Hello to anyone who has taken the time to read this blog. My name is Martin Ings and I am the new National Treasurer of the National Union of Students. Prior to being on the National Executive I was a Sport and Exercise Science with Criminology (dodgy I know) student at the University of Teesside and was heavily involved in the Union.

Before I go into what I have done as your NUS representative I thought it wold be useful to say how I became involved because the past is what shapes the future for most.

I came into the Union in my first year mainly through the social side of things and didn’t really get involved until my second year when I joined the Gaelic football team and got a job as a Steward. When I came back for staff induction at the beginning of what I thought was going to be my final year I got talking to the then President Kay Gibson who asked me whether I had ever thought about standing for Union Senate (our council) Chair to which I said know. Luckily for me she managed to talk me round (or put enough pressure on me to guilt me into it – whichever you’d rather!). I also became a student trainer – something I would recommend to anyone.

Over the course of that year I really started to understand what Students’ Union’s were all about and what it was the officers did and it inspired me to stand for Kay’s job as President.

Fortunately I won through and became the President of UTSU. On top of what I was doing at Teesside I decided to stand for National Council which I got and led a national council revolt against plans for a second national demonstration which went through incredibly narrowly and that was me - involved for good! I went on to become involved in the NUSSL student focus group and then last year was Director without portfolio on the NUSSL Board while doing my second year as President at UTSU.

It was part way through my second year when I thought seriously about standing for the NEC and now here I am as National Treasurer – straight out of being an officer in a Union and something I hope more people decide to do.

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