In the last week, we’ve received two key pieces of news that have made us all delighted.

The mental health bill has now completed it’s journey through the Commons and will now go for Royal Assent. Although not perfect (the Mental Health Alliance still describe the bill as a ‘missed opportunity’) all the main concerns of NUS have been addressed and implemented into the legislation.

There is much work still to be done, but NUS can be proud of it’s achievements in ensuring that the initial draconian New Labour proposals are now no more. This has been a ten year process for many of us and the end result of a good one for students with mental ill health across the UK.

You can read more about this here

In the same week, the government (finally) announced that they are raising the caps on Disabled Students’ allowance. This means that, from 2008, disabled students who are eligible can claim up to a further sixty percent than they are currently entitled to. In real terms, this can mean the difference of up to a £6,000 grant per eligible disabled student.

You can read the government announcement here and our full response here.

Bill Rammell’s letter to me can be found here and you can read all our campaign updates as usual on our campaign homepage.

Till next time,
Alex

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