Admission: Impossible Campaign Jan ’07 Onwards
We hope you agree that 2006 has been a great success for the Admission: Impossible campaign. 2007 will bring two new and dynamic activities for you to get involved with as part of the ongoing priority campaign and our fight for free, fair and funded education.
1. National lobbying at a local level: ‘Would Like to Meet…’
The first event incorporates nationwide lobbying activity in MPs own constituencies. The aim of this event is to provide effective lobbying and strategic information gathering. We will support you in this activity by providing briefings and campaign resources with a goal of:
a) Empowering you to meet your MP(s)
b) Establishing and encouraging engagement with your MP(s) on this and other issues
c) Engaging VCs in the lobbying activity
Timing and messages:
The lobbying activity will be focused during the week beginning 12th February, to capitalise on recess and the fact that many MP(s) will be in their constituencies. However lobbying can also take place through the rest of the academic year and it’s important that your relationship with your MP is maintained.
The key message to MPs and VCs will be that despite Alan Johnson’s comments of summer ‘06, students have not “learnt to love” fees (hence the week also coinciding with Valentine’s day).
Activity:
The key activity is to start collating data on your MPs and VCs views on fees and the lifting of the cap. This mapping exercise will assist both your local campaigning and NUS’ national lobbying strategy. It will be crucial to feedback this information to NUS where we will collate and store the intelligence. We would like you to ask MPs and VCs 3 questions:
1. Do you oppose the lifting of the current cap on top-up fees?
2. How do you believe HE should be funded?
3. How do you think the current system of HE funding will impact on your constituency?
We will also be asking you to undertake several other activities, more details of which will be released shortly.
More information on this part of the campaign will be available in the new year. The next stage of your mission, should you chose to accept it, is to write to your constituency MP(s) to ask for a meeting with them during the week beginning the 12th February. Why not combine it with them visiting your campus and meeting some students? This is an ideal opportunity to start a relationship with your elected representative. To find out who your MP is and how to contact them enter your postcode. An adaptable model letter can be found here.
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