It’s that time of year again when students and student officers get a real opportunity to feed into and shape the NUS agenda over the coming year. Conference decisions and policy making powers should never be underestimated and whilst we must recognise our achievements this year we must also look to the future, a future with less uncertainty, a future that delivers more and wins more.

This year I’ve worked hard to make changes to students lives happen. My work on welfare this year has consistently been about prioritising the issues so many often belittle.

When I started my work on bullying this year, It wasn’t just because I recognised it was a big issue but because you told me it was. When others tried to railroad or diminish the importance of this work I persevered until I got the issue of bullying in Further and higher education, not just on the agenda’s of welfare officers but of MP’s and government ministers. That work is ongoing but I’m so pleased at the response from so many of you.

It’s also exciting to see so many students interested in Welfare campaigns this year. Veronica has led front and centre and has revolutionised the way many of us view Welfare – I’m please to work with her and prouder still of the support I’ve received form her for VP Welfare.

I hope many of you have read my manifesto and have had chance to look at my website which details my plans for the year.

From childcare to housing, I know that NUS’ work could be so much more effective. Working and winning on the issues important to you. Books, lecturing standards, childcare facilities, library opening hours, safety so many things that we know could be better in our institutions and where they could be better, student deserve better, you deserve better.

I believe passionately in a Welfare campaigns that centred on your issues; if we are to quash the rise of racism and Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism on our campuses then we must fight for it. It’s simply not good enough for the white collared men in Whitehall to dictate to us just what “integration” actually is when all they serve to do is create separation and suspicion. It must be led and won by those already integrating, already in those communities and those that are so often marginalised by the politics and power.

But my achievements this year have been so varied. But my passion focussed on the types of issues you never get enough support for;

• More Welfare Products through NUS Services

• Bullying booklet for SU’s

• Bullying on the Governments agenda

• Diversity DVD’s, helping students to get a more integrated and diverse membership

• Working with “one water” – getting ethical waters into SU shops.

• Being a director of NUSSL, focussing on International Food

• And many more…

If you should need any more information about my campaign, please do take a look at my website www.ama4welfare.co.uk or grab me during conference!

Have a safe journey to Blackpool.

Ama x

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