Hi everyone! My name's Ben Shires, I’m a third year Cyber Forensics student, and I’m running to be your LGBTQ+ Experience Officer this year. I feel I have a lot to contribute in terms of ideas and ways to improve engagement for you guys across the university.

I intend to focus on these main areas in terms of campaigning;

Student Wellbeing

It’s vital that we all look out for those around us. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are at higher risk of increased stress levels throughout university life, and coming out can be an especially challenging thing to go through, but alongside other officers I aim to help create a support network to make students aware of the help they can get if or when they need it and encourage people not to suffer in silence.

Community Feel

Having worked previously for the university as a Residential Assistant, I feel I am aware of situations that sometimes arise in halls. Therefore, I feel it should be a priority to encourage a community feel for all students to create the chance to meet new people. This could be done by supporting the running of a variety of events, ideally organised by students for students available for anyone to attend. 

Increasing Awareness

I also plan to draw the attention of the wider student community to the LGBTQ+ community and the issues that effect it. As part of my campaigning during the year, I aim to increase awareness of how the use of certain language can have different meanings for different people. For example, words as simple as ‘gay’ being used in certain ways, can impact fellow students without other students even realising.

Hope everyone is enjoying their university experience so far! :)