Over the past few months I’ve been working hard to represent you, from national campaigns and parliamentary meetings to community events, LGBTQIA+ organising, and supporting student voices here on campus. This report highlights what I’ve been doing on your behalf, the wins we’ve achieved together, and the work still to come as we continue pushing for a fairer, safer and more inclusive experience for every student at UCLan.

NUS Fair Deal Week of Action - From 20–23 October I took part in the National Union of Students (NUS) Fair Deal Week of Action. The campaign focuses on improving apprentice pay, increasing funding for students, and tackling the rising cost of study.
My main aim was to get students signed up to the campaign so they could stay involved. Thanks to everyone who took part, out of all the unions in the UK, we made the top 20 for sign-ups, which is a huge achievement!

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Students (APPG) - On 5 November I attended the APPG on Students in Parliament. The meeting focused on the long freeze on maintenance loans and how this is pushing students into financial difficulty.
I raised concerns from the perspective of a working-class student including how unequal fees could shut people out of university, the pressures on commuter students in Lancashire, and the impact of rising travel costs, especially if courses become more specialised.
In future, I’d like to work more closely with our insights team so I can take even more detailed student evidence into these spaces.

Remembrance Day - On 11 November I represented our union at the Remembrance Day commemorations in Burnley. 

Weaving Trust (Citizens UK Lancashire) - On 12 November I joined the Weaving Trust event in 53 Degrees, bringing together community organisations and local leaders.
Talking with international students, especially around concerns about rising anti-immigration protests, helped remind me why our work on solidarity and inclusion really matters.

NUS England Conference - On 19–20 November I attended the NUS England Conference. I was there as a volunteer member of the NUS Democratic Procedures Committee (DPC), not as a Lancashire delegate.
Once again the debate on Palestine became heated, resulting in walkouts and calls for disaffiliation. My view is that disaffiliating wouldn’t benefit our students, and many of these calls feel more performative than strategic.

Preston Pride - Trans Day of Remembrance - Later on 20 November I spoke at Preston Pride’s Trans Day of Remembrance event. It was powerful to see students and local community members coming together to honour the lives of trans people we’ve lost.

LGBTQIA+ Students Get-Together - I helped with the setup of our LGBTQIA+ student social, which brought together queer students from across the university. This was a fantastic first step in building a stronger, more active community ready to push for positive change.

Student Assembly - Our Student Assembly has now taken place, giving students the chance to raise issues, debate ideas, and shape the direction of our union. Thank you to everyone who contributed, your voices genuinely steer our work.

World AIDS Day - We marked World AIDS Day with awareness-raising, signposting, and community-focused activities. It was really positive to see students engaging with both the history and the ongoing fight against stigma and inequality.

Ongoing Work

Here’s what I’m continuing to work on next:

• Partnership with Aberystwyth Students’ Union on a Trans Safety Project

• Continued organising with LGBTQIA+ students

• Early planning for LGBT+ History Month

• End-of-term activities (and yes, Christmas!)