Hi, My name is Thomas Abbott (he/they) and I am running for the position of President (Campaigns and Societies) 2023/24. Since joining university I have been an engaged member of a selection of societies, including being on a committee for every semester after my first. I have also been a member on executive committees, this year I am a member of the Union Societies Executive Committee and last year I was a member of the Community, Diversity and Inclusions Committee. To support this, I am also the societies representative on the Union Council, which involves me advocating and representing on behalf of the USEC committee and all students who are part of a society. Each of these roles has given me some unique skills that will help support me in this role in the future:

• Being on Union Council has given me the skills to help portray ideas and arguments in a professional manner as well as providing me the skills the portray the needs of the societies
• Being on Society Committees since my first year has given me the skills I need to understand what is needed by societies and help provide these if needed
• Being on the Community, Diversity and Inclusions Committee has given me skills and understanding of what different groups of students are looking for from the union
• Being on the Union Societies Executive Committee gives me even more understanding of the society needs and further solidifies the skills I have gained

What will I do if elected?

Campaigns:

• I will continue the work that previous Sabbatical officers have done with their own campaigns and ensure that they are upheld whilst I am in office
• I plan on having a key focus on mental health campaigns that provide key and up to date information about the services that both the university and external services can provide to all students
• Following on from that campaign, I feel it is key to also have a focus specifically on men’s mental health as this is an area that needs to be highlighted due to the high statistics around this
• I will also support whatever campaigns students bring forward that they feel need to occur
• With the cost of living crisis being an ongoing issue, I will ensure that all information is provided to the students who are the most vulnerable but also provide the best ways to get all students through the tough times that we as students have been facing recently

Societies:

• I aim to support all current societies into the new academic year and help ensure that training they are receiving help to support the committee members to run their societies
• I will also aim to support the development of new societies that are founded and give them the tools that they would need in order to be fulfill the goals that their members want
• Support the continuation of Society Takeovers at The Lounge and provide any support that the committees may need in order to plan the events that they want to hold as a part of this
• I would also like to support all societies to have events that are more accessible to students who are living in areas outside of Canterbury

Medway:

• Provide a more diverse range of societies on the Medway campus that are wanted by the students that study here
• Continue the work that the current Sabbatical Officers are doing in conjunction with Medway students
• Allow for all relevant campaigns that are being run in the Canterbury Campus to be extended to the Medway campus