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Representing You
Vice President Wellbeing & Wellbeing Convenors 

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Vice President Wellbeing

My name is Ed Bending and I am in my second year as Vice President Wellbeing for Brighton SU. I am a full-time student officer elected by you to make changes and be your voice on all issues relating to student wellbeing. I am supported in this vital work by nine Wellbeing Convenors who are all current students elected to represent their student community.

We want your experience here at Brighton University to be rewarding in every way; academically, socially and personally. Your Students' Union offers a mutlitude of fantastic opportunities to get more out of student life, and we also want to know about and help out when things go wrong or are not living up to your expectations. As a Students' Union our mission is to empower students, and one of the ways we do this is by representing you in whatever way we can. Our team of elected officers sit on University committees and we aim to get answers and action when things are not up to scratch. However we can't do this unless we know what is going on, so you need to tell us - have your say - at one of the student experience forums or contact me - Ed Bending - directly. 

I look forward to meeting you and representing you over the next year.

Wellbeing Convenors

The Wellbeing Convenors are elected student representatives who bring together the diversity of views and interests of our student community. Together the Convenors work with VP Wellbeing (Ed Bending) as a committee to ensure that the Wellbeing Zone is lsitening to and representing your views and furthering your interests in order to improve the experience of all students in Brighton, Eastbourne & Hastings.There are currently nine Wellbeing Convenor positions:

Women’s Convenor

Interfaith Convenor

Welfare (Health & Housing) Convenor 

Ethical / environmental Convenor

Students with dependants’ Convenor

Disability Convenor

Ethnic minorities’ Convenor

First year students’ Convenor

LGBT Convenor 

If you want to talk to a Convenor about an issue or to tell them your views about something you can contact them directly. If you are unsure who to talk to then contact Ed, VP Wellbeing first.

What does a Convenor have to do?
Firstly you have to care about students and have a particular interest in whatever issue/group you have been elected to represent.
Once elected it is important that you talk to other students about your role and to find out what issues affect them. These may not necessarily be the issues you expect which is why the Wellbeing Zone committee is important. See the Convenor role description below for more details. 

How do I get elected?
Elections happen in March, apart from the First Year Students’ convenor post which will happen in the by-election in November. To stand for elelction you firstly need to get yourself nominated. Download a nomination form here or collect one from any Union office.

This form will explain the ins and out of the election process, but the main points are:
• find 5 fellow students to nominate you for the position
• Come along to a candidate briefing to find out about the rest of the process
• Write down some ideas and changes you would like to see as a manifesto
• Get out there and talk to students; ask them to vote for you during election week

If you have any further questions on this process please drop into any Students' Union office and our staff will be able to help.

How much time is involved?
The minimum amount of time involved in being a Convenor is approximately an hour a week plus time you spend responding to e-mails from the Vice President Wellbeing. It is up to you how much additional time you spend talking to students about what matters to them, reading or researching the issues and thinking about how the Wellbeing Zone could make a difference. The more time you put in, the more valuable your role is.

What’s in it for me?
Not only will you have the personal satisfaction of knowing that you have contributed to making the student experience better for Brighton students and played an active role in your Students’ Union, you will also have something to add to your CV and talk about in interviews. Increasingly having a degree is not enough to compete in the job market.

What if I don’t want to go through the election process, can I still be involved?
The reason we elect convenors and officers is so that all students can have a say in choosing who represents them, however the Wellbeing Zone also offers many other ways to be involved without being elected through a wide range of volunteering opportunities with peer2pier, the CaSH Action Team (contraception and sexual health) and campaigning through schemes like the Wishing Well. Contact one of the Wellbeing Team below to find out more. 

Role Description of a Wellbeing Convenor

Research the issues that affect the group you are representing 

Every committee meeting is important – please do your best to attend

Promote the Wishing Well to those you represent and support them in organising their own campaigns and events

Read and respond to all e-mails sent to you by VP Wellbeing 

Ensure that you are representing the views of others and not just your own

Socialise with a diverse range of students – it’s the best way to find out what people really think

Encourage those you represent to get more involved in the Students’ Union

Notice what is going on in your student community and consider the impact on the those you represent

Talk to your fellow students and find out what they need to make their student experience a better one – report back to the committee

 

Wellbeing Team

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Ed Bending
VP Wellbeing
01273 643196
bsuvpw@brighton.ac.uk

Beth Kent
Peer2Pier Project Facilitator
01273 643044
B.Kent2@brighton.ac.uk

Sara Sewell
Wellbeing Zone Manager
01273 643044
S.I.Sewell@brighton.ac.uk