Campaigns & Democracy

September, September. It’s been a month to remember!

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 13:27:19 +0100

Howdy folks!

So, how did your Welcome Week(s) go? I hope you had a fun (and wholly responsible) time, making friends, doing arts and crafts in the hive, trying out the many many taster sessions from our different SU societies, and maybe even indulging in an alcoholic beverage or two from time to time.

Mine was filled to the brim. I spent two whole weekends welcoming freshers on to campus, chatting with their adults as they waved teary (and not so teary) goodbyes to each other as they started their journey with us at UEASU.

Aside from this, I've been working open days, doing interviews with local and national media, been engaging with charities and businesses, meetings with students, whether they be individual Societies like PrideUEA or Palestine Solidarity Society, taking the lead on the overwhelmingly well attend International Student Treasure hunt around campus, taking part in the Tote bag and coaster painting event in the hive, taking some time to paint a gnome in exhibition space (who currently keeps me company at my desk), helping support societies in setting up their welcome events across campus, helping support our wonderful Part Time Officer team in bringing their manifestos and ideas to life, and even supporting the establishment of the SU’s very own Sustainability committee under the

By far and away, my favourite moment was seeing the winners and the runners up in the international student treasure hunt all sitting and sharing their shortbread-based winnings in the Hive after a deeply wholesome, if rain soaked, dash around campus!

On that same note, we’re seeing a good amount of engagement across the SU, with events being sold out, free events needing their capacity doubled, and societies having to book spaces for their events way in advance of the normal 5 days to make sure they get the rooms they want as they are so in demand! While i know this sucks for societies and their members that can’t get things booked when they want them, the silver lining is that this is indicative of an energised cohort of students who really are wanting to get the most out of their time at uni beyond just the academic.

“How goes the manifesto things?”

The “Know your rights” campaign is up and in full swing with leaflets and Instagram posts all over SU spaces. I’ve been in contact with the INTO centre, one of the main hubs for international students here in Norwich and shared these resources with them making sure that as many people are informed members of our community as possible.

This campaign has had some wonderful unintended consequences, too!

I’ve started working with staff at the INTO centre looking into ways that we can engage their residents and students in the broader community here at UEA, whether that be with engagement with all our societies and events or running events in their spaces and introducing them to the SU and what we do!

On top of this, the “Know your rights” campaign has also sparked interest from a few other stake holders across the city. In the coming weeks I'm aiming to engage several experts in fields like Housing rights to produce a number of easy to understand “Know your rights” type leaflets for both international and home students on common hurdles faced by students.

I’ll also be launching a “Democracy Reborn” campaign where I'll be posting videos on Instagram explaining the core features of the Democracy Review, what the principals that underlie it are and how we are making these manifest in the new system. Along with this information campaign I'll also be pushing my office hours as a space for students to come speak to me about these changes and ask questions about how it'll hopefully work.

As promised, I am trying to make these blog posts shorter and more pointed – so, while there is more I could fill you in on, I’ll leave it here for now. Officer updates will be sent out to Union Council Reps, regular updates are available on the SU Instagram, and all of the officers are more than happy to speak to any student that might want to know about what we have been up to and what we are doing going forward.

I’m contactable through either the C&D Instagram account or by email at c.kershaw@uea.ac.uk. From Monday 23rd September I'll also be in the Officer Hub on the ground floor of the SU building every week between 11am-1pm running ‘office hours’ for students to come and raise issues with me, chat about campaigns you’re interested in running, or just to talk about politics, history, or anything that takes your fancy!

I’m really looking forward to working with you all over the next year and can't wait to see what we’re going to achieve together!

All the best and good health,

Chris – Campaigns and Democracy Officer

August has come and gone

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:24:54 +0100

Howdy folks!

Welcome Week is fast approaching, new students are packing up all their belongings, and the Events Timetable is being released in waves to save you from being overwhelmed before you even arrive.

This month has seen the whole SU team putting the finishing touches to a lot of exciting events, from Traffic Light parties and Drag Shows to Glow Raves and Dog Walks on campus! Make sure that you keep an eye out on the SU’s Instagram, the Officers Instagrams, and for freshers – check your Wall Planners in your Flats for all the key dates!!

