Looking for Advice and Support as you navigate your time at Surrey? The Support Zone have got you. If things feel a little overwhelming or you don’t know where to turn, we have the friendliest team of advisors on-hand to help. We’re also here if you want to help other students too, through our peer-support services. We care about the things you care about and are here to stand in your corner when you need it most.
Liam White
VP Support
Pronouns: He/Him
I lead the Support Zone, which is all about supporting your well being throughout your journey at Surrey. I lead on support campaigns, work alongside our student support services (Nightline, Student Minds, and Welfare Watch), and make sure that students’ well being is considered by University Administration.
I’m a Psychology graduate, though I spent most of my time here a the Union! I’ve been in the Nightline committee, a member of staff at our nightclub Rubix, and an avid dancer (and President!) of Ballroom and Latin Dance Club. Supporting others and seeing them succeed has been the best part of my Surrey experience, so I’d love to chat to see how we can better support our community.
Manifesto
3 Priorities for the Year
- Review the financial support available to students, developing it to be accessible and fit-for-purpose
- Work directly with student communities, holding the University accountable to addressing issues of inclusivity and accessibility
- Empower students to support themselves by destigmatising support services, helping students to support each other through individual training
My Favourite Surrey Students Union Event
I can’t pick just one! For Support, SHAG (Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance) days are always great! Handing out fun freebies and Fetish Nights are always something to enjoy, and are a great way to combine education and fun!
Strictly Come Surrey 2023 was also a dream for me, bringing BLDC and USSU to the student community in one night of spectacular dancing! It was amazing to see how quickly both students and staff can pick up a new skill: if you check out the video on YouTube, you might even spot a certain Sabb try his hand at devising some Quickstep!
If you could give advice to a new student what would it be?
Get involved! As much as I love Psychology, I don’t really remember my lectures or workshops. I remember the friendships and skills I got through volunteering, the thrill of dancing at BLDC, and all the fun of Rubix! Volunteering at the Union the best thing I’ve done here, so can’t recommend it enough!
Your Part Time Officers
Zoe Powell
Part Time Officer – Support Zone
Pronouns: She/Her
I am here to provide support and make your time at the university the best it can be. I aim to encourage the university to provide support and awareness of substance abuse and addiction, as well as having a new focus on hazing and peer pressure in university societies.
My name is Zoë and I’m a second year adult nurse. On my course placements, I have personally witnessed the devastating effects of drug and alcohol abuse and it inspired me to begin a new initiative at this university to keep as many of these preventable situations from occurring in the future.
I aim for students to be able to enjoy themselves, safely and within their own limits, while knowing help will always be given at Surrey to those who ask (A. Dumbledore, 1998)
Also I love cats, books and coffee 🙂
Also I love cats, books and coffee 🙂
Manifesto
3 Priorities for the Year
- Outline a solid plan for a new university initiative focusing on substance abuse and addiction support.
- Engage with societies and team surrey to provide education on hazing and initiation games.
- Provide awareness on external charities and programmes to help students recovering from addiction
My Favourite Surrey Students Union Event
I love freefest, it’s a great way to start off the year while it still warm out and light at 8pm. I have great memories of enjoying the student band’s performances, eating Greek food, and having a vodka cranberry!
If you had advice to a new student what would it be?
Get involved! Join a society or a society committee to meet likeminded people and make lots of new friends. Being away from home for the first time can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. Push yourself to get out there and engage with new people.
Frey Turner
Part Time Officer – Support Zone
Pronouns: They/He
Hello! I’m a Music and Sound Recording final year student, and I’m here as part of the Zone to ensure we can support you with your wellbeing during your time at Surrey, as well as with your studies. My personal interests are mental health service provision and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity, but I am here to meet your needs – so please reach out to me with any suggestions or requests!
Manifesto
3 Priorities for the Year
- Accessibility of support services.
- Ensuring services meet the specific needs of marginalised communities.
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Improving accountability and thoroughness of services, responding to feedback from students and staff.
My Favourite Surrey Students Union Event
Black History Month and LGBT+ History Month! I love the events the union and individual societies host during these months, the reading lists provided by the library, and how many opportunities there are to learn about these critically important histories.
If you had advice to a new student what would it be?
Go easy on yourself as you’re adjusting to uni life! There are so many changes happening, it can be a really exciting time but also presents difficulties for many people. There are many different places to access support on campus or in the community, but also reach out to those around you – many people struggle with loneliness in university, and I found acknowledging it with friends to be really helpful – it also brought us closer together!
Isobel Adamyk
Part Time Officer – Support Zone
Pronouns: She/Her
As part of the Support Zone, I am here to make your time at university the best it can be and make sure you are supported with your studies and your personal life. Whether this involves raising mental health awareness, increasing accessibility or anything else you may need, myself and the Support Zone are here for all students and are always happy to talk to you about whatever we can do to help.
I am a PhD student working at the Surrey Space Centre, but I’ve been at the University for over 6 years and am dedicated to improving student life as much as possible. As a student with both physical and mental health conditions, I understand the importance of having someone fighting on your side, and it’s my goal to be that person for any student who needs it over the next year.
Manifesto
3 Priorities for the Year
- To improve accessibility awareness among students and faculty members.
- Encourage more training for faculty members in matters of disability and neurodiversity.
- Set up peer support schemes within societies and academic departments.
My Favourite Surrey Students Union Event
SHAG week! Destigmatising sex and sexual health is such an important part of maintaining an open minded, healthy and empowered student body.
If you had advice to a new student what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! A lot of new students can be shy about approaching someone if they’re experiencing a problem, but the Students’ Union, the Centre for Wellbeing, the Disability and Neurodiversity team as well as many other services on campus are all very welcoming and are great at supporting students who may be having a hard time. We all want to help you as much as we can, so please do drop us an email and we will make sure you get the support you need.
Support Zone Highlights
What’s On
5th Best Students’ Union in the UK
10 July 2024
We are thrilled to announce we have risen to 5th best Students’ Union in the National Student Survey (NSS) results…
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Financial Resilience Plan Policy – Passed
24 April 2024
On 16 April Union Forum convened, where members of the officer team were joined by students to discuss the Union’s…
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Annual Members Meeting (AMM) Papers Online
18 April 2024
The Students’ Union Annual Members Meeting (AMM) is due to take place on Thursday 2nd May from 19:30 – 20:00 online via…
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