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As your elected Officer Trustee I'm always happy to talk to students and help out where I can.

Holly Lloyd

Vice President (Education)

Hi, I'm Holly Lloyd, Your VP (Education). Here's a little about myself - I'm from North Wales and came to Derby to study a Creative Expressive Arts course. I'm a major cat lover but unfortunately find myself allergic With my creative background I aim to make your interactions with the Student Union a more fun and interactive experience. Be sure to keep an eye out for me in and around our many campuses and feel free to come into the office for a chat.

I aim to encourage and create more engagement with the Union, ensure that students feel represented and seen with more Union representation and presence at other campuses, and to secure better funding and support for field work and placement studies.

Officer News

Your Officers
Term 1 Round Up - Vice President Education

Thu 19 Dec 2024

VP (Education) Pournami handing out tote bags at freshers fair

As Vice President (Education), my focus is on enhancing student representation, increasing the visibility of academic support services, and amplifying the voices of our student body to ensure their needs are met.

 
Your Officers
Term 1 Round Up - Vice President Activities

Thu 19 Dec 2024

VP (Activities) Gabby handing out free pancakes

As the first term of the academic year draws to a close, I am proud to reflect on the initiatives and achievements I have been working on. Here’s an overview of everything I have been working on so far, from creating new possibilities to promoting diversity and inclusion.

 
Your Officers
Term 1 Round Up - Vice President Welfare

Thu 19 Dec 2024

VP Welfare Jack on the Advice stand at freshers fair with Advisor Zoe

As the first term comes to a close, it’s a great opportunity to share some of the work I’ve been doing across my manifesto and the wider VP (Welfare) remit.

 
Your Officers
Term 1 Round Up - Union President

Thu 19 Dec 2024

President Holly Lloyd leading a conga line at freshers fair

As I moved on from Vice President Education to President, this first term has been both bittersweet and exciting. I’m grateful for the experiences that prepared me for this role and thrilled to lead with a fantastic team dedicated to supporting and empowering our students.

 
Your Officers
Switch from BRP to eVisa

Tue 10 Dec 2024

International students if you don’t know the BRP is switching to eVisa, please read the below information.

 
Your Officers
British Sign Language (BSL): Past, Present, and Future

Thu 05 Dec 2024

Graffiti on a wall that depicts the British Sign Language spelling of BSL

By supporting BSL during Disability History Month, we can acknowledge the struggles of the past while building a more inclusive future for everyone.

 
Your Officers
You Said, We Did - Let's Be Friends

Wed 04 Dec 2024

The Executive Officers (in order of appearance: Jack, Holly, Gabby and Pournami) sat together on two

You said, ‘We feel there aren’t many events tailored to our student group’, we ‘set up a Let’s Be Friends campaign, targeting specific groups of students’.

 
Your Officers
Understanding Hidden Disabilities

Wed 20 Nov 2024

Disability History Month celebrity figure boards

Hi everyone, I’m Jack McGuinness, your Vice President (Welfare). Disability History Month is the time to understand the lived experiences of those who have disabilities. Although many are physical, some are hidden disabilities that are not initially apparent, making it hard to understand the experiences people with them have.

 
Your Officers
Drumming Hope - Reflecting on the Trip for Black History Month

Mon 21 Oct 2024

VP (Education) Pournami with a group of students at an African drumming workshop.

As part of Black History Month (BHM) celebration, the Union of Students offered the students an opportunity to participate in an African drumming session at the National Justice Museum in Nottingham.

 
Your Officers
Black History Month: Celebrating Student Success Stories

Wed 16 Oct 2024

Hi everyone, I’m Jack McGuinness, the Vice President (Welfare). Black History Month is important to understand the past, as I’ve done in another article. But, especially from a sector revolving on success of education, it’s important to celebrate people as well. Below are just some examples of the University of Derby students who have received awards, become elected representatives, and been promoted to senior positions.

 
Your Officers
VP (Welfare) September Update

Wed 09 Oct 2024

Vice President (Welfare) Jack McGuinness presenting an award at the 2024 Sports Awards

Hi everyone, I’m Jack McGuinness, the Vice President (Welfare) here at the University of Derby Union of Students. September is the start to the new academic year and it’s great to see students back on site and interacting with everything we have to offer.

 
Your Officers
Black History Month: Key Moments Within the UK

Mon 07 Oct 2024

Black history in the UK is rich with significant events and contributions that have shaped the nation’s cultural, social, and political landscape.

 
Your Officers
Post graduation routes and support

Fri 09 Aug 2024

The back of someone looking out over an auditorium, wearing a graduation gown and cap. This image is

Some information on post graduation and the support the University provides to students.

 
Your Officers
Mental Health Tips

Thu 18 Jul 2024

Black scrabbles tiles that spell out 'mental health matters'.

VP (Welfare) here to give some tips for mental health.

 
Your Officers
A year in review

Fri 05 Jul 2024

Reflecting on the past year, my efforts have been many-sided, aiming to provide better facilities, improve the experience for students, create more quiet spaces, offer more cost-of-living support, increase accessibility and inclusion, and strengthen Union presence across campuses.

 
 
 
 
 

Manifesto Pledges

During my time in office I have pledged to:

Campaigns

Some of the campaigns I have been/will be working on this year.

  • TBC
  • Scrutiny Reports

    My reports from Scrutiny Panel and AGMs.