Georgia Miles

Hi! I’m Georgia, and I’m running to be your Welfare and Community Officer.

I’m currently studying for a Master’s in Biomedical Research, and I also completed my undergrad at Queen’s in Biological Sciences. This year, I was elected as the postgraduate representative for all schools in the faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Sciences. Through this role I have sat on the QSU Student Council, QUB Academic Board, and the MHLS Education Committee, where I have consistently pushed for student voices to be heard, and actually acted on! I want to bring this experience and dedication to the entire student population.

Why am I Running?

From listening to my classmates’ daily struggles, and from my own experience as a neurodiverse and disabled student, I’ve witnessed the systemic lack of real, practical support available. You ask for support, and are met with website links, long waits, and directions to go somewhere else.

This is unacceptable.

It is extremely important to me that the university that we pay so much for provides adequate supports for all of its students, and I am not afraid to challenge Queen’s for this. We are more than our grades and deserve to be treated as such. I will not let any student slip through the system. Most importantly, I truly care. I want to be an advocate who makes real change, an officer you can trust, and a safe space for tough conversations.

Improving Your Mental and Physical Health

Looking after your health at university shouldn’t feel inaccessible, or like something you can only prioritise once assignments are submitted. I will focus on making physical and mental health care visible, preventative, and easy to access, not something you have to figure out alone. This will involve:

• Bringing free, on-campus health screenings in partnership with charities and health organisations (such as heart, lung, and blood pressure checks)
• Improved sexual health clinic access – it can’t always wait until Monday!
• Pushing for reduced gym fees, affordable activity options, and proper rest spaces on campus
• Expanding wellbeing support and activities during exam and assessment periods, that also include our placement students and postgraduates

I will also push for a Student Crisis Guarantee: a formal agreement between Queen’s, the SU, and key support services to ensure that no student in crisis is left without same-day human support. This also means follow-up welfare care and academic support, so students aren’t left to cope alone once an issue is reported.

Cost of Living Relief

The cost-of-living crisis is already affecting students, but for many, the problem isn’t just money. It’s not knowing what support exists, how to access it, or whether they’re “allowed” to ask for help. You are. And we should demand more of our university!  Struggling with food costs, transport, printing, energy bills, and everyday essentials should not be normalised as “just part of student life”. I will push for:

• Expanded and better-promoted hardship funds, so students know when and how to apply
• Extended pantry opening times, that actually work for postgraduates and placement students
• Affordable food options on campus, along with printing and transport grants
• Develop legal advice clinics and plain-language guides on employment rights and immigration/visas.

Protecting Student Renters

Housing is one of the biggest sources of stress for students in Belfast’s private rental market, particularly for first-year and international students navigating it for the first time. Having rented privately for 4 years, I’ve seen first-hand how poor housing conditions and unresponsive landlords can seriously impact wellbeing, finances, and of course academic life. I will:

• Establish a student-led landlord blacklist, so students can report unsafe or exploitative landlords and make informed housing choices
• Run “Know Your Rights” sessions on HMO-licensing, deposits, mould and heating standards, tenant protections, and what to do if  your rights are violated. 
• Expand Queens’ Housing Co-operative, providing cheaper housing options for students
• Make Queen’s University a guarantor for international students renting

Safe and Inclusive Campus

I am well aware how unsafe campus can feel for women and LGBTQ+ students, particularly at night. On top of that, unrest over the past year has left many international students anxious about campus safety. Feeling safe at university shouldn’t depend on your identity, and it is time to address these issues at their core. I also believe that our union and university have a responsibility to actively include students who are often left out, including commuters, postgraduates, and international students. I will advocate for:

• Consent education and active bystander training integrated into the curriculum
• Better reporting systems for sexual misconduct, domestic violence, or assault, that end victim blaming and burden, so all survivors feel safe, centred, and supported
• Visible nighttime security on campus with regular patrols on surrounding roads and walkways between buildings
• Assessment flexibility for severe menstrual health conditions, such as endometriosis
• Transition to university support for incoming international students, including guidance on safe spaces and emergency services in Belfast
• Subsidized travel costs and timetable clustering to support commuters and students with jobs, care roles, and disabilities

As Welfare and Community Officer, I will focus on real support, clear information, and system-level change, so no student is navigating hardship alone.

Vote Georgia #1 for a safer, more supportive, and more inclusive Queen’s.