Vice President Welfare

Vice President Welfare

Abigail Vian

The Welfare Officer works to provide support and representation for all Swansea students, and often focuses on issues regarding housing, mental and physical health, wellbeing, liberation, and safety. The Welfare Officer also works to ensure that student concerns are addressed effectively, and that the voices and experiences of students are accurately represented and advocated for.

Abigail was born and raised in South Africa and spent her childhood moving around the world. Having lived in England, Malaysia, the United States, and now Wales, Abigail has lots of experience interacting with people from different countries, cultures, and experiences. As Welfare Officer, this will help her to understand the intersection of different factors for students in accessing support, as well as their wider university experience. Abigail moved to Swansea in 2023 to study Criminology and Psychology. Throughout her time at Swansea, she was an academic rep for the School of Psychology and gained valuable experience volunteering with Swansea Women’s Aid and interning with Barod. As an international student, she is passionate about supporting other international students, and understands the financial, emotional, and legal pressures that they experience. Abigail is kind, caring, and always happy to help!

From Your Officer

Abigail Vian

“Hi there! My name is Abigail, and I am so excited to be working as Welfare Officer for 2026/2027! I am passionate about supporting students and making sure that all students feel welcome at Swansea! Having spent my whole life moving around the world, I understand that everyone will have a different university experience based on their culture, personality, interests, and lived experiences, and I will work hard to advocate for all students. My goal is to be a friendly and approachable face that students feel comfortable coming to for support! To get in touch, use the link Support : Help Desk and submit a ticket!”

Roles and Responsibilities

Roles & Responsibilities

Welfare Officer

As a Welfare Officer, the primary responsibilities include leading welfare and liberation campaigns, addressing student issues such as housing, safety, and mental health, and promoting overall well-being and healthy living. This role is crucial in representing students' interests on welfare-related matters, ensuring their voices are heard, and their needs are met. Through proactive engagement and advocacy, the Welfare Officer works to create a supportive and inclusive environment, fostering a community where students can thrive both personally and academically.

What I'm Working On

Manifesto: Harm Reduction Campaign

The main objective of this campaign is to (1) educate students about substances and harm reduction measures to increase awareness, therefore enabling students to make informed decisions about their substance use, (2) provide increased support for students struggling with substance addiction, and making support more accessible, and (3) shift university policy from one of punishment and policing to one of support and compassion. Ultimately, this campaign aims to keep students safe while allowing them to also have fun!

Planned actions:

Social media campaign which includes links to online resources, support services, and opportunities for further education and engagement
Partnership with local organisations, such as Barod, which work to advocate for harm reduction in students
Campaign week which includes pop-up stalls, training sessions, and discussions

Motion- Halal Food Option

To enhance halal offerings, businesses should provide a diverse range of halal-certified options across various food categories, including hot meals, cold sandwiches, meal deal items, snacks, and groceries, while avoiding a narrow focus on specific ethnic cuisines. Preparation of halal and non-halal items must occur in a controlled environment to prevent cross-contamination, adhering to strict halal standards. Additionally, clear labeling and thoughtful arrangement of products are essential to ensure easy identification and access for customers seeking halal options.

Measurable of Success :

The Halal Food Option in the campus have been increased
The Halal Food Sign on food order screen have been improved

Progress so far:

Gained feedback from a Halal Food Focus Group
Communicated with relevant department on reviewing the current food option and sign policy
Have ensured there is Halal Food Option in both campus
The Time2Eat apps which provide order service in the Harbwr and Hideaway have updated Halal Food Option Sign.
The Swansea Uni Food have increased more Halal and vegan option for second semester

- This motion have officially closed for this year, the next officer will continue the work to improve student's life experience

Motion-Grants BN(O)visa Hong Kong Students Home Fees Status

The challenges faced by Hong Kong students holding British National (Overseas) (BNO) visas, launched in January 2021 to offer a citizenship pathway in response to China’s National Security Law. Despite being British citizens, these students are classified as international in Wales, facing higher fees and a five-year wait for home-fee status, unlike the three-year period in Scotland. This financial barrier hinders their academic and social engagement. BNO holders should have equal access to education as a reflection of Wales’ “nation of sanctuary” ethos. It resolves to advocate for home-fee status after three years, lobby for scholarships, job-matching, and career services at Swansea University, and engage with campaigns for fair treatment of BNO visa holders to support their integration and success.

Planned action:

1. Advocacy for offering more help to BN(O)visa Hong Kong Students such as offering scholarship

Measurable of Success:

1. NUS have aware of the issues

2.More direct help to BN(O)visa students

3. Grants BN(O)visa Hong Kong students home fee status

Progress so far:

A. Engaged with NUS and set up a campaign to urge MP to participate in a debate related with BNO visa community

B. Engaged with NUS Cymru president and it has been included in the manifesto to 2026 Senedd election

C.Reviewing the proposal of Scholarship design for BN(O) visa students

D.Engaging with BN(O)visa students in Swansea University

E.Communited with Member of Senedd and Memeber of Parliament

Motion - Lily's Day

In December 2016 Lily’s Jayne Summer, a political, philosophy and economy student of Swansea University who also a candidate for 2017 Swansea council election, died, her passing shocked the community, sparking concern and reflection on the safety of transgender individuals. To honor her legacy as a passionate advocate for social change and transgender rights, a group of Swansea University students initiated a motion to establish an annual "Lily’s Day" in her memory, fostering ongoing dialogue and action to ensure a more inclusive and secure environment for all.

