Vote Clare for Welfare

Hi, I’m Clare, and unless you have seen some of my ramblings on the Disabled Students Group forums, or been in the MA Music last year, or even been a rep same time as me, you may not know me. So the highlights:

– I started and for a time chaired a Staff Ability Network and nearly won an HSJ (industry) award for working intersectionally.

– I have worked for the Department of Health with the Home Office where I have a certificate for “Ending Gangs and Youth Violence”, well reduced it.

– Some years ago I finished a MSc forensic psychology with the OU.

– Four years ago, while my immunity was low, I got poorly with Gall Stones, had an op, next day, I nearly died. I collapsed in a hospital and had a lot of donated blood pumped back into me. Fibromyalgia hit, endometriosis was painful, and well I think that’s when the grey hairs started.

– After the medical chaos, I came back to the OU to complete a MA in Music, joined and was secretary for the DSG and started as a student rep. It was a huge proud moment for me, supporting students with benefit applications, their studies and on occasion life issues from balancing children and studies, work and studies and pets and studies. Its been the BEST experience of my academic life so far. It is a huge pleasure to support students in their every day lives and those I am proud to call family.

So thats me, the dog owning flute and saxophone playing computer gamer who is a little too addicted to MMORPGs, studying and right now pokemon. I’m now working in community safety as a project manager with London boroughs, Oh and i’ve signed up for another degree because, well, why not, so I’m on BA Geography switching art to science.

Thats me, what I am here for? Your vote 🙂 I’m standing for Student Welfare VP because i believe that OU students face some significant challenges to being the stars they are, you are all amazing, you balance life, uni, work, families all while studying. Few other students can say that. The being remote means you are challenged in special ways with mental health challenges, especially following COVID and the changes to society. I saw it a lot with the DSG. My main thing is to bolster, support and enlarge the mental health support at the University, but also easing off some of the negative behaviour out there which makes this harder.

I had a breakdown last year, I was positive not to let uni or the DSG suffer, as such I still worked for the DSG and still studied, as I started to heal, I was able to realise, we are all able to give so much.

Thank you in advance. I want to champion YOU so please do vote Clare for Welfare.