NUS at Glastonbury

Health

NUS calls for prescriptions, dental care and eye test exemptions to be extended to cover all students. Affordable quality healthcare now will ensure a healthier generation of graduates in the future.

One in seven students did not seek medical help when they needed it. 79.2% of students in the same survey did not apply for help with healthcare costs under the current system. (Students' access to healthcare 2003/2004. NUS, 2004.

With the current scheme under review and its efficiency and impact being questioned we would like a strong indication from the PM that students as low-income earners are entitled to accessible healthcare. With increased financial pressures on students accessing healthcare shouldn’t be at the expense of other basic needs.

A statement to parliament will be made in July to open a formal period of consultation on how they system should operate. To get students entitlements recognised in this area help us demonstrate how important this issue is and sign up to our campaign.

Travel

NUS' calls for a commitment to ensure concessionary bus travel for all students. Investing in sustainable public transport now benefits young people and students now and a generation of public transport users in the future.

The concessionary bus travel bill is going through the House of Commons, during this time NUS will be seeking commitments to protect and encourage concessionary bus schemes for students.

Transport costs have a major impact on access to employment and training opportunities for all people. Six per cent of all 16-24 year olds turn down training or further education because of problems with transport and nearly half of 16-18 year old students say they find transport costs hard to meet.

Bus and coach fares rose by 168% between 1987 and 2006, 'a period during which the cost of motoring remained stable’. Young people and those from poorer backgrounds are amongst the heaviest users of public transport and they have been penalised for this dependency. (Unfare! Young people and transport costs. TUC, 2007)

Work and pay

NUS’ calls for an equal minimum wage to protect our most vulnerable members and give them a fair and equal position in the work place.

Full time students work an average of 14 hours a week . Lower wages encourage young people to work longer hours. This impacts on their education and unnaturally distort the labour market, to the detriment of young people.

From October 2007, the minimum age will be £5.25 per hour for workers aged over 22. For those aged 18-21 it's £4.60 per hour, and for those aged 16-18, it is £3.40 per hour. NUS welcomed the introduction of the minimum wage however this tiered approach does not go far enough towards protecting young people from exploitation, or respecting the contribution they make in the work place. (All work and low pay, the growth in the UK student employment. TUC, 20006)