Riddhi Shivkar

As Welfare Officer, I'd want to be a point of support for both new and long term members, making sure everyone feels heard and that any concerns or ideas are taken seriously. I think I'd  suit this role as I am a good listener, easy to talk to, and super passionate about the club.

A lot of new members I’ve spoken to seem quite nervous to come to sessions, and I think addressing this will be one of my main focuses. I have first-hand experience of what it's like to join with no prior experience in combat sports, with some bad experiences in other sports societies in the past. Not knowing what to expect, what the sessions would look like, or what kind of people would be there are factors that I think play into anxiety around joining.

Some ways I want to address this are making sure people know what to expect before they even walk through the door (i.e. examples of the structure of sessions on instagram), being a visible point of contact for any questions or concerns, and pushing for an environment where everyone feels welcome regardless of experience or background (i.e. more diverse socials). The club already has such a great culture and I want to help make that even more visible to people who are considering joining or just getting started.

Muay Thai has an amazing community, and given me so much confidence and a re-found passion for sport. I’d love for other people to have that same experience, and becoming Welfare Officer feels like a great way to give back to this society 😁.