James Siswick, Candidate for BL Treasurer
Role Description: The Treasurer will have the opportunity to maintain and assist in everything finance for the BLSA. This means you’ll manage the Association Fund, funding applications, and assisting the VPs in the funding for flagship events. You’ll also be able to manage external stakeholders to find appropriate sponsorship where appropriate. This is a non-representative position and does not sit on the Student Council.
What's your favourite moment from being a student here?
My favourite moment from being a student at Barts was being in the room as a baby boy was delivered during my first-year hospital placement at Newham. It was amazing being part of the team, being present as the family’s lives changed forever. I feel that I learned a lot during that experience and it helped me to develop into my future role as a healthcare professional. At the beginning of the three hours I was there I felt like a spare part, standing at the back of the room but by the end I was helping the midwives and chatting to the new parents. I even had the opportunity to cut the umbilical cord!
What's something you've done that you're proud of?
Becoming a runner.
When I was a child I hated all sports, especially those that I was compelled to participate in at school. I believed for a long time that I had some kind of biological deformity which meant I was unable to run.
Rolling forwards a few years, I was in a new relationship with someone who had entered a 10k run and he asked me to join him for a training run. “Sure” – I said and we ran about 2km before I collapsed in a spluttering heap.
But I was inspired to stick with it and progressed through to running 5ks, 10ks, half marathons and then completed the London Marathon in 2021 in a touch under four hours. I’m currently training for my second marathon, in Brighton on 7th April, and ran a 29km tour of London this morning!
If I can do this, anyone can!
What is a problem facing students and how do you propose to fix it?
Students are under pressure and can feel anxious about many topics: academic requirements and long-term career choices are just two.
BLSA has done a great job of building a community for Barts students from integrating them into the university through to providing an environment where students can connect with each other in sports teams, societies and regular socials.
As BLSA Treasurer, I want to make sure we use our resources to continue to support these, but also to step up with what we can offer to students who are going through tough times – whether that’s financial hardship or supporting welfare reps in providing counselling to students. I am uniquely placed to be able to push forward with this due to my life experience, prior professional roles and strong relationships with key university stakeholders.
