Hello everyone, this is Ashton Shepherd - the youngest and second ever black Students’ Union Deputy President!

 As your Deputy President, I have been working diligently on Black Futures Month with a focus on celebrating black talent, culture and voices of the future. Black History Month traditionally looks to the past at what the community has been through but as a Union we want to relieve students of the stress and trauma associated with that and call them to look towards a future where black and people of black mixed heritage are treated with the respect and dignity given to their peers of other ethnicities.  

The Union staff and I are doing this in a range of ways. Earlier this week we hosted a Black Futures Forum that provided students with a safe space to speak on their experiences and any pressing issues that deeply affect them as black students. These were things such as racism, the increasing mental health rates & lack of black representation in senior roles.

Having this open conversion has enabled staff to develop a better understanding of black student experiences. Finding more ways for students to be better supported by the university leads towards a better learning environment for our black community and those around them, where they have been previously failed.

Later this month we have a stall on Tuesday 22nd where you can come and chat with us and also a Culture Fair on the following Tuesday 29th.

You can also look on our Instagram where we’ll be delving into an aspect of black history or culture every Friday. Follow us at @CSGSU_