Just like that, another year in Swansea has flown by! This year has been different for a whole host of reasons, and while it may not have been what we expected, we’re really proud of what your Officers have achieved over the year.
Just like that, another year in Swansea has flown by! This year has been different for a whole host of reasons, and while it may not have been what we expected, we’re really proud of what your Officers have achieved over the year.
As we say goodbye to our departing officers, and our returners get ready for their new terms, they have put a little update together of some of their highlights and achievements over the past twelve months.
Ffion Davies
As we come to the end of the strangest and toughest year, I think every student and member of staff at Swansea University Students’ Union and Swansea University should be incredibly proud of the resilience they have shown and their accomplishments during this time.
With unexpected twists and turns, changes to learning and teaching, adapting to working from home and zoom fatigue hitting hard, it is no surprise that most are looking forwards to a year of being with friends, celebrating Varsity, dancing at Summerball and having that full University experience.
Whilst my time as President has looked very different to ‘normal’ years, with the job description being miles apart from the day-to-day reality- I am very thankful for the opportunity and the lessons this past year has taught me. I have worked with the most hardworking and passionate colleagues within the SU and University, who do really care for students.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the highlight, and my biggest achievement of my time in term is the creation of The Dockyard. From a few scribbles on a page and a few meetings bouncing back ideas, to a safe social space for students to meet, eat, drink, laugh and be students, I am so proud that we the SU could do this for our students. For many this space was a haven, a place to relax away from their university room.
I am also extremely proud to have worked with the Education Officer and colleagues within the University on the ‘No Detriment Framework’. The call and need for this from the student body was huge, and after many meetings I am relieved that this was put in place to support those who needed it. I also organised and held an NUS Virtual Town Halls event in collaboration with USW and Cardiff. This was a great way for students to share their experiences around learning and teaching, accommodation, tuition fees etc, to local MS’s which in turn was relayed to the Welsh Government. Hopefully the experiences heard, impacted on the decisions made by the Government.
This year has been made better by the unbelievable team I ’ve had the pleasure of working alongside. Your Full-Time Officers have honestly gone above and beyond and have done everything in their power to enhance your experience and relay your voices in all meetings/committees/board possible. We have all supported each other immensely, and I am very lucky to have made great friends in the process.
The main thing I have learnt this year, is how important and impactful the student voice is, if you want to make changes the SU will do all they can to advance those voices.
Georgia Smith
As Sports Officer this year my biggest achievement has been the continuous commitment to promoting positive mental health within sport at Swansea University. I have facilitated Student Minds Mental Health in Sport workshops on a weekly basis in term one and term two with the support of Sport Swansea. In order to equip our student lead committees with the tools to support their friends and teammates mental health during the pandemic. I was the leading member of staff on the Movember campaign in which I supported sports clubs and other student groups with raising over £60,000, the campaign highlights the importance of talking about mental health and the funds will go to helping men's mental and physical health across the world. I introduced and supported the sports club in appointing club welfare officers so they are in place for the next academic year to further support their members and break the stigma around mental health. I tried to keep the spirits high within our sporting community with the introduction of the SUSU Sport Good newsletter when covid was at its peak in January in a bid to promote and show all the great virtual activity and fundraising that was going on among our sports teams at the time. I plan to continue to make mental health in sport one of my top priorities in the next academic year.
Another campaign I was proud to work on was this year's International women day. I decided to celebrate a selection of some of our amazing female athletes at the university with player profiles shared on both social media and our website. It is great to be able to showcase all the opportunities for women to get involved at sport at Swansea university which was on my manifesto. You can find the resource here https://www.swansea-union.co.uk/voice/campaigns/internationalwomensday2021/
I have been supporting the University Estates department by representing the student voice in their £1.6 million investment into enhancing the current and building new sports facilities on Bay campus. The project will include, a new outdoor hard court which can be used for tennis, basketball and netball, new outdoor exercise equipment, an extension of the gym and repurposing of the current faith space into a new Pilates and yoga studio. These projects will be delivered between October 2021 and Jan 2022. It is great to see the university acting on student feedback and putting the plans in place to improve the sport offering on Bay campus after many years of lobbying from SU Sports Officers and the student body!
