WP Part time Officer Manifesto FINAL (PDF)

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Charlie Deeks for Widening Participation Officer!

Widening Participation is a big issue in the higher education sector as a whole, and it is especially
important at the University of Bristol. The University consistently ranks among the least
educationally representative universities in the UK. Many students, especially those from areas of
low participation and lower income families, face significant barriers to higher education. It is vital
for a university like ours to embrace schemes that aim to address these barriers and help these
students into higher education.

Should I be elected, there are three main things, among many, that I would do to promote
Widening Participation and tackle educational inequalities. They are:

- Ensure that all current students from WP backgrounds are aware of the support that they
are entitled to. There are many options available, from bursaries, grants, and awards, and I
would make sure that these are promoted to the relevant students whenever possible.

- Expand understanding of Widening Participation among students and staff within the
University. Both students and staff are vital to the success of WP initiatives and schemes. As
Widening Participation Officer, I would stress the important nature of fair access to higher
education and point out ways in which both students and staff can be involved with combating
some of the existing inequalities.

- Work with Bristol SU to help ensure Widening Participation issues are being considered
in their work. I would ensure that the Union is mindful of issues that WP students might face in
everyday student life. One example may be helping students to pursue their sporting interests,
regardless of the financial barriers that might be present.

I firmly believe that I am a great candidate for this role. I have a lot of experience in Widening
Participation, including:

- I am a student that once benefitted from Widening Participation schemes such as
AimHigher and Sutton Trust Summer Schools. I understand first-hand the difficulties that
students from similar backgrounds face and I also know the vital importance that these schemes
play in getting into University.

- I have worked with the University’s Widening Participation office for three years - working
on the last three Sutton Trust summer schools, representing the University at careers fairs,
helping hundreds of students through the UCAS process, and much more.

- I have organised and led revision sessions and run an e-mentoring scheme for students
that have attended the University’s existing widening participation schemes, to help give
them the academic push to attend the best Universities that they can. I also helped set up a
Primary Outreach team, who provide a very basic introduction to University aimed at primary
schools in low-participation areas.

- I also study Widening Participation academically - my undergraduate dissertation focused on
the inequalities apparent in the UCAS process, and I am now an Educational Research masters
student, where I hope to research the impact of WP schemes in more depth.
I truly love Widening Participation, and the values for which it stands - fairness, understanding and
equality. I guarantee that if I am elected, I will work tirelessly to further the cause of Widening
Participation - something that I have done for the last three years, and hope to do for many years
to come.