Officer Blog – August 2026
Behind the Scenes: Getting Ready for 2026/27
August might be quieter on campus, but your Officers have been busy behind the scenes getting everything ready for the year ahead.
From meeting University departments and planning events to preparing campaigns and getting Class Rep recruitment ready, there has been plenty happening already and now, with Welcome 2026 just around the corner, we're roaring and ready to go!
Working Together Across the University
One of the biggest parts of our August has been building connections with colleagues across the University.
Ligia and Aidan have been meeting with people from a range of departments to talk through our plans for the year, coordinate our work, and find ways we can support each other. One example was meeting with Beth Hurst from Accommodation; they started planning events all the way through to Christmas and looked at how the Students' Union and Accommodation team can work together to support students. We really believe that organisations work best when everyone is communicating and aiming towards the same goal. In this case, that goal is you and your university experience. There are lots of people across the University working hard to make that experience the best it can be, and we're excited to be part of that.
Aidan – Wellbeing Lead Officer
August has been a busy month for wellbeing planning!
One of my biggest priorities for this year is creating regular monthly events focused on wellbeing and socialising. We're already looking ahead to events including:
🍕 Pizza Parties
👻 The Annual Fusehill Ghost Tour
💭 What's Going Well(Being)
🎁 The Big UCSU Gift Drive
The aim is to create opportunities for students to take a break, meet people and have some fun alongside everything else university life brings.
Aidan has also been working with Ruth Harrison-Palmer, Paul Forsythe and other University staff on showcasing the art at Brampton Road.
If you've spotted our disposable camera videos... you're welcome! 📸
Looking after your wellbeing
Aidan is also working on bringing the Sexual Health Van back to Lancaster, helping promote sexual health and wellbeing for students. He's looking into what options might be available for drop-in sessions at the other campuses too, so watch this space.
Go Out Smart, Come Home Safe
We're also working on a new Go Out Smart, Come Home Safe Welcome campaign. The campaign will provide free food alongside useful information and resources to help students enjoy a night out in Carlisle while staying safe. Having a good night out and getting home safely should go hand in hand.
And finally...
Student Trustee interviews are DONE!
YES!!!!!
All Student Trustees have now been chosen and contacted, and we're really looking forward to working with them this year. If you would like more information about the Student Union Trustees, please email aidan.dawson@cumbria.ac.uk.
Haroon – Academic Lead Officer
Haroon has been getting ready for Welcome Week and thinking about how we can help students understand more about their Students' Union. He's currently working on an event for Welcome Week focused on learning more about the SU and what we can offer students. He is keen to hear from you:
What would you like to see as a free activity?
Whether you fancy something creative, competitive, social, relaxing (or something completely different) we want to know!
Let us know what you'd actually like to see happening on campus. Haroon will also be focusing on making sure students have opportunities to engage with their Union and understand how they can have their voice heard throughout the year.
More to come soon!
Ligia - Faculty Officer
There has been a little change to Ligia's role this year.
Following the University's move from Institutes to Faculties, Ligia's position is now Faculty Officer, reflecting the University's new structure.
The three Faculties are:
- Faculty of Health
- Faculty of Business, Industry and Leadership
- Faculty of Science, Environment, Education and Arts
Ligia will be working with students and the Faculties throughout the year to make sure student voices remain part of those conversations.
Parking & Travel
One of Ligia's first priorities is hearing from students about parking and travel.
How are you getting to University?
What works well?
What's difficult?
And what could the Students' Union do to help?
If you have thoughts about parking, public transport, commuting or travelling between campuses, we want to hear them.
Cost-related barriers to academics
Ligia is also beginning work on this year's campaign around cost-related barriers to academics.
Studying can come with costs beyond tuition fees, and we want to understand where those costs can make accessing your education more difficult.
More information on this campaign will be coming soon.
Class Reps are coming!
We're also getting everything ready for Class Rep recruitment.
We'll be advertising the Rep System, preparing our merch inventory, and getting everything in place for the new academic year.
Being a Class Rep is one of the easiest ways to make sure the experiences and concerns of your course are heard.
So, if there's something you've always thought your course could do better, keep an eye out for your opportunity to get involved!
And now... Welcome 2026!
After all that behind-the-scenes planning, we're finally ready for the new academic year.
September is packed with opportunities to meet people, discover what your Students' Union can offer, and settle into University life.
We've been planning.
We've been meeting.
We've been organising.
Here are just a few events to look out for this September:
- 👋 Hey, Hi, Hello! – 13 September (all campuses)
- 🍔 Burger & Quiz Night – 13 September, Fusehill Street
- 🎉 Freshers' Fairs – Across all campuses from 15–23 September
- 👕 Vintage Fashion Fair – 16 September
- 🛍️ Carlisle Market Day – 18 September
- 🎪 School Fair – 20–21 September
- 🗣️ Representation Tuesday – 22 September
- 🌈 Cumbria Pride – 26 September
We can't wait to meet you. Whether you need advice, want to get involved, have an idea to improve student life, or just fancy a chat, come and say hello to our Officers and Staff Team!
See you in September!
If you have any questions, ideas, or comments about the Union or our Officers, please email us at studentvoice@cumbria.ac.uk or pop into one of our offices on Campus!
