Cerys Evans: Greatest Hits
Friday 04-04-2025 - 14:54
As Cerys Evans prepares to step down from her role as LUSU President after nearly two years at the helm, we take a deep dive into her key achievements.
On March 11th, LUSU confirmed that President Cerys Evans would be resigning from the role.
"Serving as President has been both a huge privilege and a profound challenge," Cerys said of her time leading LUSU. First elected in 2023 and re-elected in 2024, she has worked tirelessly to improve student rights, representation, and university life. From championing student housing reforms to advocating for mental health support and tackling the Cost-of-Living crisis, her leadership has made a real impact.
Richard Soper, Vice Chair of the Trustee Board said: “The Trustee Board sends its best wishes and thanks to Cerys for her considerable contribution to LUSU over the last two years. Particularly memorable for me was her leadership of the cost-of-living campaigns and the reshaping of the Assembly, but she has also left her mark in many other areas of the Union’s work. We wish her the very best as she moves ahead in her life.”
With Cerys’ departure, we look back at some of the incredible things she has achieved—for LUSU, the University, and students.
National Representation
Cerys has continuously represented Lancaster students on a national scale. From appearances on regional television and radio to speaking at policy conferences, she has ensured that student voices are heard at every level — from the University to the Government.
In 2024, Cerys featured on BBC Question Time, a high-profile debate programme where members of the public question guest speakers. She used this platform to highlight how the growing cost-of-living crisis was (and still is) affecting university students.
"Students are the future of the economy. If we can’t eat, we can’t study. If we can’t afford our rent, we can’t live here."
Her appearance on Question Time gained over 3 million views online, leading to further television appearances on ITV.
Beyond the media, Cerys has also taken student concerns directly to policymakers. She has been invited to Parliament three times, including as a guest speaker, and much more:
· 5 invitations to speak at national policy conferences
· 3 invitations to sit on/contribute to national policy-setting groups
· 4 times representing Lancaster at NUS (National Union of Students) national events
· 10 visits to British universities (plus 6 European ones!)
Officer Review
Last year, ahead of elections for this year’s Full-Time Officer (FTO) team, it was announced that LUSU would be restructuring the way FTOs work.
This process was led by Cerys, who reviewed the previous team structure and explored how students could be better represented. She consulted widely, engaging with society execs, student trustees, and other student leaders to ensure the changes reflected student priorities.
"I was able to restructure the Full-Time Officer (FTO) team to have roles more closely aligned with student political priorities."
To explain the changes, Cerys created a video that gained over 19,000 views on Instagram.
Rent Freeze and Cost of Living Support
The Cost-of-Living Crisis has had a huge impact on students – not just in Lancaster, but nationwide. As President, Cerys made this a priority, ensuring students received vital support.
"I successfully secured a rent freeze for some of the cheapest rooms on campus—the first win by an officer in this area since 2015. I also led the #SaveOurSupper campaign for continued Cost of Living support for students, which successfully saw funding for Supper Club and the Pantry return for another year."
Beyond the Headlines
While these are just some of Cerys’ major achievements, it is not an exhaustive list. She has also worked behind the scenes to support students in countless ways. From strengthening relationships between students and staff to helping shape the recruitment process for the University’s new Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, her impact extends far beyond what’s visible.
We’d like to thank Cerys for her dedication and leadership as President, supporting students every step of the way on their university journey. We wish her the best of luck in whatever comes next! 🎉
