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Movember, Conferences, Advocacy - President: Wellbeing on November

Thursday 07-12-2023 - 11:00

Movember, Conferences, and Regional Advocacy – President: Wellbeing November 2023 Update

By President: Wellbeing - Oladimeji Adepoju (Prince)

November has unfolded as a month of purposeful action, centered around our commitment to student wellbeing and mental health. This month, we shone a spotlight on Movember, a campaign addressing critical issues such as men's mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, testicular cancer. As part of my campaigns this year, I’m focusing on men’s mental health, so this was another reason why it was really important to me that we promoted Movember.

President: Wellbeing Oladimeji Adepoju (Prince)

President: Wellbeing Oladimeji Adepoju (Prince)

Movember and Mental Health Conference

Movember encourages people to grow moustaches from scratch throughout the month. Three staff members (Hélder, Frank, and Dan) took up the challenge alongside me, and we tracked our progress on our website and social media. It made for some great photos! The gesture not only raised awareness but also invited donations to Movember’s work. The team smashed their target and raised over £350!

A significant highlight was the University’s Wellbeing and Mental Health Conference held on the 15th November, themed around 'Partnership’. Our topic was ‘Students Championing Student Wellbeing.' The event featured engaging presentations and a thought-provoking game illustrating the vital impact of Student Wellbeing Champions. I had the privilege of being a panellist during the Q&A session, representing the student perspective and contributing to the discourse on this important subject.

Spark and Society Inductions

I also enjoyed my appearance on Spark (the community radio station based at the University). This provided a valuable platform for keeping everyone updated on campaign progress, for myself and the SU’s other Presidents. This opportunity allowed us to showcase the extensive support services offered by both the Students’ Union and the University, reinforcing our commitment to student welfare.

We conducted another society induction, this time for Nigerian students, shedding light on employment opportunities and job availabilities. Additionally, as a member of the student representative board, I participated in candidate interviews for the position of PVC Research and Global Engagement, underscoring our University's dedication to student involvement in decision-making processes.

North East SUs Coalition

As lead delegate for the University of Sunderland Students’ Union in the North East Students’ Union coalition, we met with the other North East representatives to discuss challenges and unified our voices on critical issues such as the Cost of Living crisis, Housing, and Transportation. This collective effort will position us to engage with Mayors, MPs, and NUS representatives to garner support for students in the region.

Note-worthy engagements included representing the SU at the Citizen Assembly for the North East, where I advocated on issues crucial to our students. We have joined Citizens UK, who are currently focusing on campaigns relating to 'Racial Justice in Education,' 'Cost of Living,' and 'Housing.'

Key meetings during the month included the Students’ Union and Joint Executive Board meetings, where senior board members gained insights into the strategic and operational aspects of my manifesto points, further aligning our efforts for success. A Risk Workshop provided a forward-looking perspective on potential challenges facing the Students’ Union, aiding us in proactive planning and mitigation.

Flying Start and Networking

Regarding one of the major objectives for this academic calendar, consultation about Flying start is still ongoing with University staff who recently did in-depth research about the system.

Networking proved invaluable, with a visit to Birmingham offering insights into effective leadership, challenges, and an enhanced understanding of mental health dynamics. Hosting the Regional Student Union Coalition and Citizen Assembly facilitated deeper research into our manifestos, allowing me to better understand and address challenges faced by other universities.

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