At the start of August, both England and the north of Ireland were shaken by an explosion of Fascist violence and racist pogroms not seen in the UK since the Notting Hill race riots of 1958. As an organisation that centres anti-racism, inclusion, diversity, and decolonisation we understandably dropped all but the most essential parts of the day-to-day activities and set about doing everything in our power to support our students and local community.

We reached out to local Mosques and Temples to extend our solidarity and let them know that they were not alone in our Fine City. We reached out to students, societies, and clubs letting them know that we were there for them, both in spirit and in action, and that no matter what was happening in the UK, that they would always be safe and supported by the SU. We released information letting people know how best to keep themselves as safe as possible should they choose to attend counterdemonstrations, either here in Norwich or back home in their own communities.

All this was done on top of the personal outreach that the Officers and all of us at the SU did in our own personal lives – to our friends, families, and loved ones. Suffice to say, it was emotionally draining time for us all.

On top of this immediate work to secure our students and communities, I took the lead on organising a community building event. When so many of our racialised students have had their sense of safety in the UK shattered, both Bhaskar (Postgraduate Officer) and I wanted to make sure that the SU was fostering the personal connections and relationships that are the very core of any cohesive community. First imagined as a BBQ/Picnic, given the heatwave that week, we thought it more reasonable to hand out some fruit, juice, and cola in the hive. We also encouraged people to take a break from their studies and play some board games with some friends or strangers. Even SU Security Team got in on the action (and a massive thank you goes out to them)!

So other than pushing back the Fascist tide, what else have you been doing with your time?

Even though Undergraduate students, who make up the majority of UEA students, haven't been about on campus for a couple of months, that doesn’t mean that student engagement has stopped. I’ve had a chance to dip my toe in the ‘Campaign’ part of my job title before the new academic year starts in earnest with two students having taken the opportunity to get started on campaigning for change at UEA in the new term.

While I certainly wouldn’t want to steal their thunder, here’s what I can tell you: The SU and our bars are going to be greener and more eco-friendly in the coming months, and the SU will be producing a “How-To” guide on starting, running, and building an effective campaign to change the world around us. It won’t be fool proof or a guarantee of success, but for those looking to find their footing as activists, it’ll be a useful place to start your journey!

What about your manifesto goals? Any progress on them so far?

Funny you should ask – yes!

The “Know your rights” campaign promised for international students is in the final stages of organising, with both digital and analogue versions of it ready to go live for the arrival of our new international students in the second week of September! Manifesto goal met!

The Democracy Review has been stripped of its jargon, made easily understandable for students of any discipline, and had the kinks and ‘issues’ sorted out. On top of this, the boring behind the scenes stuff has all been sorted and updated, with the SU team ready to go if the changes are passed by Union Council. With this goal in mind, I’ll also be launching a “New Democracy” campaign in the first term, looking to speak to students across the university, both to explain the proposed changes and extoll the virtues of the new system! Keep an eye on my Instagram to see where and when you can hear about this campaign! Manifesto goal in sight!

Finally – I’ve been meeting with the local Norwich branch of the community union ACORN to see how we can build closer connections with activist groups in the city and look after the interests of students in Norwich and our wider communities. Whether it be supporting students in their fight against landlords trying to keep your deposits, training students in the basics of the community work that is the backbone of any (decent) activist group, or supporting international and racialised students who can be subject to housing discrimination when seeking accommodation in our Fine City, we’re working on the best ways to engage the UEA community in worthwhile, affective activism. Not a single ‘newspaper’ seller was in sight! Manifesto goal starting to take shape!

I’m contactable through either the C&D Instagram account or by email at?c.kershaw@uea.ac.uk. From Monday 23rd September I'll also be in the Officer Hub on the ground floor of the SU building every week between 11am-1pm running ‘office hours’ for students to come and raise issues with me, chat about campaigns you’re interested in running, or just to talk about politics, history, or anything that takes your fancy!??

I’m really looking forward to working with you all over the next year and can't wait to see what we’re going to achieve together!?

All the best and good health,?

Chris – Campaigns and Democracy Officer

An Introduction from Chris

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 11:06:25 +0100

Howdy folks!

