Hi everyone, firstly thank you for taking time to read through this manifesto.

I am very much a believer of the smallest changes making the biggest impact and this is what my manifesto is about, if you elect me as a full-time officer you can be sure that I will follow through on any pledge that I make.

Reasons to pick me as your officer

1. My main aim will be to improve the resilience and wellbeing of all students who are studying with Staffordshire University, this in turn can help to reduce the number of students that withdraw from their course.
   Mental Health and Wellbeing should never be over looked and by continuing to highlight these issues both the University and the Union can become better places to be all round.

2. Currently I am trying to see change at BHL with the limited facilities on offer. By working with the union, we are hoping to reduce the prices and open a secondary shop or cafe to increase competition.
   As an elected officer I would continue to fight and bring about changes that will improve not just Stoke campus but BHL and Shrewsbury also.

3. I would be approachable whenever needed and will listen to every person and any voice that has something to say.
   The union is led by the will of the students after all, I believe that having a round the clock contact point can be the difference between failure and success.

4. I would also look to increase events and activities from groups associated with the union promoting new groups to emerge I particularly believe that having events across all three campus sites would be better to encourage engagement.

5. As fantastic as the fresher's week was at Stoke campus, it was a shame that similar events and activities were not carried out at BHL and Shrewsbury. If I was elected I would look to hold individual Freshers weeks at these two sites, this way more tailored local information can be given to students at these sites, it was disappointing for travelling students to find that the Domino's pizza vouchers were only valid at the Stoke shop (ok maybe it was only me that was disappointed)

If I am elected by you I will continue to work with the rest of the union and the university to make changes that will continue to improve every students experience.

More about me

I am in my first year of study here at Staffordshire University studying ODP [Operating Department Practitioner] at Blackheath Lane in Stafford (Don't worry no one else knows what that is either), I am already course representative for the ODP course and one of the department reps for Health and Social care so have some experience with the union and university already and love to see what  changes I can help to bring about. 

I am a mature student (questionable), sitting on the wrong side of 35 (but still under 40) and have four children.
I have strong beliefs that everyone deserves a chance at doing what they believe in, and sometimes a second chance is just as important.

I have worked for the last 18 years in positions which have allowed me to express myself, lead others and encourage change. I am a firm but fair leader and can often find myself 'sticking up' for others to get people's voices heard.

Thank you for your time.

Rob Edge