Progress So Far:

Organized Trans and Non-binary Panel Discussion Sessions---This panel discussion session is going to discuss the safety challenges faced by transgender and non-binary individuals, including societal attitudes, access to healthcare, and legal protections.Educate attendees on trans and non-binary identities, rights, and the impact of policy decisions and to commemorate Lily Jayne Summers.
Created online media contents with 16.9k views and 290 likes

This motion has been closed for this academic year, the next officer will continue work on it

Mental Health and Well-being

2.Mental health and well-being

Enhance access to mental health resources and raise awareness of mental health issues by promoting initiatives like Movember and advocating for sexual health awareness.
Planned Actions:

Relaxation Activities - Offer free yoga sessions and other low-cost relaxation activities, using donated mats or spaces from the "free old stuff" campaign, to support students’ mental well-being and provide accessible stress-relief options.
Drug Harm Reduction Campaigns - Launch drug harm reduction campaigns to promote a healthy and safe lifestyle. Distribute free educational materials at campaign events, leveraging partnerships with health services to provide resources and reduce substance-related risks.
Knitting Study Aid, collaborate with Katie the Education Officer

Progress So Far:

A. Sexual Health Clinic Drop in Session

Collaborate with Swansea Bay University Health Board, provided monthly drop-in sessions in both campuses, with social media content promotion 12.6k views

B. SHAG week

Work with our president Carys, gave out 3 boxes of sexual health products in fresher fayre, information fayre and shag week pop up stall

C. Bubble days

Giving out 98 bubbles and positive potatoes to students to cheer them up for intense assessments and exams.

D. Basic Life Saving Awareness

i.Working on Restart a Heart Day with Saving lives Swansea, the educational videos collaborate with them gain over 16.6k views with 256 likes on instagram
ii.Traning Session for SU

E. Welfare Point

During the freshers event Bar War we set up a Welfare point on wind street to ensure students are with support when needed in wind street, we gave out 288 bottles of water in total.

F. White Ribbon Day

We gave out 300 white ribbons and had a pop up stall in singleton campus with PC Emma, the Women’s Officer had a pop up stall in Bay Campus to promote awareness on Anti gender and domestic violence.

G. Reclaim the night

We have 22 students attending the march which aim to raise awareness on Women night safety. And we gave out 30 panic buttons to students.
We have also created a social media content on promoting awareness with 38.7k views and 599 likes.

H. Meet with University Police Team

Met the University Police PC Emma to highlight some significant concerns of students

I. Safety Awareness Stall

Work with Carys, the President and South Wales police with this, giving out Reusable cup covers, Personal torches and Personal safety alarms on key rings.
Gained over 270 feedback with survey on understanding how SU can support student's safety in the future

J. Mental Health support suggestion plan

Submited a plan to Health Board Meeting and Awaiting for response

Inclusivity and Diversity

.Inclusivity and Diversity

Committed to fostering an inclusive campus environment where all students feel represented, supported, and empowered to have their voices heard. Recognizing the inspiring efforts of students actively organizing equality and accessibility campaigns, we pledge to provide robust support for these initiatives, ensuring they thrive and contribute to a more equitable and accessible university community for everyone.

Planned Actions:

Cultural Panel Discussion Sessions--- Breaking down the barriers among racial background, embrace the multi-identity and helps students understand different background easier
International Students Kareoke
Pizza and Politic session with B&G

Progress So Far:

A. International students night

Create a safe and comfy space for international students especially those who are in first year to meet more new friends, and celebrate their cultural identity
With 120 students from at least 20 different countries attending the night. The social media recap video gained 12.6k views and 202 likes, recap post gained 23.3k views with 206 likes on instagram.

B. Reviewing the food option

Getting feedback from different students group to understand how we could improve the university canteen options
Communicated with relevant departments to review the new menu
Apart from Halal Food option, successfully increased more food options that could fit its student's flavour with different preferences.
Online Content with an outcome of 7.6k views, 90 likes and 21 shares

C.Black history month Zine workshop

We held events in both the Bay and Singleton campus to celebrate Black history month.

D.Mid-Autumn festival

Create a social media contents to celebrate, with 8423 views

E.Attending to SheCanLead be SU representative guest speaker to empower young female

F. Engaged in with different cultural students group event

Diwali
ArabSoc Dinner Night

G. International Women's Day

Knitting X Equality round table session
As a speaker for Inspiration penal talk to share my story as an ypung female activist and student's leader
Period Simulation Stand

H.Senedd Election

Senedd Voter registration stalls at Bay and Singleton Campus, collaborate with NUS, TRU and UNISON

J.LGBTQ History Month

Online campaigns with history of LGBTQ+ and Waccking, Vouging, with an outcome of 6.4k views,118 likes,36 shares.

K.Lunar New Year Celebration

Online Content with an outcome of 8656 views, 96 likes and 8 shares