As part of Estranged Student Solidarity Week, Strath Union becomes the first Scottish institution to sign the Stand Alone charity's 'Manifesto For Change'

We were delighted today to become the first Student Union to sign Stand Alone's 'Manifestos for Change', rounding off another important Estranged Students Solidarity Week. The manifesto was signed by our VP Welfare, Lewis McDermott, Liam McCabe from the charity Stand Alone and Access and Participation Coordinator for Strath Union, Sofia Khan.  In doing so the Union is now committed to work with Stand Alone to identify how their current provision helps estranged students, and where they might improve their support and activities across key areas.

Speaking after signing the certificate today our VP Welfare Lewis said, "I think it's a great thing that we've developed and signed our Manifesto For Change here as it shows that - as an institution - we genuinely care about estranged students and their experience.  The University of Strathclyde was the first Scottish institution to sign the Stand Alone Pledge back in 2016, in 2020 Strath Union became one of the only student unions to have a dedicated full time Access and Participation Coordinator, and today I am delighted that we at Strath Union are pushing the envelope even further by being the first students' union to create and sign our own Manifesto For Change, and am very enthusiastic to implement the changes proposed with it!”

(Pictured from L-R are Liam McCabe from Stand Alone, VP Welfare Lewis McDermott and Sofia Khan, Access and Participation Coordinator for Strath Union)

Liam McCabe, former Strath Union VP for Volunteering and Development and recent graduate from Strathclyde, now working at Stand Alone, was delighted the Union got involved, "Strathclyde Students' Union were one of a handful of student unions who actually helped us create the framework at the heart of this very project and in doing so not only are they going to make an impact on the lives of estranged students here on campus, but they are going to have an impact on estranged students at every other campus that signs their own Manifesto for Change."

To read more on this years Estranged Student Solidarity Week campaign check out our socials and article here