Olivia Mai Sawkins

What is your Manifesto?

This past academic year, our society has built a strong foundation through weekly debates and skill-focused workshops, creating an inclusive, accessible, and non-judgemental space for all experience levels. My vision for the coming year is to expand these opportunities while keeping costs low. The current President and I have worked hard this academic year to raise funds so that we can provide members with opportunities and academic trips at a free or at a reduced cost, to ensure no member is excluded due to financial barriers. Continuing in this role would allow me to further increase funding and accessibility. I will deliver structured workshops developing public speaking, confidence, critical thinking, argument construction, and competitive debating skills, tailored to both beginners and advanced members. Weekly debates will remain interactive, with topics chosen collectively, and occasional sessions led by professional speakers. I also plan to organise a trip to Parliament, offering members the chance to observe debates and engage with professionals. This will be at a heavily subsidised cost. Through collaboration with other CCCU societies and external speakers, I aim to broaden networking and competition opportunities. I am committed to building on this year’s progress and would value your vote.