Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Emily Roberts, VP Education has been instrumental in establishing the Women Empowerment Network. Daniel Sanusi, VP Equality & Belonging has further developed the existing SWANN network. The purpose of these networks is to function as a community which empowers students to advocate and lobby for meaningful change, on and off campus- further challenging society norms. Networks are vital to comment on, monitor and evaluate the formulation, implementation and impact of university policies, action plans and strategies which may affect students.

UUSU Networks are communities based on mutual beliefs, interests and experiences. Our networks empower students to lobby for meaningful change, represent and uphold equality and advocate for student issues. Our networks bring together voices, inspire action and create impact.

The Women's Empowerment Network (WEN) is a community for our students who have a passion for gender equality, addressing misogyny and lobbying for issues raised by the membership. Through this network, membership can raise awareness of societal or localised issues, promote organisations working in this area and lobby for positive change. Any woman student/student who identifies as a woman at UU can be a member of the Women’s Empowerment Network. Any person of other gender identities is welcome to hold ally membership to the network. Membership of this network is free of charge and students can join at any point throughout the year.

SWANN stands for the ‘Students with Additional Needs Network,’ it is one of our networks that specifically aims to provide students with additional needs with support and guidance from their peers.

The network is completely student led and consists of three local campus committees (in Magee, Coleraine, and Belfast) which meet regularly to help enact change on a local and regional level.

VP Equality and Belonging, Daniel Sanusi, was recognised at the Advancing Race Equality Awards! Daniel took home awards in TWO categories: Young Leader, Advancing Racial Justice and Fairness

This recognition is a testament to his dedication to creating change and fostering inclusivity.

Thank you to Northwest Migrants Forum for holding these important awards and recognising the groups and individuals working to advance race equality.

UUSU attended Reclaim the Night Belfast & Foyle as well as the Pink Walk with Walkie Talkie Girlies in Belfast & the Rally for Women's Safety in Derry/Londonderry. We have been committed this year to standing up against gender based violence.

Tackling violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland: A students’ union response.

This charter is the first of its kind. A collective Students' Union response to the increase in violence against women and girls in NI, striving to address issues around misogyny, sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

These issues are impacting the wider community and so, we have posed a collective response based on our collective responsibility to address this serious problem.

In March UUSU came together to sign the Women's Charter, representing a commitment to action. This is a commitment to societal change, a commitment to our fight to end violence against women and girls.

UUSU were joined by local politicians Claire Hanna (MP), Diana Armstrong (MLA) and Connie Egan (MLA) who answered questions from our attendees and student members, recognising the need for change at all levels.

In the next few months the charter will be adopted by other Students' Union in Ireland rolled out by AMLÉ – Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn.

Key Principles
1. Students’ Unions will stand up and speak out on incidences of violence against women and girls. We will take responsibility for calling it out both as individual representatives and as organisations.
2. Students’ Unions will develop policies and practices that highlight and address the ongoing issues of Violence Against Women and Girls, discrimination, and inequality, ensuring such policies have achievable actions on how to combat these issues on their campuses.
3. Students’ Unions will take steps to actively involve women and girls in all aspects of Union life, from securing leadership roles, to holding council seats, to becoming academic reps, and being involved in societies/networks.
4. Students’ Unions will work to establish active bystander training schemes/programmes for all universities and colleges across Northern Ireland.
5. Through education, campaigns, and other work Students’ Unions will strive to reduce stereotypes, stigma and barriers for women and girls in Northern Ireland.

The Lighthouse Project is a collaboration between Foyle Search and Rescue and Danny Quigley which provides a central database of support services in the Derry city and district. The support services are advertised on their website: https://lighthouse.foylesearchandrescue. com/

Yellow stickers tapped by mobiles take the user straight to the website database. Connor O’Hagan, VP Sport & Welfare has been working with Foyle and Rescue to get these stickers installed throughout the Magee campus.

The promotional stickers have been installed in all Magee restrooms, changing rooms, library and noticeboards. Stickers will also soon be installed in the Duncreggan Student Village Accommodation. The Foyle & Rescue Service had an awareness stall at the Refreshers Fayre to promote the Lighthouse Project to students and to recruit student volunteers. Dawn from Foyle & Rescue Service also set up with student officers at Brew Monday in February to increase awareness among students of the support service.

The Foyle and Rescue’s up and coming promotional video will be promoted by the Students’ Union website and socials. Connor O’Hagan has also begun implementing the Lighthouse Project on the Coleraine campus. The plan is that the incoming VP Sport & Welfare will implement on the Belfast campus during the 2025-6 academic year. In September the Lighthouse Project will also be promoted by the incoming officers to the new Freshers cohort.