Who is a Welfare Officer?

Hey, I'm Verity, your new welfare officer for 25-26! I am super excited to be working with you on improving welfare and wellbeing services. I am passionate about making your student experience seamless by ensuring you have proper care when needed!

Who is Verity?

• LLB (Hons) LAW graduate at UoP
• MSc Forensic Investigation student
• Former President of the Pole Dance Club (2 years)
• Pole dancer for nearly 5 years
• Flyer on the Blaze Cheer Team during my Masters year
• Animal enthusiast, raised on a farm
• Love walks, charity, vintage, and second-hand shops

Manifesto Pledges

Pledge 1: Providing immediate Mental Health support

• Signposting doesn’t work, let’s get you seen and heard.
• The current system has students feeling like a burden, this needs to change. Despite requests for better policies by students, the university has done minimal to address these.
• I would like to implement a clear, unified system so that students actually have no wrong door.

Pledge 2: Mandatory welfare training

• You should feel confident in who you speak to.
• As president, I’ve seen limited welfare training for committee members. The UPSU Knowledge base lacks any welfare protocols or guidance, this implies a lack of priority for student welfare.
• Mandatory enhanced welfare training for all committee member. Work further with sexual violence liaison officers, complaints team and union staff to provide a robust knowledge base. On top of this holding further retraining / opportunities through the year to progress further welfare issues.

Pledge 3: Visible support for international students

• Your funding is important to them, why aren’t you?
• International students pay significantly higher tuition fees, yet many report feeling unsupported and isolated upon arrival, suggesting the university values funding over student well-being. I want to work improve financial support for international students. Whilst also, building a stronger sense of community international students. I recommend organizing events, in partnership with existing clubs, to maximize outreach and create a welcoming environment.

Pledge 4: Making a stand against sexual violence

• Protecting you against violent crimes.
• Portsmouth has one of the highest rates of sexual violence and the university has minimal protocols to this, leaving students feeling vulnerable and victmised.
• I will collaborate with the local authorities to improve security in student populated areas.I’m going to introduce free university wide self-testing kits (from enough to end rape) to implement social deterrence and empower victims allowing them to take control of their own response and ultimately reduce potential social stigmas.

Click to view Verity's Work Updates

• Working with advice service on suicide awareness.

• Developing procedures to help students affected by international crises.

• Worked on UPSU's pantry project to help students with cost of living.

• Procured night-time economy safety devices and promoting safety in clubs and pubs.