What made you decide to run? I wanted to run because I have become disheartened at a range of issues that students have to face, and I want to help students. All issues in my manifesto are all areas I care about and feel York could be doing better in, as they aren’t doing good enough.
Why are you the best person for the job? I am passionate about improving the student experience and I am willing to have uncomfortable conversations with the University to do so. I hold strong knowledge on how the University works already, and feel this would benefit students when it comes to achieving the proactive changes that they want.
Would you prioritise improving the way YUSU supports students, or campaigning to improve the services the University and city offer? All three, as they are all so interconnected to the student experience at York, in so many different ways.
If you had £1 for every student at York, what would you buy them? A bag of bird feed, to bring joy to both students and our geese.

Kelly Balmer

What made you decide to run? My time at the University of York has been full of exciting opportunities. But just like every student, I had significant hardships. I believe that students deserve more, and I am burning with a passion for change. There is just so much more that can be done.
Why are you the best person for the job? I know how to listen, and I am not afraid to speak up. I do not speak nonsense, and I will not be silenced when I have things to say. And I have been working with student representation for almost six years now, so I am confident in my experience.
Would you prioritise improving the way YUSU supports students, or campaigning to improve the services the University and city offer? I think both are very important. My manifesto is focused mostly on campaigning to improve the services the University and city offer. However, listening to students is at the heart of all my policies, and I would be keen to look at ways YUSU can better support students.
If you had £1 for every student at York, what would you buy them? I would get them YUSU Bars vouchers so they could get what they actually want for that £1. I am not going to pretend that I know what every student wants.

Your Babe Rokas

What made you decide to run? I don&#8217;t think that student health and wellbeing has ever been so much at the front of peoples mind as it has been over the last year. I believe passionately in the importance of both the health of the students, and the university as a whole.
Why are you the best person for the job? I have extensive involvement with community work and mental wellbeing. For example, I have been Disability Officer for Alcuin, a student mind ambassador, been a Student Voice Assistant, as well as much more. I also believe that my degree in Sociology has made me aware of many of the issues students face.
Would you prioritise improving the way YUSU supports students, or campaigning to improve the services the University and city offer? I would campaign to improve the service that Open Door provides as at a time where mental health services are under such pressure, this seems essential. I also feel that without the improvement of these services, it means that students cannot fulfil their full potential.
If you had £1 for every student at York, what would you buy them? I would give everyone a pot plant for their room, as plants bring people pleasure, and help to relieve stress.

Rebecca Wilcockson

What made you decide to run? Working as a Part Time Officer (PTO) has given me opportunities to talk about issues I am passionate about and work towards meaningful change. I am excited at the prospect of making it my full time job and being able to dedicate more time to important causes.
Why are you the best person for the job? I have personal experience in several of the roles I would be supporting, knowledge of what is feasible when creating a campaign and have built successful working relationships with several university departments in the past year.
Would you prioritise improving the way YUSU supports students, or campaigning to improve the services the University and city offer? I would choose to put my energy into campaigning for change from the University and city as these services could use their collective resources to support YUSU.
If you had £1 for every student at York, what would you buy them? A longboi sticker from Redbubble and 6p.
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Charlotte Ingrey

What made you decide to run? I&#8217;ve been passionate about student activism for a long time, and I really care about student wellbeing, especially in such an uncertain time. It would really be a privilege to represent York students as a sabb, and make sure as many voices as possible are recognised and heard.
Why are you the best person for the job? I&#8217;m not afraid to hold my ground when I need to, I like to work as a team, and I like to think I offer a fresh perspective. I always want to help out whenever I can, and being a sabb would let me take that to the next level!
Would you prioritise improving the way YUSU supports students, or campaigning to improve the services the University and city offer? These both go hand in hand – prioritising one over the other isn’t how I think about representation, because a big part of YUSU supporting students is through campaigning to improve services. Direct communication with students on their needs can help YUSU to achieve both and represent students as best I can.
If you had £1 for every student at York, what would you buy them? Chocolate! So good for self-care and wellbeing, a nice pick me up after a bad day, or a nice thing to treat yourself with after submitting a tough essay or acing a difficult exam. But hopefully I can do more than just provide chocolate as a sabb!

Abby Pullen

Community & Wellbeing Officer

Represents students on issues affecting their wellbeing; such as health, finance, accommodation and security, as well as wider community issues. The Community and Wellbeing Officer is key to ensuring that students from a range of backgrounds and minority groups are represented within the University. They also ensure that students are represented fairly within the local community, liaising with both town and parish council officials.