Another achievement I am proud to have worked collaboratively on was the creation of the Phoenix fund to support student groups with their recovery from Covid. Myself, Georgia-Rose Gleeson and supporting colleagues successfully allocated £2,000 pounds of Welsh Government funding to twenty student groups are reviewing their applications on how they would use the money to recover from the impacts of pandemic and enhance the experience of their student members now and going into the next academic year.
Even in a very challenging year of student sport, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with both students and staff to make the most of the sporting student experience around covid guidance, adapting my manifesto successfully. It is amazing to see so many of our student sports teams back in action training at the end of term. I hope that covid restrictions will continue to ease ready for the full return of student sport in September!
Georgia-Rose Gleeson
This term flew by faster than I was expecting, it feels like yesterday that we were breaking up for Christmas and taking down the Dockyard! Alongside my usual Societies and Services Officer duties (e.g approving finances, responding to any Society queries or issues and representing students), I have been super busy this term with these projects.
My priorities this side of the academic year were improving the Society experience:
- Got approval from HEFCW funding to provide a £4000 hardship ‘Phoenix Fund’ for Society Committees and Sports Clubs, to help clubs and committees restart after an incredibly challenging year.
- Began working on and got approval for a Society Reward Scheme which will be able to launch in the new academic year, offering Society committee members discounts and rewards at our on campus services.
- Organised the first Societies Celebration event for committees to get together and celebrate their achievements this year.
- Held the first Refreshers Fayre online for Society Committees
I also continued to focus on improving the sustainability of our campuses:
- Worked with Estates and Daniela Tucker to get SU Ownership of 3 greenhouses on Singleton Campus, to produce fruit and vegetables to eventually sell them from Root and Root Zero.
- Finalised and implemented the Students’ Union’s Sustainability Policy.
- Working with Katie Phillips and Refill Wales to set up Refill points in Port Talbot.
- Launched the first Veganuary campaign.
Other projects:
- Ran the first Endometriosis Awareness Campaign for the Students’ Union
- Ensured the Students’ Union was accredited an Endometriosis Friendly Employer
- I underwent a 7 hour training session on Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse with Liza.
- Carried out Consent Training
- Carried out a Female Allyship workshop
- #InvestHER Competition
- Involved with LGBTQIA+ History Month
Thank you to everyone who has supported me this academic year and voted for me to continue representing you as your Societies and Services Officer for the next academic year.
Katie Phillips
I’m extremely proud of the resilience, determination, and adaptability of the FTO team this year and am glad to have been part of such a hardworking and inspiring team. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed representing Welsh speakers, learners and the wider student community this year by providing Welsh learning opportunities, social opportunities for Welsh speakers and raising the status of Welsh language and culture within the university. I was recently involved in the powerful Urdd Peace and Goodwill message which has reached over 54 million people globally!
I’ve done regular Welsh Wednesdays Instagram takeovers and launched a Welsh Wednesdays podcast this year. I set up the Bwddy scheme for Welsh speakers and learners to socialise and learn from each other. I’ve ran Y Cwtsh virtually and recently held one in person, which is a space for Welsh speakers and learners to use the language. I’ve ran key Welsh campaigns including Shwmae Su’mae Day, Welsh Language Rights Day, Welsh Music Day and the Virtual St David’s Day Festival.
As a Geography graduate, I'm passionate about sustainability and have worked on campaigns such as Veganuary, Food Waste Action Week, Refill Port Talbot, as well as creating the revised Swansea University Students' Union's Sustainability Policy.
I’ve worked on several liberation, diversity and inclusion campaigns this year including setting up the Ramp Your Voice forum for students with disabilities and running monthly anti-racist allyship workshops for staff.
I’ve been involved in serval NUS campaigns as an NUS Wales Delegate and had my motion ‘Mandatory sexual consent education for all students in Further Education and Higher Education’ passed in the NUS Wales Conference.
