Exeter Students: Making change since 1955
Are you ready to make change at Exeter? If you’re already supporting a campaign, have a campaign idea, or more of a vision of how you want something to be– we can support you with every step of your activist journey.
From mapping your idea, events, and getting you into the right room with the right people – we are here to help you turn those ideas into plans and action!
Get in touch with the team today, to kickstart your campaign!
Thinking about holding a protest? We can support your campaigning from helping with risk assessments to materials.
Previous Campaigns
Shell Out Campaign:
A group of students were not happy that the University was accepting payments from Shell. We were able to support students and its elected Officers to create a survey asking students how they felt about sustainability. Students were able to use this data to lobby the University to make changes to its investment policy. We also provided protest support, such as funding and physical resources.
Student Sustainability Board
Students led a grassroots campaign to request funding to deliver their core objectives of a more sustainable Exeter. We provided provide £500 for Welcome Week activities. Two students who were part of the movement were invited to sit in on University Committee meetings. We supported them with preparation and debriefs to help them be heard.
Gender Expression Fund
Your Guild was able to provide a pot of money to a group of students who were looking to set up an initiative which allowed students to afford gender affirming items and services. We were able to work with Student group to design and operationalise the fund, which is still open today!.
Feed Your Flat
A former Student Living Officer launched Feed Your Flat, a series of free food collection events, to students make nutritional meals and feed their flatmates off the back of rising cost of living. Off the back of this, another student launched a community-cookbook. Your Officers reached out to the student body for their easy-to-make favourite meals.
Case Studies
16 Days of Activism
“It’s an everybody issue to keep Exeter safe”
About: This campaign raised awareness and called for change at local, national and international levels to end violence against all women and girls.
Who was involved: Student societies, the University and external groups and charities (including Spliz, Devon Rape Crisis and Intercom Trust)
Events and Activities
- ‘Through the ages’ Social (with Women & Law, Labour, Feminist, Pro-Choice, UN Women and socialist students societies)
- Sign making (for reclaim the night)
- Reclaim the night march
- Heat map of safety
- Fix the headlines (how the media portray violence against women)
- Send a letter to your MP
Successes:
The campaign engaged a great number of students, particularly the stalls in the Forum with the Fix the headlines and heat map activities.
Read more about 16 Days of Activism
£2 Meal
About: This campaign secured affordable, sustainable hot meals across Exeter campuses to help students with the cost of living.
Who was involved: A group of students who were inspired by the Plant Based Universities campaign and thought meals on campus were too expensive.
Events and Activities:
- Forum stalls to raise awareness with students
- Petition for cheap, healthy hot food on campus
- Delivered petition (with over 1,000 signatures) to the Vice-Chancellor
- Involved VP Liberation and Equality (Emma de Saram) to advocate at University level
- Super Savour Kitchen opened, serving £2 meals!
- Cross Keys started serving £2 meals
- Starting campaigning for a £2 breakfast option
Successes:
A £2 meal was introduced on Streatham in November 2022 and St Luke’s in January 2023.
£2 breakfast was introduced in March 2023.
There have been over 20,000 meals served per term since the meals were introduced, and many students have benefitted from having affordable meal options on campus.
Societies & Groups:
Want to be part of a bigger group of students making change, or campaigning for a cause? Join one of our many societies designed to raise awareness of issues and make positive change.
Exeter Student Volunteers (ESV)
Hong Kong Public Affairs and Social Services
Student Action for Refugees (STAR) Society
Students of Colour Association
