Network Welfare Officer Role Description

Student life needs student leaders.

Students understand what it is like to study, live and take part in life at UCL today. As a Network Welfare Officer, you will draw on your experience and listen to others, lead welfare-related work within your Network, and signpost students to relevant information and support.

The Union is here to make more happen, and will provide the training and support you need to get started!

Network Welfare Officer at a glance:

Could this be you?

You do not need to be an expert in the Students’ Union or have held a leadership role before. Your experience as a student is your starting point.

This role could suit you if you are willing to:

• Listen to students and take different experiences seriously.
• Signpost students towards appropriate support and resources.
• Notice the ideas, opportunities and challenges affecting your community.
• Share students’ priorities with the people who make decisions.
• Work constructively with other students and staff.
• Follow up and keep students informed.

You are not expected to speak for everyone based only on your own experience. We will help you signpost students in the right direction, and ensure that they recieve the necessary support.

Sound interesting? Nominate yourself today, or read on to learn more!

What the role involves

During a typical term, you will:

• Listen to students in your community to understand priorities for issues affecting them.
• Identify common welfare themes and issues which your community might need information or support with.
• Explain why student welfare and access to appropriate support matters to your community.
• Work with your relevant Network Student Officer, Sabbatical Officer and the Networks Team to share information and coordinate welfare campaign work.
• Coordinate with staff to ensure that students are directed to and have access to the necessary means of support.

This might involve sharing information about a relevant Union welfare campaign, or signposting students towards the appropriate sources of support and information.

Through this work, you could help ensure that students in your Network feel more informed about welfare issues, aware of available support, and connected to wider Students' Union campaigns.

The role requires approximately 12-15 hours per term. Some parts of the year may be busier, particularly around Liberation Months, or periods of increased student need such as exam time.

Listen, represent, report back

1. Listen to different student experiences.
2. Identify the priorities students share.
3. Represent those priorities where decisions are made.
4. Report back on progress and next steps.

Who can stand?

You can stand for this role if you:

• Self-identify as the relevant category for the Network.
• Are a student for the 26/27 academic year.

Not sure whether you are eligible? Contact [email protected] before nominations close.

Training and support

You bring valuable knowledge of what it is like to be a current student. We will help you build the skills needed to listen to others and use that insight effectively.

You will receive:

• An introduction to the role and the Students’ Union.
• Training in gathering feedback and representing different perspectives.
• Guidance on identifying shared priorities.
• Support to prepare for and contribute to meetings.
• Guidance on reporting back and signposting students to support.
• Ongoing support from the Networks Development Coordinator and relevant Network Student Officer and Sabbatical Officer.
• Opportunities to develop your communication, advocacy and interpersonal skills.

Mandatory training

If you are elected into the role, you will be required to attend mandatory training:

Date: Saturday 24 October 2026
Time: 11:00 - 17:00
Location: TBC

If you need an adjustment to take part in the training or role, contact [email protected]. 

Ready to stand?

Your experience of student life is crucial to making change happen.

If you would like to listen to your community, bring students’ welfare priorities into decision-making and help improve the awareness of welfare support, consider standing for Network Welfare Officer.

You do not need to have every answer or a complete plan. Tell students why you are interested, what you have noticed and what you would like to understand or improve.

• Nominations close: Monday 12 October 2026 
• Questions & accessibility: [email protected]

[Stand for Network Welfare Officer]