Liza Leibowitz
I’m not sure if everyone else agrees but the first half of 2021 has flown by so quickly and with it, our final term of the academic year. Firstly, a huge congratulations to everyone who’s graduated this year! It’s been an extremely difficult one, but you’ve done it!
It’s been a turbulent, yet incredible term so far from your Full Time Officers and I’ve so much to catch you up on.
I engaged in so many projects this term! The main ones being:
- Student Safety – it’s no secret that at the beginning of this year, student safety was at an all time low. As such, it was so important to me to work alongside the University, South Wales Police and the Council to find new ways to protect our students. From this, I gave the opportunity for all students to access free personal safety alarms from each campus, we worked to have increased foot patrols through the police, clearing blind paths in Singleton Park and working to get lighting and CCTV provisions tackled too. I also created training on how to become a better female ally.
- Online Food Voucher Scheme – I introduced a scheme in which students who may have been struggling financially could access £50 online food vouchers online, through the Union. This is a result of restrictions making it harder for students to access physical food banks.
- Period Poverty – I introduced an online platform for people to access free, environmentally friendly Sanitary Products, funded by HEFCW. This platform can be found now on our Union website.
- Mental Health – I continued to work alongside the Connect Project to fund sustainable projects to better student mental health and promote their peer-to-peer support services. I also ran anxiety awareness workshops alongside Newpathways. I am also working to introduce Nightline through the Union to provide an extra form of support for our students post working hours.
- Donation Bin Scheme – I worked alongside the YMCA and Swansea City Council to introduce a new donation scheme for the University which will offer students a space to get rid of their unwanted treasures to support mental health charities and initiatives like the kickstart scheme. These bins will be located both on campus and within student occupied streets in the community.
- #InvestHer Project – I worked alongside the University Enterprise Team in the University to allocate £6,000 to expand the businesses of two female entrepreneurs through a pitching competition.
Alongside this, I got to co-lead/lead on some amazing campaigns this term including:
- Pride – we got to host an amazing Drag Night event hosted by our LGBT+ Singleton Officer at JCs bar – which we sold out by the way! We also introduced two new Pride themed murals in our Union bars (make sure to take a picture when you can and tag #MySwansePride)
- Refugee Awareness Week - we worked collaboratively with the University to host a series of educational sessions around the experiences of Refugees and Asylum Seekers. We also held a Film Night at Taf on Bay Campus.
- Mental Health Awareness Week – this year’s theme for MHAW was Nature, as such, Ffion and I created Mental Health Packs with a Nature theme to them – these were handed out to students on the Balcony. We also ran beach cleans alongside Connect.
- LGBTQIA+ History Month – we hosted a series of events including a vigil, an equali-tea and a panel discussion on how to make a more inclusive University with the NUS Wales President, our Trans and Non-Binary Officer and an amazing Swansea University Alumni
I’m so excited to get to work more campaigns and start all new projects. I’m also extremely thankful you’ve all given me the opportunity to be your Welfare Officer for another year! Thank you all so much for your support and collaboration with us! Have an amazing summer break.
Ac fel hynny, mae blwyddyn arall yn Abertawe wedi hedfan heibio! Mae eleni wedi bod yn wahanol am lu o resymau, ac er efallai nad dyna beth oeddwn ni’n disgwyl, rydyn ni’n wirioneddol falch beth mae’r swyddogion wedi'i gyflawni dros y flwyddyn.
Wrth i ni ffarwelio â'n swyddogion sy'n gadael, ac mae’r swyddogion sy’n dychwelyd yn paratoi ar gyfer y flwyddyn newydd, maent wedi ysgrifennu diweddariad o rai o'u huchafbwyntiau a'u cyflawniadau dros y deuddeg mis diwethaf.
Ffion Davies
Wrth i ni ddod i ddiwedd y flwyddyn anoddaf a rhyfeddaf, credaf y dylai pob myfyriwr ac aelod o staff yn Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Abertawe a Phrifysgol Abertawe fod yn hynod falch o’r gwytnwch y maent wedi’i ddangos a’u cyflawniadau yn ystod yr amser hwn.
