Widening Participation Officer

Mel Babakhanlou (She/Her)

Hi! I’m Mel (she/her), a 4th-year Psychology student, and I’m standing for Widening Participation Officer.

As an estranged student myself, widening participation is something that matters personally to me. Getting into university is only one part of the experience; students from widening access backgrounds can still face financial pressure, limited support networks, and practical barriers that make university life harder.

If elected, I will prioritise three areas. First, making support easier to access by pushing for clearer information around financial help, wellbeing services and support for carers, care-experienced, estranged and mature students. Second, improving how students can raise concerns, so they are not left chasing answers or unsure who to contact when they need help. Third, making sure widening participation students are represented where decisions are being made, by bringing their concerns directly to the SRC, VP Student Support and relevant University committees.

Students from widening access backgrounds deserve to feel supported throughout their whole university experience, not just when they first arrive. I want to be a visible and approachable representative who listens to students, raises their concerns and makes sure their voices are heard.

 

Amy Crowder (She/Her)

Hi, my name is Amy, a 4th year Politics and Social Public Policy student who is running for the position of Widening Participation Officer.

Throughout my time at university I have been able to better understand the variety of challenges which people face throughout their time studying. It is clear that not everyone has the same experience at university, with various people facing different obstacles which can prevent them from being able to get involved in certain aspects of University life.

I believe that connecting and meeting with different people is a vital part of the university experience and that this opportunity should be extended to all students within the university, regardless of their background

If I am elected I will…

• Ensure there are accessible opportunities for people to become involved at the university without coinciding with other responsibilities and commitments students have outside university life
• Ensure that the experiences of all students are represented and advocated for
• Raise awareness of the mental health facilities offered by the SRC - physical and mental well-being are important for all student life and should be accessible to all students

I hope you consider me for your Widening Participation Officer!

 

Amyleigh Grove (She/They)

My name is Amyleigh Grove and I’m running to be your Widening Participation Officer!

University should be a place where your knowledge and skills shine, not where your background or circumstances dictate your level of achievement.

If elected I will aim to:

Break Down Barriers

Widening participation should not be ignored, I will work to highlight and address the barriers students can encounter during their studies, from accessibility and financial pressures to academic and social challenges.

Provide a Sense of Community and Belonging

It’s good to know that you’re not alone, it can be hard to form a community of other students that have similar circumstances to you. I’d do my best to ensure that there’s ample opportunities to meet others through social events throughout the year. Finding a community can be difficult so I’d do my best to support people throughout my time as the representative.

Bring Awareness

As Widening Participation Offer, I want to ensure every student, regardless of background or circumstances is represented and feels supported throughout their time at university and help students be aware of support that is available to them such as financial, academic, and wellbeing support through the different services the university offers.

 

Lauren Rennie (She/They)

Hello! My name is Lauren, and I am a 4th year Psychology student. The Widening Participation Officer position means a lot to me. As a carer, I feel I have insight into the struggles that come with a WP background. All too often, students can slip through the gaps and find themselves isolated from other students and overwhelmed by academic expectations and workload. Being able to submit an extension request on an

assignment simply isn’t enough. WP students must have a safety net and actionable support in place.

I aim to:

• Ensure each WP student has a designated, visible contact to support them, from freshers all the way to their final year
• Build community by holding regular, free and accessible events
• Increase awareness of potential disadvantages WP students may experience across all departments and subject areas to ensure uniform responses
• Engage with WP students regularly, through both in-person and online formats to understand what works and what needs to change

Being a student is already hard enough, and WP students face unique additional challenges. It would be an honour to represent WP students, and I will fight to make the necessary changes to level the playing field. Thank you.

 

Anya Sidat (She/Her) 

Hi, I’m Anya, a Politics and Sociology student, and I’m running for Widening Participation Officer because I want every student to get the most out of university. 

MY PLAN

• Make support easier to find by creating a guide to financial, accommodation, academic and wellbeing support.
• Make student life more accessible by pushing for affordable access to societies, sport and extracurricular activities, because fun matters too.
• Create more opportunities to connect through support groups and social events.
• Listen to students through surveys and focus groups, making sure your voices shape my work.
• Improve mental health support by pushing for support that recognises the different experiences widening participation students face.

WHY VOTE FOR ME

As a care-experienced and estranged student from a working-class background, I understand that the barriers some students face can make it harder to feel a sense of belonging and fully enjoy university.

I’ll bring my own experience to the role, but most importantly, I’ll listen to your voices and use them to push for meaningful change. I want widening participation students to be represented, heard and able to participate fully in university life.

 

Kaz Sepenoo (She/Her) 

Widening participation students come to Glasgow with the ambition, intellect, and perspective to excel. University should be academically challenging, but finding the right support, building connections, and having your voice heard shouldn't feel like an uphill battle.

Widening participation is about practical representation, strong peer networks, and fair access to everything this university offers. It is about ensuring every student can get the most out of their degree with confidence.

As your Widening Participation Officer, I will focus on:

• Direct Representation: Partnering with the VP Student Support, Welfare officers, and Council to ensure university decisions reflect the day-to-day realities of carers, mature, estranged, care-experienced, and low-income students.
• Student-Led Community: Creating informal, welcoming spaces where WP students can meet across subjects and year groups, exchange practical advice on navigating university life, and build lasting peer support.
• Clearer Support: Working with university services to ensure academic workshops, financial guidance, and career development programmes are well signposted, approachable, and genuinely accessible.

Students from widening access backgrounds make up a vital part of the student body. I will be an approachable, reliable advocate ensuring our community is heard, supported, and valued on Council.