A student union fulfils its purpose best when its roles truly reflect the needs and realities of the students it serves. At a university with a long tradition of student leadership such as Bristol, expanding the number of paid part-time positions reserved for current students would restore a sense of ownership and participation that has long defined campus life. Full-time roles, while valuable for continuity, often exclude the very people most attuned to student concerns. Many students cannot take on full-time work without compromising their academic commitments. This challenge is even more pronounced for international students who must follow strict visa limits on working hours.

With living costs soaring, many students must now work far from campus and their accommodation simply to sustain themselves. This travel drains time and energy that could otherwise be dedicated to study or joining activities that enrich their university experience. When the cost of living forces students into distant jobs, their connection with campus life weakens, and opportunities for development slip away. SU own Student Work-Life Report 2025, indicate the trouble of working part time which is affecting the students well-being and education, that is beacuse on an average a student loses 8-9 hours, having a job at university building with the SU can lessesn the said burden on the students. While the government takes it time to think of something to do anything about this crisis of inflation, we should do our own bit by maximising the support without costing too much time in travelling and getting exploited at the hands of the employers.

Shifting towards more flexible, student-held paid roles would widen access and ensure that the union’s work is grounded in lived experience. Part-time positions allow students to contribute meaningfully while honouring their academic priorities. They also open leadership pathways for those who might not otherwise see themselves in governance. In the long run, this approach upholds the principle that student unions are by students and for students while meeting today’s pressures with fairness and foresight.