It's been a month in the job and a lot has already happened; some things we expected and a few surprises too.

Where to start though?

It’s been a great month of team building with the Full-Time Officer's (FTO's) and the wider office. Most of your newly elected Officers weren’t well acquainted before the election process. There are a lot of opportunities to get to know each other during the election campaign, we get to hear each other's plans and visions for the future of the SU and learn about our potential colleagues for the next year.

It’s the things you don’t learn that are the most interesting, though.

That you are not the only one to have worked the punts in Cambridge; that one of your colleagues is deathly afraid of water; that one has taken a major national government to court (and won); that another turned down a place at Oxford to come to UEA. It's these details that start the much needed process of bonding us together as a cohesive team for (at least) the next year.

Our first outing on the River Yare (the one that runs through our fine city) was one such experience. There is nothing like a bit of stake-less competition and sharing personal stories about broken bones, childish obsessions, tattoo comparisons, and teenage indiscretion to learn about what drives people to see the world in the way that they do.

I’m sure you can understand that I won’t be telling you our secrets here. Suffice to say, in my humble opinion, our SU is in some very good hands this year!

So, other than splashing about on a river and hanging out with some amazing people, what you been up to this month, Chris?

Well, dear student, I’m glad you asked!

There was a LOT of training to do. Learning what is within the power of the SU and what isn’t, learning the norms of the wider industry and where UEASU sits in the ‘bigger picture’ of higher education, learning the legal guidelines and restrictions for such an important charitable organisation, picking up the projects of our predecessors and making sure that there is a level of consistency for all the stakeholders in the SU, from staff and students, to board members and the university management. It's sort of like jumping in the driving seat of a bus while it's already doing 70 mph down the motorway and hoping that none of the passengers notice.

Metaphor aside, we’ve all been pretty busy. The summer months are an opportunity for the new Officer team to plan how we are going to implement our manifesto priorities this year. I started by working on the ‘Know your rights’ campaign for international students, allowing my creative side to flourish on Canva and ticking off one of my manifesto's priorities. I count that as a win on both fronts! Keep an eye on the C&D Instagram in the coming weeks to see this campaign go live!

For anyone with a passing knowledge of Concrete Confessions, you’ll know that the refurbishment of Scholars bar has been a tiny bit more ‘complicated’ than we had expected. I’m sure it is no stretch of the imagination to see that this issue will have been at the forefront of the first three weeks on the job for the current FTO’s. We’re crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s at the time of writing so I can’t confirm the final form it’s going to take just yet. However, all the work that has been put in by everyone at the SU and concerned Mature and PG students makes me confident that people are going to pleased with the result.

One of the defining things about Gen Z and Gen Alpha are the importance that you all place on the ethical dimensions of your consumption of goods and services. As a mature PhD who has always cared about such things, it's an exciting thing to see gain real traction in the student movement. My first month in office has seen me dedicate a good amount of my time to drawing up information about the big banks that students are most likely to choose for their student bank account and trying to highlight the wider impacts that these banks have on the world, both in the UK and on a global scale. A big part of the activism that I have been a part of since coming to UEA has been centring the ethical investment policy of the University, so this is a project that I have particularly enjoyed!

Realising that I am fast approaching the recommended word limit for this post, I'm going to wrap it up here with some housekeeping information and a promise that next month's blog post will (try and) be a little less freewheeling in its scope and direction.

I’m really looking forward to working with you all over the next year and can't wait to see what we’re going to achieve together!

All the best and good health,

Chris – Campaigns and Democracy Officer

an update on the one-way system

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 17:22:28 Z

Now then everyone, I just wanted to quickly update you all on some positive changes to the one-way system. It might not be the funniest blog that you’ll get from me and it might only be a small win but I believe it’s one we should definitely celebrate!

Here at the Student Union we’ve been working closely with both yourselves and the University to effectively improve accessibility for students on campus.

