Connecting to your values: how to craft a meaningful manifesto

Overview

This free online workshop will help you to define the change you want to represent, connect to your values, and develop a confident personal voice when you stand for election. It is for any currently enrolled UAL student and/or Course Rep who is planning to stand for election as a School Rep this autumn term, or who is interested in doing so (you can still attend this workshop even if you decide not to stand later on!).

When standing for election as a School Rep, it’s tempting to think about the year ahead in terms of issues to fix, policies to change and problems to solve. But before the solutions, there’s a bigger question: what do you actually stand for? 

In this reflective and creative workshop, we’ll explore what students are thinking and feeling right now based on current research undertaken by Arts Students’ Union Democracy and Influencing Team and explore real-world examples of influential people who have used manifestos to articulate a bigger vision for change.

You’ll also have space to think about and articulate your own personal values, experiences and motivations, and how you can articulate these to shape the kind of School Rep you want to be.

This workshop isn’t about writing the most impressive manifesto or coming up with a list of specific policy demands. It’s about finding your voice, identifying the change you want to represent, and turning that into a personal vision for the year ahead.

Expect:

• Research insights: Explore what students are feeling and thinking right now.
• Personal reflections: Connect your role as a representative to your own values and experiences.
• Group conversation: Share ideas and perspectives with other students in a relaxed, non-competitive space.
• Creativity: Experiment with different ways of expressing your manifesto and developing your voice.
• A first draft of your manifesto: Leave with a first draft of something that captures what you stand for and the change you want to represent.