Your voice. Your community. Your Union.

Why I’m Running

I’m running for Deputy President because every Open University student deserves to feel heard, supported, and empowered, never overlooked or left to navigate their studies alone.

Let’s be honest: distance learning can sometimes feel very distant. When you’re balancing study with work shifts, family responsibilities, deadlines, and the occasional existential crisis over a deadline, it’s easy to feel invisible. Many of us are studying late at night, between other commitments, or in moments squeezed out of already busy lives. In those moments, it can feel like you are just another name on a screen rather than a real person with a voice that matters. But being an OU student should never mean feeling disconnected from the community you belong to.

That is why I want to help build a student community that is louder, stronger, and impossible to ignore. A community where students feel confident that their experiences and ideas actually shape the direction of the Union. One where your voice does not disappear into a survey never to be seen again, but instead contributes to real conversations and real decisions that affect student life.

Support should also be more than a well worded promise hidden on a webpage. It should be visible, accessible, and designed around the realities of our lives as distance learners. OU students face unique challenges, and our representation should reflect that clearly and confidently. Whether someone is studying while raising children, working full time, returning to education later in life, or managing health challenges, the Union should reflect and support those experiences.

Because students do not just deserve a seat at the table, we deserve to be listened to when we speak.

Together, we can create a Union that truly shows up, speaks up, and stands up for every student. And if I am elected Deputy President, I will work every day to make sure it does, making sure that every student feels valued, represented, and part of something bigger than studying alone.

Who Am I

I am a student representative for FASS (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), where I have consistently worked to strengthen student voice and turn concerns into action. I’ve pushed for clearer communication, challenged barriers to success, and encouraged students to speak up, because representation should never be symbolic. It should create real change.

Alongside my studies, I’ve been a prison officer for nearly ten years. That role has shaped my resilience, fairness, and ability to lead in high-pressure environments. It has taught me how to advocate for others, navigate complex challenges, and stand firm when something isn’t right, qualities I will bring unapologetically to this role.

I’m open about having ADHD, albeit diagnosed late in life, which means I think creatively, act decisively, and approach problems from fresh perspectives. It’s also why I care deeply about accessibility and ensuring every student has the tools they need to succeed.

As a bisexual student, I know how powerful it is to feel safe, seen, and represented. Our Union should reflect the diversity of its students and be a place where everyone can thrive as their authentic self.

I am also a passionate mental health advocate. No student should feel alone in their struggles, and I will continue pushing for wellbeing support that is visible, meaningful, and free from stigma.

Most importantly, I understand the reality of OU life. The juggling. The sacrifices. The determination it takes to keep going when life doesn’t pause for your studies.

I’m running to amplify your voice, stand up for what matters, and help build a Students Union that works for all of us.

What I Stand For

1. Strengthening Student Voice

Students should not just be considered in decisions; we should be driving them.

Too often, feedback disappears into forms and forums, never to be heard from again. That’s not good enough, and honestly, we deserve better.

I will ensure your experiences, concerns, and ideas are not only heard but also taken seriously at the highest levels of the university. That means creating meaningful opportunities for feedback, improving transparency so you actually know what is changing (and why), and showing clear evidence that your voice is making an impact.

The Students Union should not operate like a suggestion box no one checks. It should be a powerful platform for student influence.

I won’t just speak for you, I will stand with you, challenge when necessary, and make sure students are impossible to ignore.

2. Building a More Connected Student Community

Let’s face it, distance learning can sometimes feel like it’s just you, your laptop, and an unhealthy emotional attachment to deadlines.

But being an OU student should never mean feeling alone.

I want to help create a community where connection is the norm, not the exception. More spaces to engage. More opportunities to collaborate. More chances to meet people who remind you that you are part of something bigger.

Because connection isn’t just a “nice extra”, it strengthens wellbeing, boosts motivation, and helps us persist when things get tough.

You are not just enrolled here; you belong here. And I want every student to feel that.

3. Championing Support That Works for Every Student

Open University students are some of the most determined people you will ever meet. We are carers, parents, professionals, career changers, night owls, early risers, and many of us are running on caffeine, deadlines, and pure stubbornness.

Support should reflect that reality.

I will advocate for support that is accessible, practical, and flexible, not complicated, hidden behind endless links, or only available when it’s too late. From academic guidance to mental health services, students deserve support that fits into their lives rather than expecting their lives to fit the system.

Because asking for help should feel like strength, never like a battle.

Why Me?

Because this isn’t just something I care about; it’s something I already live.

I have shown up for students as a representative. I have advocated, challenged, listened, and pushed for change. I know how to take concerns into the rooms where decisions are made, and I’m not afraid to ask the difficult questions once I’m there.

My professional experience has prepared me to lead with calmness, fairness, and accountability. My personal experiences have shaped my empathy, resilience, and determination. And my passion ensures that I won’t approach this role quietly, because students deserve leadership that is visible, proactive, and unafraid to speak up.

I am approachable, driven, and deeply committed to making the student experience better, not just in words but in outcomes.