Introducing Alastair Copland - your new VP Societies and Sport! We checked in with Alastair to find out about his time at Royal Holloway and what he's hoping to achieve as a Sabbatical Officer this year.
Alastair Copland
VP Societies and Sport
Hi everyone! My name’s Alastair and I’m your Vice President Societies and Sport for the next academic year! Student groups are at the heart of Royal Holloway's community, and I’m here to work with and support their committees, to help make them the best they can be.
I’ve just graduated with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, but what made my time at Royal Holloway so good was the ability to get involved in all the different opportunities from the clubs and societies that I joined across my three years. I was a member of many, but the welcoming atmosphere I experienced at Athletics when I first joined in 2020 made me run for a committee position, and two years later I ended up leading the club as President! The incredible times I had as a member, alongside my time on the committee, had such a large impact on my time at Royal Holloway.
I decided I wanted to give back to campus life and the student groups that made my degree so great, so I decided to run for VP Societies and Sport.
My aims
I have a couple of plans for the next year (with new ideas popping up constantly!), but here are some of my main points:
- Strengthen the connection between the SU and student group committees, through more face-to-face contact, committee training, and platforms for student-led discussion.
- Review the way RHSU communicates and recognises student groups, building greater recognition of student groups' hard work.
- Assist student groups and their members through the cost of living crisis as best we can, through the development fund and access fund, alongside more support for Treasurers with sponsorship opportunities.
I’ve already been very busy planning out how to achieve my aims, working with student groups on their preparation for Freshers, and traveling across the country to meet other students' unions and figure out where Holloway can fit in with the national agenda.
Make sure to follow me on Instagram (@rhsusocsport) to keep up with what I’m up to over the year, and if you have any suggestions or questions to hesitate to reach out!
Looking forward to meeting so many of you over the next year!
Stand up for students
Do you want to play a lead role within the Students’ Union and help improve life on campus for students? Are you passionate about creating the most welcoming and inclusive environment to nurture student life and lead campaigns that create long-lasting change? If so, we think you would be the perfect candidate to run for a Sabbatical Officer position in the Leadership Elections 2024! Keep an eye out for more information coming soon!
If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at voice@su.rhul.ac.uk.