Gyda digwyddiadau annisgwyl, newidiadau i ddysgu ac addysgu, addasu i weithio o adref a blinder Zoom, nid yw'n syndod bod y mwyafrif yn edrych ymlaen at flwyddyn o fod gyda ffrindiau, dathlu Varsity, dawnsio yn Nawns yr Haf a chael profiad llawn yn y Brifysgol.
Er bod fy amser yn Llywydd wedi edrych yn wahanol iawn i flynyddoedd ‘arferol’, gyda’r swydd ddisgrifiad yn wahanol iawn i’r realiti dydd i ddydd - rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn am y cyfle a’r gwersi mae’r flwyddyn ddiwethaf hon wedi fy nysgu. Rydw I wedi gweithio gyda’r cydweithwyr mwyaf gweithgar a brwdfrydig yn Undeb y Myfyrwyr a'r Brifysgol, sy'n wirioneddol ofalu am fyfyrwyr.
Heb os, yr uchafbwynt, a fy nghyflawniad mwyaf o fy amser yn Llywydd, yw creu’r Dockyard. O ddechreuad o sgriblo ar dudalen ac ychydig o gyfarfodydd i rannu syniadau, i ofod cymdeithasol diogel i fyfyrwyr gwrdd, bwyta, yfed, chwerthin a bod yn fyfyrwyr, rydw I mor falch y gallai Undeb y Myfyrwyr wneud hyn. I lawer, roedd y gofod hwn yn hafan, yn lle i ymlacio i ffwrdd o'u hystafell wely.
Rydw i hefyd yn hynod falch fy mod i wedi gweithio gyda’r Swyddog Addysg a chydweithwyr yn y Brifysgol ar y ‘Fframwaith Dim Anfantais. Roedd yr alwad a'r angen am hyn gan y myfyrwyr yn enfawr, ac ar ôl llawer o gyfarfodydd rwy'n falch bod hyn yn ei le i gefnogi'r rhai oedd ei angen. Hefyd, trefnais a chynhaliais ddigwyddiad UCM Neuaddau Tref Rhithwir mewn cydweithrediad â Phrifysgol De Cymru a Phrifysgol Caerdydd. Roedd hon yn ffordd wych i fyfyrwyr rannu eu profiadau o ddysgu ac addysgu, llety, ffioedd dysgu ac ati, i AS lleol a gafodd ei drosglwyddo i Lywodraeth Cymru yn ei dro. Gobeithio bod y profiadau a glywyd wedi effeithio ar y penderfyniadau a wnaed gan y Llywodraeth.
Mae eleni wedi bod yn well diolch i'r tîm anghredadwy rydw i wedi cael y pleser o weithio gyda nhw. Mae’r Swyddogion Llawn-amser wedi mynd tu hwnt ac wedi gwneud popeth yn eu gallu i wella'ch profiadau a rhannu’ch lleisiau ym mhob cyfarfod/pwyllgor/bwrdd posibl. Rydyn ni wedi cefnogi ein gilydd yn aruthrol, ac rwy'n ffodus iawn fy mod i wedi gwneud ffrindiau gwych yn y broses.
Y prif beth rydw i wedi'i ddysgu eleni yw pa mor bwysig ac effeithiol yw lleisiau myfyrwyr. Os ydych chi am wneud newidiadau bydd Undeb y Myfyrwyr yn gwneud popeth o fewn eu gallu i hyrwyddo'r lleisiau hynny.
