Leeds Met Students’ Union is particularly proud of the results and outcomes generated by our brilliant Equality and Diversity team. Individually and collectively they have initiated an unrivalled programme of events, partnerships and initiatives that further seek to build on the wonderful legacy inherited by their predecessors. Biggest achievements include; the newly formed disabled student’s network (and the influence they have already achieved within the University), the Union has built stronger relationships with key community partners leading to even more influenced and student leadership on critical events such as Reclaim the night, Leeds Pride, Lady Fest, Young authors, Global Café, and many more significant community events. The team have established respectful relationships with surrounding unions and work tirelessly to ensure further and higher education within Leeds, works towards a city which champions liberation and welcomes diversity.

The E&D Sub-Committee have battled to keep disproportionately affected groups at the forefront of local campaigns, and have attended a roundtable event with the newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire.

Leeds Met’s Women’s Network has been particularly active; the women’s officer has led on a number of successful campaigns including the “I need feminism because” campaign which aimed to empower women to run in the Union elections. As a result of her efforts 57% of election candidates this year were women and the officers elected are 64% female, including electing a female President. On campus she ran Women’s Week, featuring an event sponsoring 10 women students in a media internship. She has also begun a “consent is sexy” campaign. Additionally the Women’s Officer has been extremely active in the community, working alongside Leeds Feminist Network to actively organise and promote Reclaim the Night Leeds which was attended by 100+ women and included local women’s support groups. The Women’s Network has also been involved in LadyFest Leeds, Knowledge Leeds’ anti-rape poster in Hyde Park, and other projects that benefit women at LMSU and beyond.

The election of our first ever paid BME Officer delivered improved engagement of BME students with the Union, and created a strong network to support the re-establishment of the African-Caribbean Society. The organisation of multi-cultural events ; poetry evenings have united students with local community groups including Leeds Young Authors, and Envision to raise the profile of social action, and issues affecting local young people. These events have proved to be hubs for intersectional liberation, encouraging students and young people to engage with activism and campaigning at grassroots level.

The International officer has built a strong relationship with the University and feeds back suggestions for improvements to the International office. This system has been fruitful in making payments easier and cheaper for international students through sending out specific information to specific nationalities before arrival. Every week Global Café has provided a place for International students to share their culture, and socialize with, and learn from their peers. Socials have been the most important development this year; bringing students together and pushing forward their issues. The International Students’ Officer has followed up cases and ensured students are given the support they need from tutors, administrators or the Student’s Union. The International Students’ group now holds volunteering events in the local community, gathering students and engaging primary schools in Cultural development.

50% of the elected officers at Leeds Met SU are disabled, and the Disabled Students’ Officer has worked tirelessly on improving the recognition of hidden disabilities. The Stamp out the Stigma campaign has aimed to eradicate negative attitudes around mental health, and raise the profile of the counselling services available. The initiation of Mind Hub has seen ever-increasing disabled and non-disabled students learn about mental health, allowing them to be more aware and sensitive towards disabled students. The Disabled Students’ Network has grown in numbers by 300%, and the Disabled Students’ Officers’ blog on Autism Awareness has increased visibility and understanding around campus, and on various online media.

The LGBTQ campaign at Leeds Met has gone from strength to strength over the last two years; developing Union policy on self-definition of non-binary genders and gender neutral toilets. The first of the GNTs has been successfully installed on campus and the LGBTQ campaign is continuing work in this area. The LGBTQ Officer sits on the planning and advisory committee for Leeds Pride has worked on development of an NHS commissioned LGB specific health survey for the local area, and has engaged with local charities for LGBT specific health and sexual health needs. LGBT history month, Trans Day of Remembrance, and lobbying local MPs to come out for equal marriage have been highlights of the campaign. The improvement of LGBTQ staff and student relationships is a crucial achievement, and Leeds Met continues to present a progressive and diverse approach to liberation issues.

Leeds Met Students’ Union has written and submitted policies for liberation conferences; the Women’s Network submitted ‘Absorb the tax on Sanitary Products’, ‘Stop the Slut Dropping’ and ‘Keep UniLad off our Campuses’ to Women’s Conference 2013, all of which were successfully passed into policy. The Disabled Students’ Network submitted a motion entitled ‘Respect for Disabled Students’ to Disabled students conference, which passed into NUS policy and has been instrumental in enabling Disabled Students on campus to opt in and out of the support they were previously required to accept as standard. The officers were also active campaign members for motion 701 at National Conference.

The achievements of the E&D sub-committee, including winning the award for HE Union of the Year at Disabled Students’ Conference, have only been possible because of the development of the part time paid roles. The executive officer roles currently have 40% defining as LGBTQ. The increase in participation in liberation campaigns at Leeds Met Students’ Union has been significant, creating dedicated activists on campus, and instilling a passion for liberation within Leeds Metropolitan University. The success of the part-time roles has encouraged other local Unions to consider a similar approach on their own campuses; a move actively supported and championed by Leeds Met Students’ Union. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l7iEaXuCYs