With Christmas come and gone I thought it was time that I write to you all again and tell all about what I’ve been doing throughout December and up until now.

5th - I attended the Devolution Student Support Project in the Assembly in Cardiff. This basically is a project board set up to bring through the changes that Wales will see with regards to its Student Support Services. A new Welsh call centre is being opened in North Wales and the majority of Welsh Students will be routed to there for a more personal service. It is also fantastic news for Welsh speaking students – the centre will have fully trained Welsh speaking staff who will carry through all enquiries and applications in Welsh.

6th and 7tth - saw myself, Sarah and Bethan take to our car and take a trip around Welsh FE Colleges. The reason for this was our FE Christmas Card Campaign – the campaign slogan was “All I Want for Christmas is….”. We hoped the students in the colleges would write down on the card what they wanted to see with regards to improvements in the FE sector. Im glad to say that the card was a resounding success and the Bethan and Sarah then presented the card to the minister for Education in Wales. It really did surprise me how much support and help the students need in their Unions. As we walked around the colleges we saw no end of NUS campaign posters but no actual Union activity – We at NUS Wales will be spending a lot of time at FE Colleges over the next few months. It will not be tokenistic and it will not be a jolly around Wales – it will be actual help in actual FE Colleges. I look forward to the challenge of building stronger links with colleges.

9th – We at NUS Wales attended a conference hosted by the Welsh Assembly on Student Finance Wales. It was basically a chance for the assembly to show LEA’s, Student Representatives and people who work with the Student body how ‘fab’ their new system is (note the sarcasm in my voice, it is no different). With its brand new name Student Finance Wales it really will be the all encompassing body that Welsh Students need to secure their financial future!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12th – WNEC Meeting, Cardiff. We were supposed to hold an NEC meeting in Abertystwyth in November but it was unfortunately put on hold for the referendum that was staged the same week. The meeting went well and we elected two new WNEC Officers and passed some good policy. Congratulations to Jamie Mcindo and Rahat Ahmed. We are now only one short of a full WNEC. Wahay.

13th – 15th I was in London for ESIB (European Student Convention). The ESIB events were fantastic and provided me with a fantastic opportunity to speak to the ESIB co-ordinator about Wales joining ESIB separately from NUS UK. What this would do is allow us more of a voice in Europe and provide some exposure for us on an International level.

14th – 15th NEC London. I gave the NEC a short presentation on Bilingualism and how it effects them and the work they do within the UK and especially Wales.

I have lots of work in the pipeline – especially the All Wales Trip that starts next Monday 9th, the NEC meetings in London, Education Task force meeting in London, ELWa consultation meeting in Machynlleth, Celebrate Campaign Launch in Cardiff and a whole host of meetings, it is going to be a very busy month.

As usual please feel free to contact me at any time about anything at all. My mobile number is 07921529733 and my e-mail is dylan.williams@nus-wales.org.uk

To all those officers in Wales I am also free for any parties or events you may be hosting. Taking to my car and travelling the length and breadth of Wales is what I’m here for.

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