93% Club Society: Welfare and Communications Officer

Hi I’m Lily, I’m from Leeds, and I went to a school OFSTED kindly deemed as below average. I struggled in first year with people mocking my Northern accent and feeling out of my depth socially and academically. I quickly understood that my normal was not for the average UCL student. For me, police permanently at school and leaky roofs were the norm, not Latin classes and ski trips.

I am running for Welfare Officer as this is not right or fair. We not only deserve our places here but also a comfortable and welcoming environment. The 93% Club is something I wish I had known about in my first year as it would of helped me settle in a lot quicker. As Welfare Officer, I hope to help the society reach more state schoolers creating like-minded community and support each other.

I have been part of Cheese Grater Magazine for the past two years, holding the position of social and communications sec where we aim to hold UCL to account, giving those a voice who wouldn’t otherwise have it. Here, I have organised events for the society and helped with the social media, creating a community for all. Our priorities this year have focused on outreach through this platform; skills I can bring to this role.

I am, and always have been, proud of my state school education and believe it something to be celebrated. Through the 93% club, we can make our voices heard by the institution led by the privately educated, and I hope to be a part of this next year.

Since joining the 93% Society I have made so many connections with so many people from a similar background- with UCL being such a hug university it can be so overwhelming and can be isolating, but finding a society that you connect with can make university so much more fun and manageable. I am lucky to have found this in the 93% society. 

As a welfare officer I will take into account the wellbeing of others; I am an approachable person as well as being empathetic. Having had worked as a transition mentor at UCL I have very good communication skills and can be professional whilst also conveying that I am also a student. 

I work very well within a team, and especially a team of like-minded individuals. I am a confident speaker, although not intimidating. 

Regarding the communications side of the position I have been working in an independent bookshop in my home town for a year, here I contribute to running the instagram account, so I am used to making informative posts and advertising events. In my job I also communicate with a wide selection of people, from customers to professional businesses, corporate publishers and authors. So, I have the ability to engage with a wide selection of individuals. 

As welfare and communications officer I would really love to carry on the great job that is being done at the moment, in hope of building the society and helping others find their voices and people. This is such an incredible cause and I would love to be apart of it.