As I end one role in NUS and move onto a new one I thought I’d write something about my experiences over the past two years of being on the block of twelve. I’m not going to write about why we should keep the block of twelve or start to argue why we should get rid of the block of twelve, this is not what this is about.

It is very hard to actually achieve anything as a block member without one of the full timers giving up at least part of their remit to you, it is very hard working remotely from NUS HQ not knowing the staff being particularly challenging when trying to get things done and it is very hard when you permanently have to defend your existence.

I was one of the lucky ones over the past two years, both years I was given a project to work on by full timers if you are not in that position being on the block can be very isolating.

I was based in Liverpool, studying whilst on the NEC and obviously NUS HQ is in London, I knew a few of the staff but not all of them and when I came into HQ it was embarrassing that I did not know them and also that I always got lost around the building! It got easier as time went on and I got to know people better but at first you have no idea who to go to for what or how to access the resources you need.

Its very hard to defend the block of twelve sometimes even as one of them, mainly because every year there are only a few people of the twelve that actually produce work, that actually turn up the regional conferences, that submit work to the report and plan, that complete their blogs and that are available to go to events and disaffiliation referenda. Those few do not justify the existence of the block of twelve to the membership no matter how hard they work.

It is difficult for the membership to hold the block of twelve accountable as they do not get elected on any specific platform except their manifesto, which when they get elected they realise some of their aims are unachievable or their plans encroach on other officers remit. I think it is partly due to the system that the block are perceived as not being “value for money” and maybe until we have a system where the block can be held accountable we cannot question their existence in the way that we do.

It is no secret that I think the NEC of 27 is too large and unwieldy and needs changing but it must be looked at holistically and should not be short-sighted. Let’s wait and see the results of the MORI stakeholder review to see what our membership thinks of the size and make-up of the NEC. In addition the NEC should be working to prove their worth to the organisation through hard work and communication if they don’t want their positions to come under attack.

Good luck to next years block of twelve I hope you have as good an overall experience as I have had over the past two years. I feel I have learnt so much, met some amazing activists and friends and had some fantastic opportunities that I would not have had access to otherwise. NUS is a great organisation, it may have it’s difficulties which finally are starting to be addressed but please be patient, it’s happening and when we come through it at the other side we will be the organisation our members want us to be. Enough of the cheesy statements…roll on the next challenging year!

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