LGBT+ Officer - Viljo Wilding
I'm Viljo Wilding (they/them) and I'm your LGBT+ Officer. As someone who is proudly non-binary and bisexual, I have personal experience of the struggles faced by LGBT+ people in education. COVID-19 has only worsened the mental health problems faced by young LGBT+ people, and our trans and non-binary students struggle to get records to reflect their true name and gender. We can do better, and as your LGBT+ Officer, I won’t stop fighting to make equality mean more than just a rainbow.
My Experience
I’m a former SU President, revitalising Woodhouse College’s SU and turning a small union into a campaigning organisation that delivered for students. I was a member of the NUS FE & Soc Cit Zone Committees in 2018-19 and attended NUS conference in 2019 where I supported the Save NUS Trans campaign. Since then, I’ve been working and volunteering in the charity sector. As a Board Member of ADHD Europe, an international non-profit representing people with ADHD, I helped to setup an LGBT+ Committee to understand the experiences of LGBT+ people with ADHD and ensure they are represented in our work.
My Policies
- I’ll create an LGBT+ welcome pack for students to pick up from the SU with a range of goodies and useful information to stay safe and have fun at uni.
- To support trans and non-binary students, I’ll campaign to make it quicker and easier to change your name and gender on the uni’s IT systems and signpost this information to students.
- I’ll launch a set of resources for LGBT+ students to access important advice, services, and mental health support, and provide answers to common questions about the university experience.
- Working with local businesses and charities, we will start valuable partnerships which support queer organisations and help LGBT+ students access safe and welcoming spaces.
- I’ll collaborate with the wellbeing team and welfare officers to improve training and support for LGBT+ students’ mental health.
CONTACT Viljo
Click here to contact Viljo Wilding