The Union's Gender Expression Fund has made a big contribution to ARU's Stonewall 'Champion' award!
the Union's Gender Expression Fund has made a big contribution to ARU's Stonewall Charter accreditation! ARU has been recognised as a “Champion” organisation by Stonewall. The levels are: Accomplished, Champion, Leader, Trailblazer.
Section 8 of the accreditation criteria, which is to do with external engagement (or student engagement in our case) scored 14.5 out of 16. In the strengths section, Stonewall's feedback said, "a notable area of work is your ‘Gender Expression Fund’. This is an innovative programme of work to support trans and non-binary students who might never have been able to afford to express themselves authentically."
It's a particularly difficult time for the trans community in society in the UK and abroad, so the fact we can offer this material service to our trans and non-binary students is excellent and that work is being recognised both by ARU and our members.
The GEF was set up in 2023, to enable the purchase of items that can help trans students (trans being used as an umbrella term including non-binary and other non-cisgender identities) live as their true self. This could include chest binders; packers; tucking underwear; makeup, and clothes that align best with a trans person’s identity. It can also use this fund to pay for travel to and from therapies and medical appointment, or to pay for a registered deedpoll.
Since then students have told us that this fund has allowed them to transition when otherwise they might not be able to due to financial barriers.
Think you or a friend could benefit from the GEF?
To access it:
- You must be currently studying at Anglia Ruskin University
- You must have a trans identity (transgender; non-binary; gender-diverse/questioning; etc.)
If you wish to apply for money from the GEF, you can head too...
https://arunion.co.uk/cambridge/support/expression/ - for Cambridge
https://arunion.co.uk/chelmsford/support/expression/ - for Chelmsford