Liberation and Community Networks

Historic liberation movements such as civil rights, gay liberation fronts, women's liberation and disability rights campaigns help make our society more inclusive and diverse. Liberation groups today continue to challenge public misunderstanding and social injustices in today's society.

So what do the networks do at Imperial?

• They organise campaigns to tackle particular problems faced by their members
• They facilitate the building of community amongst their members and wider community
• They provide a safe space for students who identify with them
• They're a support network for their members - particularly for personal problems related to their identity

All Liberation and Community Officer roles are elected in the Leadership Elections and each leads a network committee for their community, made up of other elected students. Each committee is made up of a Campaigns Officer, Community Engagement Officer, and Welfare Officer who support the officer and work as a team to better their community. These roles are filled during our annual Autumn Elections.

Learn about each of our communities below and click here to join!

The fund aims to alleviate financial barriers by providing funding for products that aid one’s gender expression, fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment.

See full policy below.

Request funds here

Bio coming soon!

Whether you’re a fresher or a master's student, please come to me with any suggestions for how we can keep Imperial inclusive! My email is always open icu-lgbtq@imperial.ac.uk!

My key goals for this year are to make name-changing easier for trans students, to improve the availability of gender-neutral bathrooms across all of our campuses, and to increase visibility of LGBTQ+ support networks inside and outside of Imperial.

For my second year in the role, my priorities are as follows:

• to continue spreading awareness about different mental health conditions through events.
• to encourage an inclusive and supportive community through the Mental Health Network and the Mental Health Awareness Month campaign.
• to improve the Mental Health Network's online presence to reach a wider audience at Imperial using the Instagram (@icu_mentalhealth) and email.
• to work in partnership with different student groups, staff, and networks to achieve what's listed above.

I’m looking forward to this year. If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch!

1. Building awareness and training
   Supporting students with disabilities or chronic conditions is everyone’s responsibility. I want to improve awareness and training in areas that have often been overlooked—such as security and health & safety—and ensure that all staff and faculty have access to the tools and resources they need to provide inclusive support.
   
2. Improving accessibility in events and activities
   Inaccessible events can have a huge impact on student experience. I plan to enhance communication about accessibility and develop more effective methods for students to share feedback and express their needs, ensuring that no one is excluded by their disability.
   
3. Raising awareness of hidden and underdiagnosed conditions
   Disability and chronic conditions can affect anyone at any point. Many students may not realise their condition qualifies as a disability, or that support is available to them. I want to raise awareness of common and underdiagnosed conditions, highlight the protections in place for disabled students, and make sure everyone knows what support is accessible—whether or not they identify as disabled.
   
4. Championing intersectional experiences
   Many students at Imperial live at the intersection of disability and other identities, which can shape their experiences in unique ways. I hope to collaborate closely with other Liberation & Community Officers this year to spotlight these experiences and ensure intersectional voices are heard.

I’ll also be working closely with the Disability Advisory Service and with societies that represent disabled communities, to make sure your voices are heard. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, and ideas 😊

Bio coming soon.

Bio coming soon.

My priorities of the year

• Collaborate with the Chaplaincy to launch more interfaith events
• Ensure adequate spaces for prayer, meditation and other practices
• Promote student-led activities around spiritual and mindful practices

Over this time, I have built strong relationships across the College community, collaborated with student societies, and worked closely with College leadership to ensure that the voices of international students are heard and valued.

With my international background and extensive experience in cross-cultural communication, I have developed a deep understanding of both the challenges and the opportunities that international students encounter. I remain committed to fostering inclusivity, promoting intercultural exchange, and creating a welcoming environment for students from all backgrounds.

My goals in this role are to:

• Collaborate with student societies and organisations to deliver inclusive events and initiatives that celebrate cultural diversity and promote global awareness.
• Advocate for the needs and concerns of international students at the institutional level, ensuring their perspectives are represented in decision-making.
• Encourage dialogue and cooperation among different student communities, fostering mutual respect and understanding.
• Strengthen connections with leading universities worldwide to create opportunities for global exchanges, joint research, and internships that enrich both academic and personal development.

I believe that diversity is a source of strength, innovation, and inspiration. As I continue my journey at Imperial, I look forward to working with our vibrant international community to make campus life even more inclusive and dynamic. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, ideas, or initiatives that could further enhance the international student experience.

Coming from a working-class, first-generation background, I’m passionate about representing students like myself, who are often in the minority at Imperial. I want to make sure you feel supported, included, and that you truly belong here.

As your Working Class Officer, my main aims are to:

- Increase recognition of the Working Class network, as well as other Liberation & Community networks.

- Collaborate with other LCOs and societies to provide holistic support for students and fun socials.

- Continue endeavours in reducing food prices on campus.

- Raise awareness and support for students experiencing estrangement.

- Provide support for students struggling with financial challenges and imposter syndrome at university.

Don't hesitate to reach out to me via email, Instagram, or speak to me in person if you ever need support.

LGBTQ+ History Month happens in February every month.

It helps to increase the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and/or asexual people, their history, lives and their experiences in the wider community.

It is a time to celebrate the diversity that LGBTQ+ people bring to society, but also the hardships they have faced and continue facing in society.

This LGBTQ+ History month, let’s ensure that all LGBTQ+ people can feel safe, seen, and supported at Imperial.

