The Above and Beyond the Call of Duty (ABCD) Award is chosen monthly by Students' Union staff to reward the work of our volunteers. We are pleased to announce December’s winner and runner up which was chosen just before Christmas.
December’s winner was Nikkita Holmes who was nominated by multiple volunteer managers for her outstanding campaign “This Is Me”.
Nikkita started planning the campaign over a year ago and has worked really hard ever since to make it a reality. Not only has she recruited volunteers to feature in the campaign, but she also spent a lot of time planning the campaign in meeting with members of the UCLan wellbeing team to make sure she was signposting students correctly. The campaign has been received very well by disabled students and the wellbeing team and is very significant in the current climate. It suggests students take a preventative approach to get the support they need.
In addition to this, Nikkita was nominated for her outstanding contribution to student experience. As well as the “This Is Me” campaign; as chair of the Student Minds Society and a volunteer of the Time to Change Champions Group, Nikkita has dedicated her free time in a pandemic to helping others through it all whilst trying to deal with the pandemic herself. Not only this, but in her role of Disabled Students Rep, she has consistently consulted on issues with her constituents and updates them on University-wide announcements alongside attending all the training and communities she attends to fully represent students.
In response to winning the award Nikkita said:
“According to Inclusive Support, disclosures increased by 165.77% in November 2020 compared to November 2019 which is fantastic. To campaign for Disabled Student’s rights is an honour in itself but to receive the ABCD award for this work is the icing on the cake. I want to thank every single student who shared and engaged with the campaign as well as the students who featured in the first phase: Cat, Katie and Sarah. I would also like to thank the Students’ Union staff members who nominated me for this award and the Communications department for all their hard work. Please watch this space because there is more to come to ensure Disabled Students win in their university experience. #ThisIsMe”
Nikkita would also like to signpost any students to get the support they need to succeed, to please email - inclusivesupport@uclan.ac.uk or visit Inclusive Support | Student Support | University of Central Lancashire (uclan.ac.uk)
