President

President

Robbie Richards

The role of the President within the Students' Union encompasses various responsibilities. Primarily, the SU President takes the lead in democratic procedures, acts as the main point of contact for university-related matters, and serves as the primary liaison between the SU and the University. They are the face of the student body throughout the University and ensure the fair representation of all students.

The President role also oversees both full-time and part-time officer teams and chairs the SU's Executive Committee, which holds significant decision-making authority within the Union. Additionally, they also chair the Trustee Board consisting of 12 Trustees, who possess the ultimate decision-making powers within the SU.

Robbie is a 2nd year FTO, previously holding the role: Vice President of Sports 25/26

Outside of work, Robbie loves to Surf and be in the ocean, train with Rygbi Tawe and try new sports! He'll commit to any theme on a social, and you'll find him on the dancefloor.

From Your Officer

Carys Dukes

Shwmae Carys dw i! Hiya I'm Carys!

Eich llywydd am 25/26! Your President for 25/26!

I'm so excited to be your President 25/26! I had the best time being the Welsh Affair's officer last year too! I previously studied Public Relations and Media as my undergrad. During my 4 years here at Swansea I had been a part of the media society but later joined the Gym Gym ( Welsh Society ) which pushed me to become the Welsh Affairs. I love student voice, marketing and events.

I am very honoured to be a Welsh speaking president and believe I've got a great attitude to improve and change things here at the union.

I've got big things planned for the year ahead, so be sure to keep an eye on my Instagram @susupresident and of course, the SU page @swanseaunisu.

To get in contact use the link Support : Help Desk and submit a ticket !

Roles and Responsibilities

Roles & Responsibilities

I amplify student voices, advocating their concerns to the university. Collaborating with peers and staff, I enhance campus life through events, campaigns, and diversity initiatives. As a bridge between students and the university, I influence policies for academic excellence and well-being. My leadership ensures students' needs are heard and acted upon, fostering a vibrant, supportive, and successful student community.

What I'm Working On

Reviewing Student Union Officer Roles

I will be leading on reviewing the full time and part time officer roles, in which is currently a task on our commercial review for the next 3 years. We want to do this as we need to review if the current position refelect the current climate of students and their needs.

Planned Actions:

Review the full time officer team.
Review the part time officer team.
Conduct a workshop with union staff to recieve some feedback.
Send out a survey form to students to see what you think.

Progress so far:

Had our first inital meeting with the union staff working on this project.

Measures of Success:

Completed task for commercial review.

Fulton Outfitters

Fulton Outfitters is the on campus merchandise shop, which produce top quality clothing and accessories. Next term, I'm hoping to increase sales through introducing new clothing and accessories designs, which is student focuses and trending styles.

Planned Action:

A project plan will be created, after gathering feedback from the Fulton Outfitters proposal.

Measures of Success:

Increase of sales and footfall within the shop.
Increase of clicks for the website.

Progress So Far:

Introduced into the monthly Fulton Outfitters meeting with commercial and marketing staff.
Presented a proposal of new ideas to improve sales through the shop and online.
The proposal is currently under review.

Safety Summit

The Swansea Student Safety Summit brings together students, universities, local authorities, policing partners, and community safety organisations to create a coordinated, student-led approach to safety and wellbeing across the city. The goal of the Summit is to strengthen collaboration, share insights and best practice, and drive proactive action that supports students to live, study, and socialise safely in Swansea.

Through meaningful student engagement, the Summit ensures that the student voice informs priorities, shapes decision-making, and leads positive change in our community.

Objectives

The Summit will:

Promote collaborative, student-led working across institutions and agencies to address shared student safety priorities.
Facilitate the sharing of intelligence, data, and good practice to enhance coordination and reduce duplication of efforts.
Identify and respond to emerging risks impacting the student population.
Ensure students’ voices guide actions through genuine engagement and representation.
Support the development and delivery of awareness and prevention campaigns for the student community.
Align activities with existing community safety and safeguarding frameworks to ensure long-term impact and sustainability.