Georgia Smith
Fel Swyddog Chwaraeon eleni fy nghyflawniad mwyaf oedd yr ymrwymiad parhaus i hyrwyddo iechyd meddwl cadarnhaol mewn chwaraeon ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe. Hwylusais weithdai Iechyd Meddwl mewn Chwaraeon Student Minds wythnosol yn nhymor un a thymor dau gyda chefnogaeth Chwaraeon Abertawe. Er mwyn arfogi pwyllgorau o fyfyrwyr â'r offer i gefnogi iechyd meddwl eu ffrindiau a'u cyd-aelodau yn ystod y pandemig. Fi oedd yr aelod blaenllaw o staff ar ymgyrch Movember lle roeddwn ni’n cefnogi clybiau chwaraeon a grwpiau o fyfyrwyr eraill gan godi dros £60,000. Mae'r ymgyrch yn tynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd siarad am iechyd meddwl a bydd yr arian yn mynd i helpu iechyd meddwl a chorfforol dynion ar draws y byd. Cyflwynais a chefnogais y clybiau chwaraeon i benodi swyddogion lles fel eu bod ar waith ar gyfer y flwyddyn academaidd nesaf i gefnogi eu haelodau ymhellach a thorri'r stigma o amgylch iechyd meddwl. Ceisiais gadw'r awyrgylch yn uchel yn ein cymuned chwaraeon gan gyflwyno cylchlythyr Chwaraeon Da UMPA pan oedd Covid ar ei anterth ym mis Ionawr mewn ymgais i hyrwyddo a dangos yr holl weithgaredd rithwir a chodi arian gwych a oedd yn digwydd ymhlith ein timau chwaraeon ar y pryd. Rwy'n bwriadu parhau i wneud iechyd meddwl mewn chwaraeon yn un o fy mhrif flaenoriaethau yn y flwyddyn academaidd nesaf.
Ymgyrch arall roeddwn i’n falch o weithio arni oedd Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Menywod eleni. Penderfynais ddathlu detholiad o rai o'n hathletwyr benywaidd anhygoel yn y Brifysgol gan rannu proffiliau chwaraewyr ein cyfryngau cymdeithasol a'n gwefan. Mae'n wych gallu arddangos yr holl gyfleoedd i fenywod gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe a oedd ar fy maniffesto. Gallwch ddod o hyd i'r adnodd yma: https://www.swansea-union.co.uk/voice/campaign/internationalwomensday2021/
Rydw i wedi bod yn cefnogi adran Ystadau’r Brifysgol gan gynrychioli lleisiau myfyrwyr yn eu buddsoddiad o £1.6miliwn i wella’r cyfleusterau chwaraeon presennol ac adeiladu rhai newydd ar gampws y Bae. Bydd y prosiect yn cynnwys cwrt caled awyr agored newydd y gellir ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer tenis, pêl-fasged a phêl-rwyd, offer ymarfer corff awyr agored newydd, estyniad o'r gampfa ac ail-osod y gofod ffydd presennol i mewn i stiwdio pilates ac ioga newydd. Bydd y prosiectau hyn yn cael eu cyflawni rhwng Hydref 2021 a Ionawr 2022. Mae'n wych gweld y Brifysgol yn gweithredu ar adborth myfyrwyr ac yn rhoi'r cynlluniau ar waith i wella'r chwaraeon ar Gampws y Bae ar ôl blynyddoedd lawer o lobïo gan Swyddogion Chwaraeon UM a’r myfyrwyr!
Cyflawniad arall rydw i’n falch fy mod wedi gweithio arno oedd creu cronfa Phoenix i gefnogi grwpiau o fyfyrwyr gyda'u hadferiad o Covid. Rydw i, Georgia-Rose Gleeson a chydweithwyr eraill wedi bod yn llwyddiannus wrth ddyrannu £2,000 o arian Llywodraeth Cymru i ugain o grwpiau o fyfyrwyr gan adolygu eu ceisiadau ar sut y byddent yn defnyddio'r arian i adfer o effeithiau’r pandemig a gwella profiad eu haelodau nawr ac yn y flwyddyn academaidd nesaf.
Hyd yn oed mewn blwyddyn heriol iawn o chwaraeon i fyfyrwyr, rydw i wedi mwynhau gweithio gyda myfyrwyr a staff i wneud y mwyaf o brofiadau chwaraeon myfyrwyr o amgylch rhwystrau Covid, gan addasu fy maniffesto yn llwyddiannus. Mae'n anhygoel gweld cymaint o'n timau chwaraeon yn ôl yn hyfforddi a gweithredu ar ddiwedd y tymor. Gobeithio y bydd cyfyngiadau Covid yn parhau i leihau yn barod ar gyfer dychweliad llawn chwaraeon ym mis Medi!
