Hi, my name is Alex Greer, I am a fourth-year Sculpture and Creative Computing student, and I am running for welfare officer. As a student rep, a dedicated member of ActionUAL, and a disabled person, I know the problems UAL students face concerning welfare and believe that all changes that are introduced should be student led. Having worked at the Student Union, I know the challenges students face seeking welfare, and this is my plan to implement meaningful change:

Three-pronged accessibility:

• Academic - Academia must always be fully accessible. Talking to our peers can make complex ideas and practices much easier to digest, I am proposing a buddy system for students, putting them in touch with others whose interests align, giving them a network of support and a springboard for ideas.
• Physical - Every room in every building, including hired premises, need to be accessible to all. Forums for every student with an ISA to voice any issues, as well as training for all staff to raise awareness of issues raised in the aforementioned forums.
• Mental – I will work to improve mental health services across UAL from training for staff, to increased funding, and support for students.

As well as three key principles throughout my work:

• Transparency - I will push for all UAL budgets and decision-making conversations to be publicly and easily accessible.
• Diversity - Underrepresented voices should be leading discussions regarding their experiences, their representation and their future. The sabbatical officer’s role should not be to make decisions on behalf of these students, but to act as a conduit for their voices. If elected welfare officer, I would ensure that this is central to my work across its many facets. 
• Action - I will continue to fight for any UAL Action Group demands that have not been met.