Cheese Grater Magazine: Welfare Officer

The fight against UCL, the Union so that they fight UCL, and against the Union itself for some reason, is a long and hard one. As someone with a reasonable amount of committee and interpersonal experience running societies here at UCL I believe I would make a good Welfare Officer.

I have served on Activities Zone for over a year to vote on Union policy, I've pushed for officer accountability, to make the Zones more easily observable, and recently, pedestrianisation. I know as well as any student can the processes that the Union has.

Last year I was involved with the Graters, (have teched their past 3 shows), and this year I've written two news articles for the news section so far.

We face the truth, we see the worst of the Union, and Its easy to get bogged down with apathy. I think the Cheese Grater is one of the best causes on this campus and I hope I can provide a space to channel that energy into action. I will bring forth weekly Welfare drop-ins and an open line of communication for all members in all branches of this formidable society.

Thanks for considering me!

A few buzzwords to get past the Union's filters: streamline, report, assess, meeting, form, possibility

Last year I was unsure if I could dedicate time to a committee position instead of working part-time. Luckily, this year I've got just enough money to survive on ice soup and cardboard!

My key policies as Welfare Officer:

• A dedicated weekly drop-in session: Each week I will set aside a couple of hours for members to meet me in-person and discuss welfare-related issues. Doesn't have to be related to the society, it's good to have someone to talk to.
• Support for students seeking mental health & wellbeing or cost of living services: In the national students survey, UCL ranks lower on average for providing information & accessibility to its support services. As someone who's had to use some of these services before, I want to act as a port of call to help students get help from the university where needed. It can be tricky to know what you're entitled to.
• Introduce a confidential welfare & feedback form: If there's something you don't feel comfortable sharing in-person, related to society or interpersonal issues then I want to provide an avenue for people to share their thoughts & feelings on society or interpersonal issues, similar to those used for ArtsUCL or Sports societies.

This will be my only committee position this year, so I can guarantee you that if I'm elected, I will give this role the attention it deserves :)

I’m nominating myself for Welfare Officer because I want to help sustain the supportive, creative environment that makes The Cheese Grater such a unique space for journalism and satire at UCL.

As a Politics student with experience in political journalism at Al Jazeera, I understand the pressures of deadlines, sensitive topics, and creative critique. I believe welfare is essential not only for wellbeing, but for producing great work.

If elected, I’ll:

Host informal welfare drop-ins for members to talk about stress, workload, or anything on their mind.

Create a buddy system pairing new members with returning writers and editors for guidance and support.

Work with the committee to promote an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels heard and valued.

Make mental-health resources more visible and organise short sessions on managing burnout or creative pressure.

The Cheese Grater’s success depends on the wellbeing of its writers, editors, and contributors. I want to ensure our team feels supported, safe, and empowered to create freely—because good journalism starts with a healthy community.