MANIFESTO FOR WELFARE & LIBERATION OFFICER
Anglia Ruskin University Students’ Union
Putting Student Welfare, Safety and Liberation at the Heart of ARU
Every student deserves to feel safe, supported, respected, and empowered to succeed. I am standing for Welfare & Liberation Officer because I believe Anglia Ruskin University should be a place where student well-being is prioritised, diversity is celebrated, and barriers to success are actively challenged.
My commitment is to be a strong, visible, and accountable voice for students—ensuring that your lived experiences directly shape decisions within the Students’ Union and the wider University.
- Championing Student Well-Being
Welfare is not optional—it is essential.
I will work to build a campus culture that actively supports students’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being through practical and inclusive action.
Improve awareness, access, and signposting to mental health support, counselling, and crisis services.
Advocate for reduced waiting times and culturally responsive, trauma-informed support.
Establish a Student Well-Being Hub—a safe, stigma-free space for peer support, workshops, and drop-in services.
Promote initiatives focused on stress management, healthy lifestyles, and sustainable work-life balance.
- Welfare Through Liberation, Equality, and Representation
True welfare cannot exist without equality and inclusion.
Students from liberation groups—including Black students, Asian and minority ethnic students, LGBTQ+ students, disabled students, women students, carers, mature students, and others—must be heard, protected, and represented.
I will:
Host regular Liberation Forums to ensure marginalised voices inform Union priorities.
Strengthen and simplify reporting processes for discrimination, harassment, and hate incidents.
Campaign for inclusive facilities, accessible learning environments, and fair academic policies.
Work closely with societies and networks to celebrate identity, culture, and community.
- A Safer Campus—On and Off Campus
Student safety is a right, not a privilege.
I will take a proactive approach to ensuring all students feel safe in university spaces and beyond.
Expand consent education, safety awareness, and bystander intervention campaigns.
Collaborate with campus security, local services, and relevant authorities to address safety concerns.
Ensure survivors of harassment, abuse, or violence receive confidential, compassionate, and timely support.
Advocate for preventative measures that protect students before harm occurs.
- A Union That Listens—and Acts
Representation must lead to action.
Students deserve a Union that is transparent, responsive, and accountable.
I will:
Create accessible feedback channels, including open forums, digital platforms, and campus walk-arounds.
Take student concerns into every committee, working group, and decision-making space I attend.
Provide regular updates on progress, challenges, and achievements across all five ARU campuses.
- Collaboration for Meaningful Change
Welfare works best when we work together.
I will strengthen partnerships across the University and beyond to deliver real improvements.
Work closely with University well-being teams and external support organisations.
Advocate for student-centred policies in all welfare-related committees.
Collaborate on key issues such as cost of living, housing conditions, accessibility, and financial hardship.
- Empowering Students to Shape Their Union
An inclusive Union is a stronger Union.
I will champion active, accessible, and representative student democracy by:
Supporting local democratic structures that amplify student voices.
Making Union processes clearer, more transparent, and easier to engage with.
Encouraging leadership and participation from underrepresented groups so our Union reflects our diverse community.
My Promise to You
If elected, I will be a visible, approachable, and proactive Welfare & Liberation Officer. I will listen carefully, act decisively, and always put student welfare and safety first.
Your experiences, challenges, and aspirations will guide every campaign I lead and every decision I make.
Together, we can build an ARU where every student feels safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.
With deep gratitude and hope,
Reshma Azhayaparambil Francis