Georgia-Rose Gleeson
Aeth y tymor hwn yn gyflymach nag oeddwn i‘n disgwyl, mae'n teimlo fel ddoe ein bod ni’n edrych ymlaen at y Nadolig ac yn tynnu'r Dockyard i lawr! Ochr yn ochr â fy nyletswyddau Swyddog Cymdeithasau Gwasanaethau arferol (e.e. cymeradwyo cyllid, ymateb i unrhyw ymholiadau neu broblemau cymdeithasau a chynrychioli myfyrwyr), roeddwn i’n hynod brysur y tymor hwn gyda’r prosiectau canlynol.
Fy mlaenoriaethau yr ochr hon i'r flwyddyn academaidd oedd gwella profiad cymdeithasau:
• Wedi cael cymeradwyaeth gan gyllid HEFCW i ddarparu £4000 o gronfa galedi ‘Phoenix’ ar gyfer pwyllgorau cymdeithasau a chlybiau hwaraeon i helpu clybiau a phwyllgorau i ailgychwyn ar ôl blwyddyn heriol dros ben.
• Wedi gweithio ar a chael cymeradwyaeth ar gyfer Cynllun Gwobrwyo Cymdeithasau a fydd yn gallu lansio yn y flwyddyn academaidd newydd, gan gynnig gostyngiadau a gwobrau i aelodau pwyllgorau cymdeithasau yn ein gwasanaethau ar y campws.
• Trefnu'r digwyddiad Dathlu Cymdeithasau cyntaf i bwyllgorau ddod at ei gilydd a dathlu eu cyflawniadau eleni.
• Wedi cynnal y Ffair Refreshers ar-lein gyntaf ar gyfer Pwyllgorau Cymdeithasau
Hefyd, parheais i ganolbwyntio ar wella cynaliadwyedd ein campysau:
• Wedi gweithio gyda’r adran Ystadau a Daniela Tucker i gael Perchnogaeth Undeb y Myfyrwyr ar 3 thy gwydr ar Gampws Singleton, i gynhyrchu ffrwythau a llysiau i'w gwerthu yn Root and Root Zero.
• Cwblhau a gweithredu Polisi Cynaliadwyedd Undeb y Myfyrwyr.
• Gweithio gyda Katie Phillips a Refill Cymru i sefydlu pwyntiau ail-lenwi ym Mhort Talbot.
• Lansio’r ymgyrch Veganuary gyntaf.
Prosiectau eraill:
• Wedi cynnal yr ymgyrch Ymwybyddiaeth Endometriosis gyntaf yn Undeb y Myfyrwyr
• Sicrhau bod Undeb y Myfyrwyr wedi'i achredu fel Cyflogwr sy'n Gyfeillgar i Endometriosis
• Cefais sesiwn hyfforddi 7 awr ar Drais Rhywiol a Cham-drin Domestig gyda Liza
• Wedi cynnal Hyfforddiant Cydsyniad
• Wedi cynnal gweithdy Cynghreiriaid Benywaidd
• Cystadleuaeth #InvestHER
• Rhan o Fis Hanes LGBTQIA+
Diolch i bawb sydd wedi fy nghefnogi yn ystod y flwyddyn academaidd hon ac wedi pleidleisio i mi barhau i'ch cynrychioli fel eich Swyddog Cymdeithasau a Gwasanaethau y flwyddyn academaidd nesaf.
