As autumn settles in and Halloween creeps closer, it's the perfect moment to reflect on Jay's first year as your Student President.

It's been a year packed with action, progress, and a few battles against metaphorical monsters - from tricky digital algorithms to tangled University policies.

We've picked 13 spooktacular highlights that showcase the impact of student leadership and we're proud to share them with you.

🎃 No Tricks, Just Treats

Only the best bits from a year of student-powered change!

Presenting to the Board of Directors: Your Voice at the Top Table

One of the standout moments this year? Presenting directly to the University's Board of Directors and making sure your voice was front and centre. I shared what students really think - what's working, what needs fixing, and how the University can do better.

This wasn't just a presentation. It was a statement: student perspectives matter, and they're shaping decisions at the highest level.

👻 No tricks—just real influence, powered by you.

Townhalls: Students at the heart of the conversation

This year we launched Town Halls to keep the conversation flowing. These spaces enable students to get answers directly from senior leadership. After our first Executive Townhall, we summoned another focused on the Student Experience Team, tackling the everyday issues that shape your student life.

These events weren't just meetings, they were moments to connect and start to bridge the gap between lived student experiences and decision-making.

🦇 No cobwebs here—just clear, open dialogue that puts students front and centre.

Food Provision: Spells for saving and sustaining

Your responses to the cost-of-living survey cast a clear message - affordable, nutritious food matters.

In October, after lobbying and working closely with the University, we conjured up a pilot scheme on two campuses, making it easier for student to eat well, save money, and stay energised for learning.

This is just the beginning. With your feedback, we're aiming to roll it out across all campuses, turning this pilot into a full-blown potion for student wellbeing.

🕸️ No tricks—just tasty, budget-friendly treats that fuel your studies.

Turnitin AI Checker: Slaying the Algorithm

After months of relentless lobbying, we finally got the University to switch off the Turnitin AI Detector—a tool that unfairly flagged students’ work and cast doubt over genuine effort. We stood firm in our belief that academic judgement should rest with humans, not machines.

This is a huge win for fairness, trust, and student voice. You spoke up, we took action, and together we’ve restored confidence in the assessment process.

🕯️ No tricks—just a victory for justice, powered by student-led change.

No Detriment Policy: Shielding Students from the Unexpected

This year, we summoned something powerful—a No Detriment Policy that now protects students from circumstances beyond their control. Whether it’s tech gremlins, unexpected delays, or real-life curveballs, your situation will be considered automatically, without needing to fight for fairness.

This is a huge win for transparency, trust, and student wellbeing. By making this a priority, we’ve cast a protective charm over your academic journey.

🕸️ No tricks—just a fairer, more supportive system that’s got your back.

Graduation: A Spellbinding Celebration of Success

Graduation is always one of the most magical moments of the year. Hearing graduates say my speech resonated with them made the celebration even more meaningful—and reminded me just how far students have come.

This isn’t just a ceremony. It’s a celebration of perseverance, progress, and the power of student achievement. It’s a moment to honour your journey and spark confidence for whatever comes next.

🧙‍♀️ No tricks—just proud cheers, flying caps, and a future full of possibility.

Berlin Start Smart: A Bewitching Welcome for International Students

This year, I had the privilege of flying out to Berlin to join the first-ever Start Smart induction—welcoming new international students as they began their journey. It was a brilliant chance to connect, listen, and celebrate the start of something special.

Start Smart is just the beginning. With more initiatives brewing for Berlin, it’s exciting to see the University investing in the campus and its community.

🕸️ No tricks—just a warm welcome, new friendships, and a spell of support to kick off your student adventure.

Meeting the Mayor: Casting Influence Beyond Campus

Through the Greater Manchester Student Partnership, I was invited to meet the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham—a chance to raise issues that matter most to students, like transport and accessibility.

Opportunities like this show that student voices don’t just echo in lecture halls—they can shape decisions across the city. I’m looking forward to seeing how this meeting helps drive change for our community.

🕷️ No tricks—just real influence, powered by student leadership.

Student Parent Survey: Shining a Light on Hidden Heroes

This year, we launched the Student Parent Survey to shine a light on the experiences of students juggling study and family life. These stories matter—and they deserve to be heard, recognised, and supported.

Your input will help shape the support and services that student parents need most. If you’re balancing books and bedtime stories, now’s your chance to speak up and help improve the experience for others like you.

🕸️ No tricks—just a chance to turn lived experience into lasting change.

London Student Partnership: Raising Voices Across the Capital

Representing Arden in the London Student Partnership has been a key part of my year. Alongside students from other universities, we’ve been lobbying local government on the issues that matter most—housing, safety, and transport.

This is student power in action. Together, we’re making sure your voice echoes through City Hall and beyond, shaping a safer, fairer, and more connected London for all students.

🎃 No tricks—just collective action casting real influence across the capital.

Campus Tours: Face-to-Face with Student Voices

One of the most rewarding parts of my role has been visiting campuses across the country—meeting students face-to-face, hearing your concerns, and making sure your voices are heard loud and clear.

Each visit helps me advocate more effectively, turning conversations into action. Nottingham is next on the map, and I can’t wait to meet more of you and keep the dialogue flowing.

🕷️ No tricks—just real conversations, real connections, and a commitment to student-led change.

New Officer Structure: More Leaders, More Magic

We’re conjuring up a new era of student leadership. For the first time, your Students’ Association will have two Vice Presidents alongside the President—each focused on what matters most to you: Education and Student Needs.

More leaders means more voices, more action, and stronger support across the board. It’s a powerful step towards making sure every student is heard, represented, and empowered.

🎃 No tricks—just a leadership structure designed to cast real impact.

Student Voice Consultations: Shaping the Future Together

Through the Student Voice project, we’ve been gathering insights from students across campuses—discussing how your Students’ Association should operate, from governance to priorities.

Your feedback is already casting change. It’s helping us evolve into an organisation that truly reflects the student community—one that listens, adapts, and leads with you at the centre.

🕯️ No tricks—just transformation powered by your voice.