October 2017

Guild President Charlotte talks road safety, RAGs and taxi rides with Birmingham's Lord Mayor

Read time: approx 1 mins

UCB’s Guild of Students President Charlotte Gates joined four other union reps from universities across the city for a meeting with Birmingham’s Lord Mayor Anne Underwood this week.

The session was one of a series planned by #OneCity, a collaboration between University College Birmingham, Aston University, Newman University, Birmingham City University and University of Birmingham Student Unions to enhance the student experience of life in Birmingham.

Safety was top of the agenda for Anne, Charlotte and the other presidents, as they drew up plans for a safe taxi scheme exclusively for students and discussed reinstating a campaign to improve protection for cyclists on Bristol Road.  

The Mayor also took the opportunity to detail some of the charities she supports, including Cherished, an organisation devoted to improving young girls’ self- esteem, Whizz-Kidz, who provide much-needed equipment to children with mobility issues, and Dementia UK, a cause Anne “cares deeply about” devoted to improving the lives of those suffering with the condition.

Charlotte and her fellow #OneCity members set out a plan for RAG (Raising and Giving) officers from across Birmingham’s five universities to collaborate on upcoming charity campaigns. That way, Birmingham’s universities maximise support and fundraising for the causes that mean most to their students.

“We thought of lots of ways all of the #OneCity presidents would be able to work together on a diverse set of projects,” said Charlotte. “We will be working closely with the Mayor on a number of important campaigns over the next year, starting with encouraging organ and blood donor registration among students. There’s a lot UCB’s Guild can get involved in.”

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