A group of first year York St John University students have created a community outreach with the aim of making a difference in the city.
What is the Community Outreach?
YSJ Community Outreach is a student-run network based at York St John University.
The aim of the outreach is to make a difference in the city with a “more inclusive community.”
Additionally, the network will be working with local partners to deliver workshops and events.
The board is made up of 7 students all of whom share the same aims.
The Co-Chairs
Co-chairs of the community outreach are Law students, Hannah Stopforth and Mayah Simpson, both 19, who say they want to “fight for a change in York as well as the rest of the UK.”
Hannah explains that, “I felt as though there wasn’t enough social and environmental change coming from the students on campus.”
“Yes we have some societies that are actively making change but I couldn’t see the environmental side to this, as well as looking out for people such as the homeless and the less fortunate.”
“We have many ideas currently brewing such as raising money for the RSPCA, food drives for the homeless and clothes swaps for the students.”
“The future aims are to make life easier for students as well as bringing social change with the activist side of the network.”
Mayah, second co-chair, says that there are several ways that people can involve themselves in activism.
“I would say another thing that has been brought up, is that when you are on a night out and you see empty beer cans and buzzballs cans.”
“It is not nice, the city takes care of us, let’s take care of the city back.”
“I feel that people can involve themselves by if they see something, picking it up and putting it in the bin, it’s little acts like that.”
“Realistically, activism is as simple as seeing somebody alone and you go over and ask if they’re okay.”
What is on?
The network is holding events throughout April.
The first event is being held on Wednesday 22nd April from 5-7PM at The Crescent Community Centre.
The event is a film screening of No Release, a film about migrant surveillance.
Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with the researcher Monish Bhatia , a sociologist/ critical criminologist.
Additionally, there will be a discussion for those who are interested in supporting a migrant justice divestment campagin for both University of York and York St John campuses.
The film screening is in collaboration with various other networks and communities.
A few attending are, YSJ Student Activist Network, University of York Green party and York Anti-Raids society.
This is not the only event that the community outreach has to offer for that week.
On Wednesday 23rd April, they are holding a taster session for those that are wanting to involve themselves with the outreach.
The session will include playing games as well as biscuit decorating.
It’ll also include information about the future goals of the community outreach, and introduce it’s members.
click the post below for more information about the session.
Hannah says : “We don’t just want to do one thing based around one demographic, we want to bring change for everyone.”
