Make a Change
Your voice matters
LUU is powered by you, our members. Part of the reason we’re here is to support you in making changes that would benefit students at the Students’ Union, on campus, and out in the wider world too.
Students for decades have been supported by LUU to win change that benefits students. When we come together to listen, plan, and act, we can effect meaningful change. That may be having your voice heard on rep feedback in schools, to starting a campaign, or running for the Student Executive Officer elections.
All it takes is an idea for change. Our Engagement Teams will support you every step of the way.
Voice your passions, make a change, and better your community.
Ready to have your say?
… But not too sure where to start? Submit to our ‘Ideas for Change’ Portal, and we’ll lead you in the right direction.
Or continue reading to find out more about our Campaigns and Liberation.
Represent, and be represented
LUU is home to student representatives who make change on your behalf at different levels – School Reps, the International and Liberation Student Network, and our Student Exec– chosen by you in our yearly elections to lead LUU.
We are proud to represent a diverse student community with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and interests. We have hubs for postgraduate and international students, and a range of useful resources on Liberate LUU for different liberation groups.
Have your say, and make a change
Your voice guides every decision made here, at LUU. You can present ideas at Better Forums to change policies on an LUU, University, and Leeds city level. You can fill in surveys and join focus groups to tell us what is working and what could be done to enhance your experience. And, if you really want to take things in your own hands, you can always run in Lead LUU to become the next Student Exec!
Represent, and be represented
LUU is home to student representatives who make change on your behalf at different levels – think School Reps, the International and Liberation Student Network, and our Student Exec- chosen by you in our yearly elections to lead LUU.
We are proud to represent a diverse student community with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and interests. We have hubs for postgraduate and international students, and a range of useful resources on Liberate LUU for different liberation groups.
Have your say, and make a change
Your voice guides every decision made here, at LUU. You can present ideas at Better Forums to change policies on an LUU, University, and Leeds city level. You can fill in surveys and join focus groups to tell us what is working and what could be done to enhance your experience. And, if you really want to take things in your own hands, you can always run in Lead LUU to become the next Student Exec!
Campaigns
One of the ways you can make change is through a Campaign! Anyone can start a Campaign, all you need is an idea!
A Campaign is a set of strategic actions aimed at ‘winning’ a specific change to benefit students by mobilising support, building power, and influencing decision-makers.
Got an idea?
Share your ideas with the “Ideas for Change” Portal. This will link through to one of the staff members from the Democracy and Campaigns Team who will be on hand to support you.
We offer lots of resources to help you succeed, from a Campaign Strategy Template that you can create with your Campaign Team, to a Toolkit, to in person events that can support your campaign.
Better Forums
At LUU we’re led by our members, meaning every single one of you can make a change to what we do, how we do it & who represents you.
The Better Forums are how members of LUU turn their Ideas into Policy. Policy is what guides the work of the Student Executive and staff at LUU, and gives us something to aim for in our quest to improve things for students. All policy lasts for three years; some things can happen straight away, whilst others might take months or years of lobbying.
What are the Better Forums?
Better Forums allows LUU members to present their ideas to a student panel to be voted upon. This is split into three subsections, called Better Union, Better University and Better Leeds, held once a term. This ensures that members can seek change in all areas of student life. Any member of LUU can bring an idea to the forum, and we greatly encourage this.
Alongside our wider Strategic Plan and the objectives of your elected Student Executive. Policy is what guides us as an organisation.
The Better Forums were created in 2009 after feedback from and consultation with the whole student body, who told us that they wanted to have a say in important decisions. They also told us that the language and process needed to be accessible, and open to everyone, not just political experts and keen debaters.
The Better Forums are the outcome of that wide research, and we’ve continued to adapt and change them since based on student feedback. They’re our way of seeing what a cross section of the student body makes of an idea, and if they can’t decide we ask all of you in a campus-wide referendum.
Who’s at the Better Forums?
There are three groups of students that attend every Better Forum
- You: You’ll need to be there to tell people why you submitted your idea, and why you’d like the panel to vote yes
- Activities Reps: Each Better Forum is attended by relevant reps (Activities Exec at Better Union, Faculty Officers/School Reps at Better University and Sustainability Reps at Better Leeds – plus the Liberation Student Committee attend all three). They’ll relay other students’ views and give feedback on ideas.
- Student Panel: A randomly selected panel of 16 students (that mirror the demographics of the whole student body) will listen, ask questions, and decide whether to approve or reject your idea – like a jury. 75% of them need to say ‘Yes’ to turn your idea into policy. If they can’t agree then ideas can move to a campus-wide referendum to let all students decide.
The next forum will take place in November 2025.
Liberation
At Leeds University Union (LUU), we believe that every student should feel safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Liberation at LUU is about challenging oppression, amplifying underrepresented voices, and creating spaces where students from marginalised communities can lead, organise, and shape their university experience.
The Liberate LUU Campaign
The Liberate LUU campaign was launched in 2021/22, with the ambition to “deeply embed liberation in all we do” and for this work to “exist and breathe beyond a working group”. Liberate LUU is committed to creating a proactive, student-led, and institutionally supported approach to addressing the barriers faced by marginalised, underrepresented students.
Our goal is to embed liberation into the fabric of our University community, ensuring sustained, meaningful support for liberation communities.
Liberation Student Committee
The Liberation Student Committee is a set of 8 student reps that each will work to develop and build a vibrant and active student network that aims to represent diverse student voices, and lead on campaigns that would make positive change for their community. The 8 Liberation Categories are:
- Working Class Committee– Hana Mirza
- Trans Committee– Ashley Pearce
- Asian Committee – Myra Vaish
- Black Committee – Mariam Kone
- LGBTQ+ Committee- Tee Smith
- Neurodivergent Committee– Kelsie Matthews
- Disabled Committee- Lula Hoffman
- Women’s Committee– Freya Oliver
Liberation In Leeds
You aren’t just a part of our student community, but you’re also part of a wider city network. Leeds is home to a range of community spaces and programmes that aim to create safe and inclusive spaces for our communities that can challenge, celebrate and educate about liberation in Leeds.
Got a recommendation that will help others find inclusive spaces in Leeds.
NUS Liberation Collective
The Liberation Collective is the National Union of Students’ new space for all students to join to strengthen and support liberation activism and it is led by students and apprentices from our five liberation groups: disabled, LGBTQ, Racialised, Trans and women. LUU is a founding member.
The Liberation Hub
The Liberation Hub is due to be opened in October 2025. It’s a space where students form marginalised and underserved communities can come together and support each other’s sense of belonging. It is a sensory safe space for students and is a bookable room for events aligning with equity, diversity and inclusion.
International Students Advisory Board (ISAB)
The ISAB initiative invites international students to submit ideas and advice aimed at improving the international student experience.
The ISAB meeting happens once every term.
- Submit Your Idea
Workshop: LUU will host a preparatory workshop for students who have submitted ideas. The workshop will help participants refine their proposals and prepare for the ISAB meeting.
ISAB Meeting: Students will present their proposals to relevant University department representatives. The panel will provide feedback and on how they plan to tackle the issues. A follow-up report on progress and actions taken will be presented at the next ISAB meeting.