The Student Equality Network is a Union-supported, student-run group passionate about promoting equality at Surrey. The Network focuses on creating change, celebrating diversity and connecting students, and is led by six paid, part-time student leaders. Whether you attend our meetings, contribute to our campaigns and projects, or come along to our events, you are part of the change. Thank you for being involved! Find out more about what the Network has been up to this semester below: 

The Network: 

Following our foundation from January- June 2025, this semester is the start of our first official year of the Network. Our main Network meeting is held on the first Wednesday of the month and is run by Jason Steggall- our 2025-2026 Network Chair. Our Communications Officer is Chelsea Seweje. 

Semester 1: This semester has been used to build up student engagement, increase presence across campus and online and get our Network Leaders settled in their roles. We have introduced an Action Log to ensure accountability for issues raised, and an Anonymous Feedback form following interest from our members. The Network have been very involved with different campaigns in collaboration with the wider Union and University. The Network also had a stall at the library, introduced hybrid meetings, introduced volunteering hours for attending meetings/events, increased Instagram followers by almost 50% and attended several senior meetings including the University's EDI Forum and Race Equality Charter. 

Semester 2: We have lots of exciting ideas for Semester 2, including a range of events for ReFreshers Week, more involvement in Union campaigns and more targeted Network meetings that focus on individual schools after identifying a knowledge gap between them. We also aim to strengthen collaboration with clubs, societies and Union Zones. Building engagement is key. 

International Students Subnetwork

Our International Students meeting is held on the second Wednesday of the month and is run by Marc Muller- our 2025-2026 International Students Subnetwork Leader.

Semester 1: This semester we had two meetings with the themes ‘Welcome!’ and ‘Resources & Support’ which were attended by students and relevant staff.  We hosted several dedicated events across the semester including:

• Make a Postcard Event with International Engagement 
• International Student’s Day Celebration with International Advice in the Hive 
• International Student Advice Drop Ins in with Support Zone at Stag Hill and Manor Park Hives
• International Karaoke at the Front Room
• A Library Stall for International Student's Day

Semester 2: We are currently working at increasing our presence across the University to make people aware of this subnetwork including posters, more events at the start of the semester and more social media presence. Following feedback, potential themes for Semester 2 meetings include Employability, How to get Involved and Wellbeing & Mental Health. We are also looking at increasing our My Lived Experience content by our International Students, offering more paid opportunities to get involved. We are also excited to be involved in One World Week taking place in March. 

Race Equality Subnetwork 

Our Race Equality Subnetwork meeting is held on the third Wednesday of the month and is run by Rida Haider Naz our 2025-2026 Race Equality Subnetwork Leader.

Semester 1: The Network worked with the wider Union and University to help curate the calendar of events for Black History Month. Network events included the library curator project, film analysis workshop and provided support to ACS’ Braiding Workshop. The Network also provided funding to support the Activity Zone’s launch of the Black Sports Collective project.

This subnetwork had two targeted meetings this semester, with themes based on student feedback. This was looking at the Black and Asian student experience in October and November respectively. We had conversations about racial representations in university courses, like in STEM, law, etc. and had great discussions with attending staff members including the Wellbeing team, Future Leaders, SEED Network and Surrey Black Scholars. 

Further, this semester we have launched the #MyNameIs campaign. This was initially created by the Race Equality Matters organisation looking at the importance of correct pronunciation of people’s names. A blog on the Subnetwork leader Rida’s experience is up: The Power of a Name: Why Saying it Right Matters. It navigates her experience with navigating mispronunciation, stereotypes and ultimately the importance of your name and its proper pronunciation. Get involved with this campaign here. 

The subnetwork also contacted Surrey Scandal’s social media page on behalf of the Network, who shared a resource outlining the report and the support services available at Surrey for situations where a post, comment or interaction may have crossed a line.

Semester 2: We are excited to build on the #MyNameIs Campaign including hosting a workshop, developing video content and written lived experience content surrounding this campaign. We have been in contact with Race Equality matters for ideas and support. We are also looking at collaborating with the University's SEED Network. We want to take a more focused look at upcoming campaigns (eg Women’s History Month or LGBTQ+ History Month) and explore how race and racial experiences fit into these conversations.

Disability & Neurodiversity Subnetwork

Our Disability & Neurodiversity meeting is held on the fourth Wednesday of the month and is run by Ellica Akbarzadeh- our 2025-2026 Disability & Neurodiversity Subnetwork Leader.

Semester 1: This semester, we held two meetings with themes 'Resources & Support' and 'Employability'. Both meetings led to really positive discussions around reasonable adjustments, how to effectively use Surrey’s Careers Service, and how events like the Careers Fair and Freshers’ Fair can be made more accessible for students.

The subnetwork merged with the University’s Disability & Accessibility group. With representatives from Estates and Student Experience now attending, we hope this will created a stronger route to report issues directly to the relevant teams and help hold them accountable.

We celebrated Disability & Neurodiversity Awareness Month and co-led the campaign alongside the University. This included a month-long Curator Project with the Library, several creative sessions with the Support Zone and ThriveWell, dog therapy, a dedicated library stall, an event with Future Leaders for students with a physical disability- and more! Ellica also organised and led a Navigating Late ADHD Diagnosis: Lunch & Learn, which was attended by around 25 staff and students and received fantastic feedback. As part of the campaign, we collaborated with Stag Radio on a blog sharing their members’ lived experiences: Stag Radio x Student Equality Network: Disability & Neurodiversity Awareness Month

Semester 2: For next semester's sessions, we want to continue the great conversations and will start with our February theme of 'Accessibility at Surrey'. This will be an open session to all students and staff to raise comments and concerns about accessibility across campus. This information will then be used in a more dedicated  follow up Focus Group with AccessAble who we are supporting with developing their campus guides. We also plan to meet with the Accommodation team and look at accessibility and accommodation on campus, and potentially set up focus groups too. 

We already are planning several new events such as a working with SSP to host Wheelchair Tennis taster sessions, Lunch & Learns with different themes such as physical disability and hearing loss, and more events based on student ideas and feedback. 

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How To Get Involved:

Join the Network: Click here to sign up!

Follow us on Instagram: @surreyequalitynetwork

Submit any request/feedback: Anonymous Feedback Form

Contact the Team: v.wiltshire@surrey.ac.uk