Steph Hayle is one of York’s most recognisable former sabbs. In her time as Community and Wellbeing Officer, Steph was elected twice, and brought in campaigns such as #RentRant and #Bustice.



A we sat down over Zoom, Steph really sold the role as the more interesting of all the sabbatical officers: &#8220;A lot of people just think it’s the wellbeing side, which is sort of addressing things like mental health and physical health… but a lot of it is about the community building elements&#8221;



&#8220;When I was in the role I brought in housing, and I brought in transport, all because I felt that they were elements that were being overlooked in terms of community&#8221;



The role of Community and Wellbeing certainly allows for a more far reaching impact on students, with the role all about welfare, support, and liberation, which Steph lived up to.



&#8220;I personally think Community and Wellbeing is the best role because you have more of an ability to make an impact that’s lasting than almost any other role.&#8221;&nbsp;



When asked about her stand-out moment, Steph spoke of her financial campaigning for disadvantaged students: &#8220;we restructured a huge proportion of scholarships, which opened up thousands of pounds worth more funding, and we put out a new fundraising campaign for Opportunity Awards, which is the scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds&#8221;&nbsp;



&#8220;I was at this welcome event and a first year student came up to me and they said they were on the scholarship, and said ‘I’ve been made aware that I’m only at the University because of you &#8211; I got one of the scholarships that didn’t exist last year’.&#8221;&nbsp;



&#8220;It’s nice knowing I made an actual difference.&#8221;



However, a drawback of the role is a short time limit; with each sabb’s term being only one year long, and only being able to hold the position for two terms, it is rare they get to experience the changes they implemented.&nbsp;



When asked about this downside, Steph asserted: &#8220;I think that’s one of the biggest misconceptions in being a sabb is quick returns.&#8221;&nbsp;



&#8220;It’s a thankless role, because somebody else will take credit for everything you do. And that’s why I sort of stayed on for a second year because I could do extra work.&#8221;



Despite this being true, this should in no way prevent any interested candidates in running: ‘‘there are loads of different things within the role that will automatically involve you making a difference, but you’ve got to push it a little bit further if you really want to see the difference happen while you’re there.&#8221;



In regards to the day-to-day aspect of the role, no day is the same, something that is particularly appealing to the younger generation who do not want to be tied to a desk all day just yet.



&#8220;Every single day was completely different. You do have weekly meetings with the PTOs and the colleges, to go through and connect so people know what they’re doing, and everyone’s working together.&#8221;



&#8220;You have a lot of meetings with University senior management, going over anything from basic health and safety in the science department, which is the most boring thing I’ve ever done in my life.&#8221;



&#8220;And then the next day, you’re speaking in parliament.&#8221;



Steph’s impressive work with parliament proves just how much ability a sabb has to make real changes, and gives young people the opportunity to engage fully with UK politics: ‘‘a lot of it was just going and speaking to politicians and saying, hey, you’re really shit, you’re doing a terrible job. And these students are being absolutely shafted, because you won’t help them.&#8221;



&#8220;I was part of the all party parliamentary group of students, and I went and spoke there particularly on housing.&#8221;



&#8220;I think the most recent one that I was at was about student maintenance loans and maintenance grant reinstatement, and we actually got a commitment to propose the reinstatement of student maintenance grants&#8230; I have a feeling that Coronavirus blocked that, but it is technically minuted in all of their documents.&#8221;



With two successful election campaigns, Steph has plenty to offer in words of advice to the students who want what is arguably the most exciting role within YUSU.



&#8220;Do it. It doesn’t matter if you win, because the process of running itself is such a journey.&#8221;



&#8220;All the candidates who run give feedback on the process and people are like; actually, this was helpful, and it really boosted my confidence and it gave me the ability to speak in front of people in a way that I didn’t know.&#8221;



In regards to manifesto points: &#8220;I&#8217;d really like to see people put more of an emphasis into helping students migrate their work online, with a particular emphasis on activities, and keeping societies moving in new and interesting ways.”



“Because, when it comes to things like mental health, you&#8217;ve got to sort it at the root of the problem, and a huge part of that is isolation, so it&#8217;s going to be down to the setups to really help societies and sports and different academic groups to create those communities online.”



In ending the call, Steph reiterated a point that students have heard time and time again, but its importance will outlive us all: &#8220;please vote &#8211; people forget how much power a sabb has, and if they do a bad job, they can tank a union.&#8221;

Community & Wellbeing Officer

Department Safety Checks and Parliamentary Lobbying: Steph Hayle on Being Communitty and Wellbeing Officer

The Results

The Candidates

Kelly Balmer

Your Babe Rokas

Rebecca Wilcockson

Charlotte Ingrey

Abby Pullen