Katie Phillips
Rwy'n falch iawn o wytnwch, penderfyniad a gallu i addasu y tîm o Swyddogion Llawn-amser eleni ac rwy'n falch fy mod wedi bod yn rhan o dîm mor weithgar ac ysbrydoledig. Rydw i wedi mwynhau cynrychioli siaradwyr Cymraeg, dysgwyr a'r gymuned ehangach o fyfyrwyr eleni yn fawr trwy ddarparu cyfleoedd dysgu Cymraeg, cyfleoedd cymdeithasol i siaradwyr Cymraeg a chodi statws iaith a diwylliant Cymraeg yn y Brifysgol. Yn ddiweddar, roddwn i’n rhan o neges bwerus Heddwch ac Ewyllys Da yr Urdd sydd wedi cyrraedd dros 54 miliwn o bobl yn fyd-eang!
Rydw i wedi gweithio’n rheolaidd ar Ddydd Mercher Cymraeg ar Instagram ac wedi lansio podlediad Dydd Mercher Cymraeg eleni. Sefydlais gynllun Bwddy i siaradwyr a dysgwyr Cymraeg gymdeithasu a dysgu oddi wrth ei gilydd. Rydw i wedi cynnal Y Cwtsh yn rhithwir ac yn ddiweddar cynhaliais un gorfforol, sy'n ofod i siaradwyr a dysgwyr Cymraeg ddefnyddio'r iaith. Rydw i wedi cynnal ymgyrchoedd Cymraeg allweddol gan gynnwys Diwrnod Shwmae Su’mae, Diwrnod Hawliau Iaith Cymru, Dydd Miwsig Cymru a gwyl Dydd Gwyl Dewi rhithwir.
Mae gen i radd mewn Daearyddiaeth, felly rwy'n frwdfrydig am gynaliadwyedd ac wedi gweithio ar ymgyrchoedd fel Veganuary, Wythnos Gweithredu Gwastraff Bwyd, ac Ail-lenwi Port Talbot, yn ogystal â chreu Polisi Cynaliadwyedd Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Abertawe.
Rydw i wedi gweithio ar sawl ymgyrch rhyddhau, amrywiaeth a chynhwysiant eleni gan gynnwys sefydlu fforwm Ramp Your Voice ar gyfer myfyrwyr ag anableddau a chynnal gweithdai cynghreirio gwrth-hiliol misol i staff.
Rydw i wedi bod yn rhan o nifer o ymgyrchoedd UCM fel Cynrychiolydd UCM Cymru a phasiwyd fy nghynnig ‘Addysg cydsyniad rhywiol gorfodol i bob myfyriwr mewn Addysg Bellach ac Addysg Uwch’ yng Nghynhadledd UCM Cymru.
Liza Leibowitz
Nid ydw i’n siwr a yw pawb arall yn cytuno ond mae hanner cyntaf 2021 wedi hedfan mor gyflym a gyda hi, tymor olaf y flwyddyn academaidd. Yn gyntaf, llongyfarchiadau enfawr i bawb sydd wedi graddio eleni! Mae wedi bod yn un anodd dros ben, ond rydych chi wedi llwyddo!
Mae wedi bod yn dymor cythryblus, ond anhygoel hyd yma gan eich Swyddogion Llawn-amser ac mae gen i gymaint i’ch diweddaru amdano.
Roeddwn i’n rhan o gymaint o brosiectau y tymor hwn! Y brif rai oedd:
- Diogelwch Myfyrwyr - nid yw'n gyfrinach fod diogelwch myfyrwyr ar y lefel isaf erioed ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn hon. Felly roedd hi mor bwysig i mi weithio â'r Brifysgol, Heddlu De Cymru a'r Cyngor i ddod o hyd i ffyrdd newydd o ddiogelu ein myfyrwyr. O hyn, rhoddais gyfle i bob myfyriwr gael larymau diogelwch personol am ddim o’r campysau, roeddwn ni’n gweithio i gael rhagor o batrolau traed gan yr heddlu, gan glirio llwybrau dall ym Mharc Singleton a gweithio i gael goleuadau a darpariaethau teledu cylch cyfyng. Hefyd, creais hyfforddiant ar sut i ddod yn gynghreiriad benywaidd gwell.