Priority Areas

Priority areas will be regularly reviewed and may include:

Anti-social behaviour
Violence against women, domestic abuse, and sexual violence
Substance misuse and harm reduction
Crime prevention and serious violence
Exploitation and vulnerability
Night-time economy and public safety
Student wellbeing, belonging, and community cohesion

This project will be lead on in collbaration with my self, Minkesh Sood ( Union CEO ) and Director of Student Life Gareth Hughes. How will be see the results?

Stronger partnership and coordinated action
Proactive approach to student safety
Student lef soutions to student safety
More effective prevention and awareness campaigns
Improved access to support and safer environments
Reduced incidents and increased feelings safety
Long term, sustainable safety planning

Progress so far:

Organised a Student Safety stall with South Wales Policing Team at the university for the start of March, to gather feedback for the summit.
Meeting with fellow sabbatical officers from UWTSD to invite them to the summit to improve safety overall within Swansea city.
I organised Barod Drug Training for Union Staff which raised our awareness on drug culture, and how to support students with drug and alcohol dependancy.

Motion : Trans and Non - Binary Representation

Objective : To complete the motion in full.

Identified Planned Actions:

Definition of transphobia included in their student code of conduct and Union Policy.
A quick and simple way students can correct their gender on the University systems.
Gender inclusivity training for all Union staff.
Actual repercussions for staff and students who are found to be transphobic.
Encouragement of more inclusive materials in lectures.
Support network in place for trans and non-binary students.
Must increase gender-neutral facilities on both campuses.
Lobby the university to adopt a policy that makes clear what types of anti-trans speech from internal or external groups will be tolerated on Campus; and agree that where the Union concern about the impact of externally booked events on students that the University believes it is obliged to fulfil, they will book it outside of term-time where possible.
Work with Wellbeing and campus life to improve provisions of support for trans students such as offering specialised gender counselling.
Ensure university sports have opportunities for trans students to participate in as their correct gender wherever possible.

Progress So Far:

Early discussions with Hero, Trans and Non-Conforming Officer to see how we can support students withing our instiution.
Societies and Services Officer ( Maddy ) and Hero, Trans and Non-Conforming Officer responded with university consultation on changes to toilet and facilities across campus - in response to EHRC guidelines.
Sports Officer ( Robbie ) and Trans and Non-Conforming Officer organising a inclusive sports day.

Increasing SU Presence on Campus

I want to increase the union's presence and ensure we're being visibile to students.

Planned Actions:

Ensuring our campaigns are delivered consistently across both campuses.
Supporting Student Voice with their Tuesday drop-ins on the Bay every week.
Increasing in-person activations as part of our campaigns.
Working with the marketing team to strengthen and enhance our on-campus branding.

Measures of Success:

An increase in the number of students using the Help Desk.
Higher footfall within the Union Offices and at Tuesday drop-ins.
Greater engagement with our campaigns.
More students accessing and using our services.

Progress so far:

As part of our Medr budget last year, I contributed to updating the Student Union branding in the Faraday corridor, collaborating closely with our graphic design team to transform it into a relevant and informative space.
Worked with the events and marketing teams to develop new branding and visual displays for all of our in-person activations.
Secured some funding to get new branding materials into the Union for events, campaigns and other activations.
These materials have started to be used by union staff, in events such as Elections Results night and Candidate Question time, we also had them all on display in the What's Occuring Fayre's for St David's Day.
I've been supporting Costcutter the student union on campus shop to increase it's presence on campus and increase profit / awarenss for students.

Motion : Genocide and Apartheid Off - Campus

Objectives : To complete the motion in full and ammended.

Identified Actions:

Contact Senior Leadership team of Swansea University.
Communicate a response to student body.
Continue to support and represent the students.

Progress So Far:

April 2025 - Contacted the University with the resolves of the motions.
June 2025 - Written responses recieved from the university and proceeded further discussions.
October 2025 - Final response has been reviewed and approved by University Senior Leadership Team and Union.
November 2025 - Response shared with proposers.

