Safety and Welfare

Update coming soon.

Background: A policy was passed at Student Council in February 2024 which mandates the SU to campaign to improve access into and through colleges for students from other colleges. Many colleges have confusing and inconsistently applied policies for this currently.

What have we done? I worked with Alex Myall (Former RCSA President and University Councillor) to draft a paper for Bursar’s Committee and have sent it to the OIS for proofing. This asked them to publicise their policies and commit to standard opening hours across the university. This went to Bursar’s Business Committee at the end of Michaelmas where they agreed to publicise opening times better, and display clearly how a student in need can get in contact with the Porters This is a good first step but we will push them to go further!

What do we want to achieve? We want colleges to agree to be open to all Cambridge students between consistent times and to allow students to access help from the porters at all times.

Background: New tutors are currently offered introductory training which is organised by the Chair of the Senior Tutors Committee. It is mostly scenario based and details can be found here.

What have we done? In collaboration with the Office for Intercollegiate Services, we are hoping to move to a model where each college delivers its own tutor training, preferably for both new and returning tutors each year. We are collaborating to make resources which colleges can use to do this, but they will be able to tailor the training to their own needs and procedures.

• I have been trying to arrange a meeting with the Senior Tutor who currently runs the training but we haven’t yet been able to find a time
• I’ve spent some time looking through the current training offered and will go back with feedback

What do we want to achieve? Tutors should be regularly trained and updated on welfare provision, not just when they first become tutors. There also needs to be clearer lines of communication from the central university out to the colleges on how to best support students’ welfare when major world events may be impacting them.

What have we done? Katie is in the process of writing several policy motions focusing around Drinking society regulation, peer-led bystander intervention programs and the red zone initiative. She is also in the process of securing some council free budget to fund an anonymous reporting system, and a small media campaign to bring awareness to the cause in collaboration with CESV.

Update coming soon.

Update coming soon.

Background: BME students face unique challenges that impact their mental health, which are often overlooked in mainstream mental health support systems. This project seeks to address these needs and provide tailored resources, creating a space for well-being and resilience.

What have we done?

• Organized Grantchester Strolls for students staying in Cambridge over the summer.
• Created a BME Freshers Quick Resource Pack for incoming students.
• Coordinated November Mental Health Month events in collaboration with Movember.
• Collaborated on Diwali celebrations with multiple colleges, including Darwin, Fitzwilliam, and Trinity.
• Issued a statement on Islamophobia and far-right activism and hosted a welfare space for affected minority students.

What do we want to achieve?

• Enhance mental health resources for BME students by integrating mental health support into existing initiatives.
• Collaborate with the BME Advisor at Cambridge SU to develop further mental health programming.
• Continue cross-collegiate efforts for events promoting well-being and cultural awareness.

Background: The Anti-Racism project focuses on addressing systemic racism across the university, promoting equality, and ensuring all students feel safe and supported. This involves raising awareness, collaborating with colleges and external organizations, and advocating for policy changes to combat racism at every level.

What have we done?

• Delivered anti-racism talks and participated in 11 college discussions.
• Held regular meetings with the university’s Racial & Religious Discrimination Adviser to discuss anti-racism staff training gaps, such as the inadequacy of current porters’ EDI training.
• Raised concerns about the need for joint development and procurement of an external provider for comprehensive EDI training at the HR Managers Forum.
• Actively participated in the EDI Committee Meetings and worked on an action plan with the Racial & Religious Discrimination Adviser.
• Collaborated with the End Everyday Racism campaign and UCU to organize anti-racism events during the Week Against Racism.

What do we want to achieve?

• Implement anti-racism workshops at all colleges, ensuring students and staff receive consistent and impactful training.
• Develop an action plan for effective anti-racism staff training in collaboration with Cambridge SU and relevant university bodies.
• Ensure anti-racism efforts are sustainable by collaborating with college JCRs and other university stakeholders.
• Create a central hub for anti-racism resources accessible to all students.

Background: The Prevent Duty is a national counter-terrorism strategy that has disproportionately impacted Muslim students, disabled students, and other marginalized groups, often leading to profiling and surveillance. This project focuses on challenging Prevent’s implementation at Cambridge and advocating for students’ freedom of speech and assembly.

What have we done?

• Collaborated with Cambridge Amnesty International on the Prevent Campaign and held meetings with student representatives to gather data and stories about the effects of Prevent.
• Participated in the Prevent Campaign at the national level through NUS channels, raising the issue beyond Cambridge.
• Worked with JCRs to encourage colleges to collect data on how Prevent is applied and to raise awareness among students.
• Presented a discussion paper on the impact of Prevent at the Mich Student Council 2024.
• Raised concerns about freedom of speech and freedom of assembly issues related to Prevent in university forums and discussions.

What do we want to achieve?

• Raise awareness of the negative impact of Prevent and its intersection with student welfare.
• Collect and publish data on how Prevent is implemented across all 31 colleges, ensuring transparency.
• Collaborate with Cambridge Amnesty International and JCRs to amplify student voices and experiences regarding Prevent.
• Advocate for Cambridge SU and NUS to adopt stronger anti-Prevent policies and campaigns.

Background: A policy was passed in Michaelmas 2024 which mandates Cambridge SU to campaign for Colleges to open up their butteries to disabled students from across the Collegiate University who need ease of access regardless of College membership. The motion also mandated lobbying for a substantive decrease in food prices for disabled students who are unable to cook for themselves. Food is often the single biggest budget item for disabled students who are not able to cook for themselves. The motion also mandated Cambridge SU to work with Colleges and any other relevant bodies to establish a peer-based system to help disabled students who may be immobilised to get groceries and other supplies delivered to them.

What have we done? Chalo drafted and brought this policy motion before Student Council in Michaelmas 2024. He has sought the advice of the Accessibility, Disability and Resource Centre on its implementation. Chalo is also talking to College J/MCRs to see that the policy is implemented.

What do we want to achieve? We want to achieve a better quality of life and Cambridge experience for our disabled fellow students, many of whom face isolation and great difficulty and expense doing simple things like shopping for groceries and medical supplies.