Monday 18-05-2026 - 09:11

Hello everybody! 

It’s that time of year where you’re finishing dissertations and lectures, and my university meetings are starting to wind down. With slightly more time on my hands, I’ve been able to reflect on how this past year has gone. Not only how quickly it has flown by, but just how much we have been able to achieve. 

At the beginning of my term, I set myself three personal priorities: 

Ensuring every voice is heard.

Making sure no student is left behind.

Breaking stigmas and starting conversations

These were never meant to just be words on a page. They were priorities that shaped the way I wanted to show up for our students throughout the entire year.

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🗣️ Ensuring Every Voice is Heard

This has been a huge part of what I have done this year. I would not be comfortable representing you in university meetings without actually hearing from you first. And personally, I do not believe I could properly represent students by just sitting behind a desk.

So instead of asking you to come to us, we came to you. Alongside my fellow officers, I held Officer stalls across university buildings, where we asked you to talk to us about housing, transport to university, mental health, the cost of living, and so much more. This year has taught me just how important it is to be visible and approachable.

Some of the most memorable moments from this year have not come from big meetings or formal events, but from speaking directly to you and listening to what you had to say. And those conversations did not just happen at Officer stalls, they happened through casual chats on campus, messages on social media, and being invited down to society and sports club events. Being able to have open and honest conversations with you all this year has truly been a blessing, and it is something I do not take for granted.

🤝 Making Sure No Student is Left Behind

Student wellbeing is affected by so much more than people sometimes realise.

How can students be expected to complete assignments when they are worrying about how much they are spending on accommodation, how much it costs to get to university, or whether they feel safe walking around campus at night?

How can students be expected to complete assignments when they are worrying about how much they are spending on accommodation, how much it costs to get to university, or whether they feel safe walking around campus at night?

Through my work with the Greater Manchester Student Partnership, I have been able to be part of wider conversations with regional government. This has been about recognising that you are not only a student at Manchester Met, but a student within Greater Manchester as well.

From productive meetings with TfGM and the Bee Network, to working with the Good Landlord Charter implementation team to ensure student landlords are going above and beyond the legal requirement, a lot of this work has been about making sure students are included in the future of the city region.

Students are a huge part of Greater Manchester, and we have been working to ensure it is the best place for you to work, live and study.

Housing has been a big part of this. I briefly mentioned the Good Landlord Charter, which is a Greater Manchester initiative, but there have also been changes around renting for students on a national scale.

On the 1st May the Renters’ Rights Act came into law, and I wanted to help students better understand what these changes mean, I have done a lot of work to explain things in a clear and concise way. From the abolition of Section 21 no-fault evictions, to the end of fixed-term tenancies, these changes give students renting in the private sector more flexibility and security at the same time.

I am glad we have been able to get students engaging in these conversations with their landlords and feeling more aware of their rights as tenants.

💬 Breaking Stigmas and Starting Conversations

I cannot mention breaking stigmas as a priority without talking about men’s mental health.

This has been something close to my heart. There is still a big stigma around men opening up about their mental health, and that is something that does not disappear overnight.

But through my work with Man Met Sport, Imie, and our Movember Ambassador Harvey, I believe we are starting to make a difference. This academic year saw the most we have ever raised for Movember, smashing our target twice over. I also created an online video series called Campus Chat, giving young male students the opportunity to open up on camera about their struggles, hopefully encouraging others to do the same. For me, it is all about creating the opportunity for men to say, “Actually, I’m not okay, and I have been struggling.”

I am so proud of what we have been able to achieve, and I am looking forward to making next year even bigger and better.

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🚀 What’s Next for Me?

Your President 26/27:

On the 26th February 2026, the students of Manchester Met voted me to be your next President.

You all voted in your thousands. 8,353 to be exact. The highest turnout we have ever had, with over 20% of the student population taking part.

That means, from 1 July, I will be representing the biggest mandate the Students’ Union has ever had. It is an incredible honour and a privilege, and it is something I will never take for granted. I will work every day as your President as if I was up for election the next.

This all feels quite surreal when I look back at my journey through university. From being the student who made no friends, to applying to be a Welcome Rep at Freshers Fair at the very last minute, to working on SU Reception, to now representing 44,000 of you as your President. If you had told me this would be my reality in first year, I would not have believed you. It is important to remember where you came from and stay grounded in reality. This progression means a lot to me because this university and this Students’ Union have shaped me massively. I have seen the SU from different angles: as a student, as a staff member, as an officer, and now soon as President. Each step has made me care even more about what our Students’ Union can do for students.

So, as this year as Wellbeing Officer comes to a close, I am not seeing it as an ending, but as a foundation for what is to come.

I am really looking forward to working with the next Officer team, including Sara, the next Wellbeing Officer. I cannot think of anyone better to pass the reins of this role to than her.

But for me, just know that as your President, I want to keep listening to you, I want to keep showing up, and I want to keep making sure every student at Manchester Met feels supported, valued and heard.

Thank you,

From your 25/26 Wellbeing Officer,

George Charlton