Measures of Success:

University responding to the resolutions of the motion.
Union fufilled with the response to the motion.

SHAG Week

The goal of SHAG (Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance) Week, which will take place multiple times throughout the academic year, is to promote sexual health, wellbeing, and informed decision-making among students. The campaign aims to raise awareness of safe sex practices, encourage STI testing, and foster open, stigma-free conversations around consent, contraception, and healthy relationships.

Planned Actions

Termly Campaign Weeks: Each term will feature a dedicated SHAG Week, including pop-up stalls on both campuses. These stalls will provide free sexual health products (e.g., condoms, lubricant, STI testing kits) alongside educational leaflets and resources.

Social Media Campaign: A coordinated digital campaign will run across the Students’ Union platforms, engaging students with a mix of videos, infographics, and static posts designed to educate and spark discussion.

Awareness of Support Services: The campaign will highlight free on-campus sexual health services and promote the support available at Singleton Hospital Clinic.

Swipe Right Night: Following its success last year, Swipe Right Night will return for a second year as a key engagement event within the campaign.

Measures of Success

Distribution Impact: Monitoring the number of information packs and sexual health products distributed through campus stalls.

Digital Engagement: Analysing cross-platform performance of SHAG Week content posted on the SUSU President and Swansea Students’ Union accounts.

Year-on-Year Comparison: Comparing campaign data against results from the previous academic year to identify improvements in reach, engagement, and impact.

Progress to Date - August

The initial order of sexual health products has been placed and is currently en route to the Students’ Union.

Campaign week dates for the academic year have been confirmed and scheduled.

Progress to Date - Competed - October

70,000 views across @SUSUPresident and @swanseasu raising awareness for sexual health and awareness.
600+ sexual health packs (with condoms, std kits, pregnancy tests, lube, and information packets) given out across Singleton Campus.
Boxes of sexual health products now available in JC's, Advice and Support Centre, Y Twyni ( Bay Campus ) and all SU office's.
We are hoping to replicate a pop up in second semester on Singleton and Bay Campus to share out all sexual health packs.
There is sexual health drop in's at the end of each Month on Tuesday's in the Advice and Support Centre ( Singleton) and Y Twyni ( Bay).
In JC's bar and Student Union Office's we now have pick up points which students can now help themselves!

Union Welsh Language Policy

In my year as Welsh Affairs Officer the Union revised the Welsh Language Policy, this policy was implemented to promote and raise awareness in the Union of the language. In the policy it aims:

Objectives

The Welsh Language Policy of the Students’ Union is designed to ensure that the Union reflects and promotes the bilingual nature of Wales. Its aims are to:

Increase the visibility and accessibility of Welsh across Union activities, services, and communications.

Support and encourage students to engage with the Union in both Welsh and English.

Comply with relevant Welsh language legislation and commitments, ensuring inclusivity and equality for Welsh speakers.

Promote and celebrate Welsh culture, heritage, and identity within the student community.

Progress So Far

Policy revised to reflect updated commitments to bilingualism and inclusivity.

Initial training opportunities identified for staff to improve awareness and confidence in using Welsh.

Core Union communications reviewed to ensure bilingual provision is being consistently delivered.

Engagement with Welsh-speaking student groups to gather feedback on key priorities.

Planned Actions

Implementation of Bilingual Communications: Ensure key digital and print communications are made available in both Welsh and English, with consistent quality and visibility.

Staff Development: Deliver Welsh language awareness training for staff and explore opportunities for Welsh learning support.

Student Engagement: Work with Welsh-speaking societies and cultural groups to promote events, campaigns, and initiatives that celebrate Welsh language and culture.

Monitoring & Review: Establish clear reporting structures to monitor compliance with the policy and adjust based on student/staff feedback.

Measures of Success

Increased availability and visibility of bilingual materials across Union channels.

Uptake of Welsh language training by Union staff.

Progress so far:

The policy has been esculated to Senior Management Team, to review and implement within the annual business of the Union.
The Welsh Affairs Officer will now be taking charge on future policy implementations.