It was commented upon by a number of students that previous provisions were “…generally confusing…” and that there was distinct lack of direction available that would help new students in particular to navigate their way around campus. Taking this advice, we have liaised with the University Estates team to introduce several new sign posts around campus guiding students to key locations such as The Library, Congregation Hall and Union House etc. The hope is that this will make it easier for students to get around campus not only safely but more efficiently as well.
As well as this, it was identified by students and staff that there are areas where it would be possible for Students to pass both ways, whilst maintaining a safe social distance. In response to this, we’ve worked with the Estates team to trial a two-way keep left system on certain parts of campus where it is deemed safe and appropriate – just keep an eye out for the signage.

Likewise, I would just to like to clarify if you do have accessibility requirements please use whatever route you personally feel would be appropriate! :) To quote the University:

“Those with accessibility requirements or any other health condition or disability are exempt from following one-way routes and are permitted to be accompanied by their designated carer in lifts. However, we do ask that in some internal locations where space is limited that you only proceed to go against the one-way route where the route is clear.”

Please see this UEA article for any further information on this and how to get your free Hidden Disabilities Lanyards and Pin Badges.

Ultimately, this new system is a learning curve for all of us - so please do just drop me an email or find my Officer Facebook page if you have any personal suggestions or questions about it. Let’s continue to work with the University to implement an efficient system that is designed with both your lived experiences and safety always in mind!

Stay handsome you beautiful people,

Hamish!

an update from your new campaigns officer

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 10:42:19 +0100

Now then everyone, I’m Hamish your new Campaigns & Democracy Officer and FORMER Student Manager of Unio Coffee – will I ever stop banging on about that? More to the point, I’m looking forward to having a cracking year with you guys and can’t wait to catch up with all of you on what your Student Officer team is working on so please watch this space!

All of us here understand that the past few months have been a whirlwind for everyone, us included, but as we head into September, I wanted to address some of the exciting new changes that are underway here at uea(su). Despite everything, we still remain committed to enhancing your student experience and have been working hard behind the scenes to make sure that we’re still here for YOU in a safe and friendly fashion.

For starters, whilst there are no LCR nights for the foreseeable future – a Shakespearean tragedy for the 21^st Century - our fabulous Venues staff have been working hard to ensure that the bar(su) will be up and running for September! Just wait till you see what they’ve done with the LCR. I’m unsure if they’ll ever unstick the dancefloor but they’ve transformed the venue into a warm and inviting social space for all students to occupy, Kirsty and Phil eat your heart out! And for those that are concerned, fear not, your favourite VK’s will still be on sale. In fact, if you can’t wait, then make sure to head on down to the Waterfront on Friday’s and Saturday’s and check out our safe and secure pub on the riverside. What’s not to love?

Likewise, meal deal lovers will also rejoice to find out that both the Shop and Grab & Go will still be open with relevant safety measures in place. In fact, the Shop team have worked hard to remain open throughout the pandemic and they also remain committed to still providing students with a diverse range of products to suit your individual dietary needs. Just make sure to bring your facemask and you’re good to go!

Much like the other outlets, Unio Coffee will be there to fuel your studies. They might still not get your name quite right from time to time – I should know – but rest assured that student & staff safety remains their number one priority. Expect to see increased regular cleaning as well as a different approach towards the queuing and collection points, but don’t worry we’ll be there to direct you. We understand the importance of a damn good coffee.

On more broader terms, Union House will also still be open as a friendly and inviting hub for you to grab a coffee, complete your studies or just chill with your mates. Whilst its capacity might be reduced as we’ll be separating our social areas to maintain social distancing, Union House will remain as vibrant as ever! Make sure to follow the new layout and come check us out!

As well as these new changes, you might have also heard that in light of COVID-19, the Student Union and UEA have come to an agreement that will restructure the SU financial operations as an organisation. The ethos of UEA has always been to “Do Different” and that’s just what our previous funding model reflected. We were 80% reliant on our commercial activity as our main source of income. However, like many things, the realities of COVID-19 unfortunately exposed the frailty of that one-of-a-kind system and we have now worked together with the University to reduce our commercial dependency to just 40%, a figure that is much more in line with the industry standard. As well as this, UEA has also agreed to provide us with a £470,000 increase in funding, along with a new rent agreement, whilst also agreeing to reduce our financial risk by taking over the provision of some of our services. This means that from September, the University will officially take over the management of uea(su)’s retail and catering outlets, including the Shop, Unio Coffee, Pizza SU and yes, the Fries Van as well! No need to worry though, as mentioned above, you’ll still be able to grab your morning coffee, this support will simply ensure that we can continue to maintain and improve our key student services without the possibility of an interruption to our financial position in what has been a whirlwind of a year. We’ll still be there for you, whatever the weather!