- Cynllun Taleb Fwyd Ar-lein – Cyflwynais gynllun lle gallai myfyrwyr sydd wedi bod yn cael trafferthion ariannol gael gafael ar dalebau bwyd ar-lein o £50 trwy'r Undeb. Mae hyn o ganlyniad i gyfyngiadau sy'n ei gwneud hi'n anoddach i fyfyrwyr gael mynediad at fanciau bwyd corfforol.
- Tlodi Mislif – Cyflwynais blatfform ar-lein i bobl gael mynediad at Gynhyrchion Glanweithdra eco- gyfeillgar rhad ac am ddim, wedi'i ariannu gan HEFCW. Gellir gweld y platfform hwn nawr ar wefan yr Undeb.
- Iechyd Meddwl – Parheais i weithio â'r Prosiect Connect i ariannu prosiectau cynaliadwy i wella iechyd meddwl myfyrwyr a hyrwyddo eu gwasanaethau cymorth cymar-i-gymar. Hefyd, cynhaliais weithdai ymwybyddiaeth pryder ochr yn ochr â Newpathways. Rydw i hefyd yn gweithio i gyflwyno Nightline trwy'rUndeb i ddarparu math ychwanegol o gefnogaeth i'n myfyrwyr ar ôl oriau gwaith.
- Cynllun Biniau Rhoi – Gweithiais a’r YMCA a Chyngor Dinas Abertawe i gyflwyno cynllun rhoddion newydd ar gyfer y Brifysgol a fydd yn cynnig lle i fyfyrwyr gael gwared ar bethau diangen i gefnogi elusennau a mentrau iechyd meddwl fel y cynllun Kickstart. Bydd y biniau hyn wedi'u lleoli ar y campws ac ar strydoedd myfyrwyr yn y gymuned.
- Prosiect #InvestHer – Gweithiais â Thîm Menter y Brifysgol i ddyrannu £6,000 i ehangu busnesau dwy entrepreneur benywaidd trwy gystadleuaeth pitsio
Ynghyd â hyn, arweiniais ar ymgyrchoedd gwych eleni gan gynnwys:
- Balchder – cynhalion ni Noson Drag anhygoel gyda’n Swyddog LGBT+ Singleton ym mar JCs - a werthwyd allan, gyda llaw! Hefyd, cyflwynon ni ddau furlun newydd ar thema Balchder ym mariau’r Undeb (gwnewch yn siwr eich bod chi'n tynnu llun pan allwch chi, gan dagio #MySwanseaPride)
- Wythnos Ymwybyddiaeth Ffoaduriaid – Gweithion ni gyda'r Brifysgol i gynnal cyfres o sesiynau addysgol yn ymwneud â phrofiadau Ffoaduriaid a Cheiswyr Lloches. Hefyd, cynhalion ni Noson Ffilm yn Tafarn Tawe ar Gampws y Bae.
- Wythnos Ymwybyddiaeth Iechyd Meddwl – thema eleni ar gyfer Wythnos Ymwybyddiaeth Iechyd Meddwl oedd Natur, felly creodd fi a Ffion becynnau Iechyd Meddwl gyda thema Natur - dosbarthwyd y rhain i fyfyrwyr ar y Balconi. Hefyd, cynhalion ni sesiwn lanhau’r traeth gyda Connect.
- Mis Hanes LGBTQIA+ – cynhalion ni gyfres o ddigwyddiadau gan gynnwys gwylnos, Equali-tea a thrafodaeth banel ar sut i wneud y Brifysgol yn fwy cynhwysol gyda Llywydd UCM Cymru, ein Swyddog Traws a Di-ddeuaidd a Chyn-fyfyrwyr anhygoel Prifysgol Abertawe
Rydw i mor gyffrous i weithio ar ragor o ymgyrchoedd a dechrau prosiectau newydd. Rydw i hefyd yn hynod ddiolchgar eich bod wedi rhoi cyfle i mi fod yn Swyddog Lles am flwyddyn arall! Diolch i chi gyd am eich cefnogaeth a'ch cydweithrediad â ni! Mwynhewch egwyl yr haf!