By Keeley Blanks, Student Governor and SU Vice President at Warwickshire College
Lockdown is still upon us and with no colleges reopening soon, there are opportunities for Student Governors and Student Unions to pitch and plan ideas to raise morale and positivity of our peers.
Below are two ways in which I have supported this effort at Warwickshire College…
New Students:
As a new student living four hours away from my college, I was nervous about travelling so far to not know anyone on my course and not know who I was living with.
Joining a ‘google meet’ group for new students to ask questions about courses, facilities on site, who else is in a flat and other queries made my first day positive and exciting.
So, as a result, I have been in contact with the management at my college and made a Facebook page “[your college] students 2020/2021” for new students joining in September to access, this can help newbies to feel comfortable and ask questions to get a better perspective of the college.
Mental Health:
Many students are feeling pressure on their mental health. Towards Mental Health Awareness Week, television, radio and media are promoting companies that aid mental and physical health to people feeling home, assignment, exam and lockdown pressures.
As a student union representative, we have had students come forward with feelings of pressure and concern because of COVID. So, we thought about ways to promote the numbers and emails of those that can help students during this time, but we also use the SU social media platforms to promote happy and positive posts, such as encouraging students to take part in a “Toilet Roll Toss” challenge. We aim to boost morale and make people laugh during this time, and support those in need.
As Student Governors, we have an important role to play in this pandemic. Now is the time to pitch and plan ideas to raise morale and positivity of our peers.