Before I sign off, I just wanted to let you know that we are still in the process of planning a whole load of fun and exciting events for the new term and that whilst we can’t wait to share these with you, student and staff safety remains our greatest priority – we’ll be in touch soon!

In the meantime, you can check out our 2020 Welcome page here for all the latest news and event details -> https://www.uea.su/welcome/.

Until then, take it easy and I’ll see you on campus SOON. Equally, do drop me an email or find my page on Facebook if you have any questions or just fancy a chin wag.

Stay handsome,

Hamish!

Democracy Review Update

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 12:02:27 +0100

Hi everyone, as you are aware, I finish my role as your 'Campaigns and Democracy' Officer after two incredible years today.

Before I leave, I want to update you on my biggest manifesto point: the Democracy Review.

To provide some context, over the last year I have visited several SUs to learn about their structures. I have also worked with multiple individuals to plan different structures, ensuring that your student voice is at the heart of them.

In March during the election period, the preferenda took place, which engaged 750 of you - which to see was a fantastic outcome. I just want to emphasise that I am so grateful to have been able to start this process and am looking forward to seeing the implementation of the structure from afar.

Prior to Covid-19, I was planning on re-writing the bye-laws and present a policy proposal at the final Union Council of the year so that the implementation of the review could be started at the beginning of the academic year 2020-21. However, due to Covid-19 related barriers, this has not been possible, but I am handing this work over to my wonderful successor, Hamish Williams, who will do a fantastic job to implement this.

To remind you on the outcome, I have provided a link to the model you selected during the preferenda. You voted for a more engaging approach where it would be easier for you to get involved and understand the variety of changes that take place.

Prior to the above changes happening, there will also be further insight into the officer roles to ensure that the representation your student union has reflects the student body.

Finally, I am so proud of this piece of work that I have been able to achieve in collaboration with you all. It has been an honour to serve as your Campaigns and Democracy Officer for the last two years.

Love,

Sophie (Campaigns and Democracy Officer 2018-20)

uea meetings, nus safety net and important pablo fanque house updates

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 16:24:48 +0100

UEA Meetings

In the last few weeks, I have been updating you all on behalf of all the Full Time Officers, on social media, to let you know what we have been doing as a result of the many issues you have raised with us.

Many students living in the local community have been in touch with both myself and Amelia Trew, the Welfare, Community and Diversity Officer, on private housing and purpose-built student accommodation and financial concerns. We wrote to Clive Lewis MP earlier this month (read our letter here). The Vice Chancellor said he would be willing to write a letter encouraging landlords to be considerate at this time. There is also an update about Pablo Fanque House below.

A few first and second year students have asked me what provisions are being put in place to support students financially to return to the University in September. I was told that more discussions will be had around this in relation to a hardship fund to ensure that all can continue their studies come September.

I have had many Postgraduates getting in touch about concerns on the protections for grades. I’ve asked the university why a safety net policy has not been implemented. I have been told this morning that due to Postgraduate courses being a year, this would not be possible; however exam boards (final grading that looks at coursework and examination marks) have been informed to make considerations to ensure grades are not detrimentally affected.

If you have any queries or concerns you think need to be raised with the University, please let any of the Full Time Officers, including myself know so that we can represent you and ensure that you are getting the answers and support you need during this period. I will continue to update you on social media and be available for you all to get in touch!

NUS Student Safety Net Campaign

Additionally, the National Union of Students, who represent around 600 student unions, have launched their Student Safety Net Campaign which aims to:

Create a £60 million governmental national student hardship fund
Allow students to be able to re-do their year of study
Students to have access to maintenance support with no extra cost

To lobby the government to write off tuition fees for this year

What can you do to support this campaign? Your Full Time Officers will be sending a letter to local MPs about this specific campaign by the end of the week. It will be updated here when it has been sent. If you would like support to write a version of the letter, please get in touch at s.atherton@uea.ac.uk and I will be able to help you with this.