2025 Theme

The 2025 theme is Activism and Social Change.

Throughout history, LGBTQ+ people have used their voice to create social change, advancing society for everyone.

Have a look at some of the activists that we are celebrating this year on the LGBTQ+ History Month website.

Are you a social activist too and do you belong to the queer community? Let us know how you are shaping change at Imperial.

How to get involved this LGBTQ+ History Month?

1. Come along to our LGBTQ+ History Month launch event at the Abdus Salam Library Foyer on 5 February for a Charity Bake Sale, from 11 am to 4 pm. We will be selling baked goods, stickers, distributing pronoun pins and rainbow lanyards and more to raise funds for Mermaids – a charity that supports trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families

1. Submit an artwork that will be displayed at a pop-up LGBTQ+ x Mental Health Art Exhibition in the Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication (CLCC) Foyer. The gallery will happen from 24 – 28 February.

Submissions for the artwork close on 20 February and are open to everyone! For the submission form, please visit @imperial_lgbtq on Instagram.

Plus, there will be a kick off event on 24 February at 6.30 - you are all invited to come along! Light refreshments and drinks will be provided.

Next steps

Give ICU ‘s LGBTQ+ Network a follow on Instagram to know more about their plans for the year and keep updated with their initiatives.

Disability History Month (DHM) - 14 November to 20 December - is a national event that aims to promote the rights of people with disability and their struggle for equality.

It is celebrated annually and is supported by a wide range of disability advocacy organisations, unions and voluntary organisations.

DHM is an opportunity for us to reflect on how we can make the lives of people with disability better through our everyday actions. The more we understand about disability, the more we can provide better help and support. Making sure not to judge someone based on their disability is crucial.

Remember, not all disabilities are visible.

Theme for this year

At Imperial College Union, we will mark DHM this year with a very special theme – ‘Things I wish you knew.’ This theme is part of a year-long campaign that will aim to highlight the experiences of students living with disability and neurodiversity.

There are lots of things a person with disability wishes you knew. Like that introverted person you see in class - the one who never contributes to discussions. Did you know that they live with autism and have chronic social anxiety, so they might find it overwhelming? They have lots to say but we need to create a safe space for them first.

It is extremely important for us to set up inclusive and accessible places, so everyone feel like they belong.

How to get involved?

There are many ways you can get involved in DHM.

• Come to our DHM event on 12 December at Metric . We will host a panel discussion with students, staff and external partners who will share their experiences and answer your questions.

• Fill out our survey - You can help change how we perceive and talk about disability by sharing your own lived experience. Survey results will be compiled into a video and shared with students. You can choose to share your story anonymously if you prefer.

• We also have Clubs and Societies (CSPs) that work with and for students with disability to make Imperial College London a more inclusive place. Consider signing up to the Neurodiversity Society, the Sign Language Society or the Psychiatry Society. There are many more disability-focused CSPs you can join, or you can even create your own!

In addition to the above, always be mindful of the language and tone you use while speaking about people with disability:

1. Use person-first language, whenever possible: putting the person before the disability. For example, instead of ‘autistic person, use ‘person with autism. ‘
2. Use an active voice instead of a passive voice: use “we made mistakes”, instead of saying “mistakes were made by us.”
3. Avoid offensive or condescending words, such as ‘handicapped person’, ‘retarded or ‘blind’. You can find additional guidance on words to avoid in this inclusive language guide.

Support for you at ICU and Imperial College London

If you are a student living with a disability, we know that your disability can affect you in different ways.

We provide tailored and flexible services through:

1. The Advice Service at ICU
2. The Disability Advisory Service at Imperial College
3. The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre

Meg Spiteri, your Disabilities Officer isalso here to help answer any questions may have around disability and accessibility. Head to her blog and see what her plans are for the next year.

Mental Health Awareness Month aims to create and encourage safe spaces for conversations surrounding mental health and how it impacts different people.

Throughout the month, led by your Mental Health Officer, Miriam, we'll be hosting various wellbeing-oriented events. We want to champion students and staff at Imperial to feel comfortable having conversations around mental health without the attached stigma.

Across the range of events, we aim to give students and staff an opportunity to discover a new and fun activity that they can continue beyond the month to encourage everyone to take time to do things that bring them joy.

Theme for this year

As raised by Mental Health Foundation UK, the theme for this year is Community.

'Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing. We thrive when we have strong connections with other people and supportive communities that remind us, we are not alone. Communities can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and give us a sense purpose.' - Mental Health Foundation UK

What's on during MHA Month?

All events are free to attend! Just make sure to register for ones that require it.

🟢 Mental Health Awareness Month Yoga - Registration required.

🟢 Clay Sculpting Class in collaboration with Art Club

🟢 Creative Writing Workshop

🟢 Gardening Session with RE:GEN

🟢 Mental Health Awareness Month creative space

🟢 Colour Run with Move Imperial - Registration required.

Your Mental Health Officer

Miram is a third-year undergraduate studying chemistry, and is your Mental Health Officer for 2024/25, and has also been re-elected for next year! One of Miriam's key statements during campaigning in 2024 for the Mental Health Officer role was: "I strongly believe an individual's mental well-being should not be sacrificed in the pursuit of a successful career or student experience", something she still passionately believes.

To read more from Miriam or get in contact, you can view her profile further down this page. Watch this space for a blog post from Miriam, too!