareness Month, Black History Month, and various mental health and wellbeing campaigns throughout the year.
• Created self-care packs for students staying in Cardiff over Christmas.
• Introduced VP Welfare 1-2-1s.
• Worked with the Ethical and Environmental Officer to embed sustainable development goals throughout the organisation
• Set up the Ethics Lounge with SRESG.
• Listened to first year students regarding difficulties caused by COVID-19 restrictions throughout the year, talking to NUS Wales and Welsh Government when necessary.
• Worked with the Women’s Officer to gain a commitment from the University relating to Violence and Abuse.
• Improved wellbeing signposting resources for personal tutors and tutees.
• Supported the running of a Facebook support group for any students who felt lonely or were self-isolating during lockdown.
• Worked with the LGBTQ+ Officers Georgia and Lucas to develop World Aid’s Day content for the Students’ Union website.
• Continuing our work on the Period Dignity campaign, providing free menstrual products to all students’ who need them.
• Ran Disability and Dyslexia Service workshops and focus groups.
• Worked to make Cardiff University a Cardiac Arrest safe campus, initially securing 8 more AEDs .
• Run the Student Support and Wellbeing Partnership project with the University, to streamline and improve communications and signposting for Student Support and Disability and Dyslexia.
• Supported the other Sabbatical Officers on the ‘Spring in your Step’ campaign.

Again, it's been incredible serving you through leadership. I love you all and thank you so much for your trust and support.

SU President: Jackie Yip

It has been a rollercoaster of a year!

Together, we faced a General Election, we passed motions on Welsh Language, engaged in debates over bodily autonomy, struggled through industrial action and now we are in the midst of a global pandemic. We have never seen one like it. Students, however, have been more engaged than ever and in a time when it mattered most – this is what the Union is all about, making you heard and engaging you on things that you care about.

I’ve learned more than I could have ever imagined and pushed myself to my maximum potential. I leave my role with more than just a degree but an unforgettable learning experience.

Some of the things I've been working on includes:

• Microwaves and Kettles in study spaces across campus.
• Free tampons at the Union at Cathays and Heath park with another £10k of funding secured for a Period Poverty campaign.
• Received the Best Students’ Union in Wales Award!
• Lobbied the First Minister and Housing Minister on improving private student housing.
• Launched new recycling initiatives and adopted Cathays station to create a more eco-friendly station.
• Launched a collaborative food poverty campaign with USWSU
• Supported the Union and University response to the COVID-19 Pandemic:
  • Lobbying Private halls providers to release students early from contacts and coordinated a Cardiff Union President lobby on private letting agencies and landlords.
  • Protecting students interests in University Halls accommodation.
  • Worked with the University on improving the extenuating circumstances policy and ensuring assessment and feedback is fair during this period.
  • Strategic oversight of all COVID planning groups.

VP Welfare and Campaigns: James Wareham

• Began the Students’ Union fight against the Climate Emergency
• Unified all Cardiff students to make our streets safer through the Cardiff Safety Summit – a collaborative project including 4 Students’ Unions and South Wales Police
• Stood up and spoke out for student concern during the period of Industrial Action
• Rebuilt a dwindling relationship between the Students’ Union and University Student Support
• Changed the skyline of the campus forever by signing off on capital projects including the new ABACWS building

VP Heath Park: Shekina Ortom

Looking back on my manifesto ...

I have listed just some of the achievements myself and the Sabbatical Officers have achieved this academic thanks to your feedback. Without you we wouldn’t be able to make the changes that we have.

• Extended the opening hours of the IV Lounge
• Ensured that more water fountains were installed across campus
• Submitted recommendations in the Student View 2020 on how placement and its services can be improved.
• Initiated conversations with the University on how the travel bursaries/ expenses system could be improved.
• Purchase and installed Microwaves in common rooms across Heath Park.
• Submitted a business case and lobbied the University to refurbish the toilets beside the IV Lounge (ground floor, Nueadd Meirionnydd building).
• Created a Heath Park icon on the front page of the Students’ Union website.
• There was an increase in the engagement of the University and Students’ Union at the Heath Park Campus.
• We had a bigger Fresher’s Fair and Medics Varsity Event (free for all entry) which was wonderful to see.

VP Societies and Volunteering: Orla Tarn

My year as a Sabbatical Officer has been absolutely incredible and everything I dreamed it would be. I have had opportunities here that I never would have had anywhere else; being able to represent students at all levels of the University and working with students to make their dreams a reality has been extremely fulfilling. It was extremely challenging and no two days were the same, but the visible impact we have had has made it all worth it.

This year, I have:

• Implemented Wellbeing Officers for Society Committees, to ensure students had yet another preventative structure to support their wellbeing.
• Developed the Refreshers’ Period, hosting a full Fair for student activities, which saw a significant spike in engagement levels.
• Supported ongoing change for Cardiff Volunteering, and worked to further restructure the department following the end of my term.
• Hosted a remote awards ball, providing a lovely end to the Societies calendar for the year despite challenging circumstances.
• Revolutionised the training and support of volunteers and Society Committees, and deepened the two-way conversation between them and the Students’ Union.
• Delivered Suicide Prevention Training to students across the University, with an aim to making Cardiff a Suicide Safer University.

VP Education: Tomos Evans

Hello everyone! Shwmae pawb! ???! My name is Tomos Evans, the VP Education 19/20. This year has been very different to what I envisaged at the start of my term with a lot my priorities shifting halfway through the year!

Some of my main achievements are:

• Supported 3000 students during their spring exams with Revision Aid
• Big events to support international ELP students transition to Cardiff
• Roll out of the Safety Net Policy.
• Collaboration with the Libraries team to maintain the Science Library.
• Free printing for Master's Dissertation.

SU President: Fadhila Al Dhahouri

• Played an important role in lobbying the Welsh Assembly to ban letting agency fees by 1st September 2019
• Worked with the University to launch the BME Student and Staff network
• Worked with the University to abolish the Zero Mark Policy for late submissions by 2019/2020 Academic year
• Fundraised for a new multi-faith prayer/quiet room with ablution facilities
• Secured Professional Fundraising Training for all societies and sports
• Took the 'Fights for Funds' motion to NUS
• Secured a multi-faith prayer/quiet space in the Arts and Social Studies Library

VP Education: Jackie Yip

• Lobbied the University to increase the number of books that students can borrow. Students can now borrow up to 35 books instead of 15!

VP Postgraduate Students: Jake Smith

• Worked with the libraries team to ensure that the ASSL is open 24 hours a day over the Christmas and Easter holidays, so students who stay in Cardiff have somewhere to study.

VP Welfare and Campaigns: Amr Alwishah

• Secured funding from the University to expand our Black History month activity, meaning we could host more events and increase the visibility of this great campaign.
• Worked with Officers and students to get a clear 'yes', a committment from First Minister Mark Drakeford AM to ban letting agency fees by September 2019.

VP Heath Park: Jennifer Kent

• Worked in partnership with the University to get approval for the Radiology and Haematology Seminar Rooms in the Main Hospital to be refurbished.

VP Societies and Volunteering: Henri Page

• Following feedback from student groups, we extended the opening hours of meeting rooms on the 4th floor until midnight each day!