Do you live in Pablo Fanque House?

Finally, many of you who live in Pablo Fanque House in the city have been in touch with me regarding rents being waived for the final semester. UEA and your Students’ Union have been working hard to seek a resolution for you. If you live in Pablo Fanque House, you should have received the following communications on Friday:

The University has been in regular contact with the Pablo Fanque House owner Mapletree and the landlord,?Homes?for Students, requesting clarification from them about how?and when?UEA students?may?be released from the third semester accommodation?agreement.

The landlords have confirmed to UEA today that they will be emailing you directly this week and in their email?we understand?you will have the option to be released?from?your tenancy agreement at Pablo Fanque House from 1^st?May 2020 – provided you are currently up to date on your tenancy payments to 30 April 2020.

Please?ensure that you?read the email from Homes for Students carefully as there are a number of options for you to consider. Both Student Services and the Students’ Union advice teams stand ready to provide advice if required.? However, please do remember that your contract is a legal agreement between you and the landlord and you will therefore need to ensure that you comply with the landlord’s requirements.??

You have the following options, so please ensure that you make your decision via the link in that email.

Please allow me to defer my rent payments for 3 months
Please allow me to transfer rent I have already paid from May onwards to my next academic year as I have rebooked with you or plan to rebook
Please allow me to stay on for up to a further month free of charge after my tenancy ends and I understand I need to request this by 30th April 2020
Please allow me to be released from my tenancy from May 1^st 2020 on compassionate grounds* (This will be a rent waiver for instalment payers, or a refund for advance payers).

* Please note, this is only available on the basis that your rent account payments are up to date as required as at April 30th 2020. Due to the quick turnaround, if you need any advice, please do get in touch as soon as possible, at advicecentre@uea.ac.uk, so that we can support you.

I’m very aware this was a blog update completely full to the brim with information, but if you have any questions about anything that I have mentioned, please get in touch and drop me an email at s.atherton@uea.ac.uk and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

Stay safe!

student accommodation and covid-19

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 15:46:49 +0100

Hello everyone, I know many of you have questions about accommodation and how COVID-19 affects your living situation, contracts, and finances. At the SU we have put together a list of FAQs that you can find here which may answer some of the questions you have.

As I mentioned in a blog last week, if you are are concerned about your rent and you live in campus accommodation, you should have received an email from the UEA Accommodation Office offering the opportunity to end your tenancy early if you wish. In light of the changing situation UEA are regularly updating their FAQs which can be found here. If you do live in campus accommodation, to help them with their service provision at this time, UEA accommodation needs your help with ascertaining the numbers of students residing in their UEA room at present. This is so that UEA can support NHS staff with housing in this time of need! If you do live in UEA campus residences, please complete this form.

Last week, I also mentioned that I have been working with UEA to encourage our local purpose-built student accommodation providers (Crown Place, Pablo Fanque House…) to put similar provisions in place. Since then, I have written to the providers asking them to reconsider their current views on not allowing students to terminate their contracts. I am currently waiting to hear back from them both concerning this.

In the current scheme of events, some of you may be concerned about housing for the next academic year. If you are currently in a position where you do not have housing or housemates for the next academic year, please do not worry as homerun, our accredited housing scheme, is working on ways of providing online viewings and housing socials.

On the topic of private accommodation, I am aware that many of you live in houses that are privately owned, which may be through homerun landlords or local Norwich letting agencies. I am writing to reassure you that as a SU we have written to our landlords with the current government and shelter advice and some have been able to let students out of their tenancies for the end of this academic year. We’ve even had one landlord house an international student for free whilst they are unable to return home. I do acknowledge that this may not be feasible for every single landlord but we are doing our utmost to encourage this decision and to support you, our members, during this time.

I fully recognise that this may have a negative affect on your finances, so if you are concerned and need further support and advice, you can find this in last week’s blog which signposts you to the hardship fund or advice(su), if you need them.

Whilst uea(su) are campaigning locally on your housing rights, the National Union of Students have made 5 demands to the government regarding accommodation during this period of time, you can find out more about what they are here. I’m hoping to be able to write to you with a further update from the government next time in my blog!

