School of Pharmacy Society: Welfare Officer

Hi, my name is Mariliza, I'm a First Year and I'd be delighted to be your Welfare Officer for 25/26!

Firstly, I think it is important to acknowledge that the student experience has many highs and, unfortunately, lows. However, I believe that they shouldn't be feared, but embraced, and my main aim for being Welfare Officer is to ensure that students never feel defeated or controlled by those 'lows'. As Welfare Officer, I want to create an environment where students can constantly feel safe, included and empowered to work towards achieve their goals :)

I currently am an Academic Rep for Year 1, which entails responding to students' concerns with the aim to address them and resolve them as quickly as possible, and I will do the same as Welfare Officer. Giving a voice to students, listening to them and responding with solutions/advice is the key role of a Welfare Officer, and I would be honoured to be a friendly face students feel they can speak to.

That is not all, however. To me, a Welfare Officer shouldn't just respond to problems, but should constantly work proactively to prevent them and relieve stress from students. I'm hoping to do that by organising Welfare Events, in collaboration with the Social and Sports Teams, to create a space for students to de-stress, meet new people and HAVE FUN!! So far, I'm thinking of introducing study groups, art/karaoke sessions, wellness walks or picnics in the summer! 

There will definitely be more to come, so I hope you vote for me!! <3

Hello everyone! My name is Galila, and I’m currently a second-year MPharm student. I’m excited to be running for Welfare Officer of the School of Pharmacy Society next year!

I want to take on this role to make a positive impact on both newcomers and returning members of the society. Creating a community that is accessible, inclusive, and comfortable for everyone is incredibly important to me, especially by ensuring that there is a safe space where anyone can turn to for support when needed. We all know that pharmacy is a challenging course, but having a strong support system can make a world of difference in getting through it successfully. I want to be someone you can rely on, whether you're struggling during the year or beyond!

I believe I am well-suited for this role, as I currently serve as the Welfare Officer of the Sudanese Society, where I’ve gained valuable skills and experience that will help me be an effective Welfare Officer for the SoP Society. To support students in balancing their academic responsibilities with their mental and emotional health, I aim to propose initiatives like fun game nights to relieve stress, integrated welfare check-ins via surveys and forms, and nature/well-being walks (if we ever get warm weather!). Additionally, I would organise mindfulness workshops to support overall mental health.

I’m excited about the opportunity to help support each and every one of you and ensure that we have a positive, supportive environment throughout the year :)