This blog is jam-packed full of information so hopefully helps with some of the questions or concerns you may have. If there is something that has not been answered or you have any other housing related queries, please get in touch with me at s.atherton@uea.ac.uk.

student finances and covid-19

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 15:43:16 Z

Hello, we know many of you have questions about finances and how the current situation could affect them, so we wanted to write a blog to signpost the different options available. As this situation is under such unique circumstances and is likely to affect you as students, we understand that this is going to potentially have financial ramifications.

If you are concerned about your rent and you live in on campus accommodation, you should have received an email from the UEA Accommodation Office, however in light of the changing situation UEA are regularly updating their FAQs which can be found here. If you live in accommodation and are yet to communicate your plans with them, please email them at accom@uea.ac.uk. We are also working with UEA to encourage our local purpose build student accommodation providers (Crown Place…) to put a similar provision in place. We support the lobbying efforts that the National Union of Students are asking regarding rents to the government, you can find out more about what they are here.

The university has released communications about the work they are doing to expand support for students. The following link will guide you to the main Covid 19 page that UEA is updating regularly for students. In the welfare section specifically, there is further guidance on how to seek support for the university hardship funds and applying for a computer if you are in need. We have been told by staff in student services, that the more information you provide with these forms, the quicker advisors will be able to process this information and get back to you.

The National Union of Students have been working with Student Finance England this week to confirm that your third payment will arrive on time despite the changes in the way you are learning, you can read more about this here. If your circumstances change, get in touch with your funding provider as you may be able to fill in a significant change of circumstances form (CO1), meaning your payments could change during the academic year.

Additionally, don’t forget, at uea(su) we have a free, independent and impartial advice service who you can access online and get in touch with either by looking at the website or emailing them. They can support you with any academic or housing advice.

Finally, if you have any financial concerns or worries that haven’t been touched on above, or any other academic concerns related to the situation we find ourselves in with Covid 19, please get in touch and send Amelia, Alicia or myself an email at a.trew@uea.ac.uk/ a.perez@uea.ac.uk / s.atherton@uea.ac.uk. We are working with the university to ensure that you have all of the information and answers you need right now!

womens plus history month

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 11:17:37 Z

The arrival of March marks the beginning of Womens+ History Month, the first one in uea(su) history, which is a time for celebrating members of the community; those identifying as female and non-binary and educating people on the history of the community with insights into the issues which individuals face. It is a time for reflection as there is still more that needs to be done.

On Sunday 8^th March marked International Women’s Day which saw 16 students come to London to march for climate justice and gender justice to become a reality, led by your Womens+ Officer, Juliet Brown.

The aims of the march were requesting all governments, including the UK:

1. A rapid shift to net zero emissions

2. Women and youth front and centre of national climate plans

3. More funding for climate responses around the world

4. Specific funding for women’s groups, feminist organisations and local women leaders

If you agree and support these aims, you can sign the climate action petition here.

This month has seen events by societies and clubs so far with amazing turnout and interaction. On Monday the 16^th we will see the Womens+ Fair take place which has been led on by your Welfare, Community, and Diversity Officer, Amelia Trew and will see the launch of their Own Your Period campaign which will include a sanitary pad and tampon collection, as well as the distribution of menstrual cups.

On Wednesday 18^th, Reclaim the Night is taking place, you can purchase your free ticket here. The UEA Student Union held their first ever Reclaim the Night event in 2016. Students came out to show that "Norwich is no longer a place where you can be harmed or discriminated against for the colour of your skin, your faith, gender, sex, nationality or sexual orientation."
Last year, on International Women’s Day we marched again to say 'no' to harassment, and for gender equality in the wake of #MeToo and #TimesUp campaigns.
This year we are marching again with the message of intersectionality, and particularly after Brexit, to say that Norwich is for all of us and we all have the right to be free from harassment and discrimination. We recognise that different people are oppressed in different ways and that some people face greater systematic oppressions such as our trans, queer and people of colour siblings. Let’s stand up for love, inclusion and respect in Norwich and smash hate and the heteropatriarchy. If you would like to deliver a speech or a poem or have any ideas on how to build upon this month for next year, get in touch at s.atherton@uea.ac.uk.

Happy Womens+ History Month!