Special Finance Report and Plan

Hello all,

This year Kat, James and myself decided that we would make the finance part of the report and plan a standalone document. The reasons for this are clear. NUS has been in spiralling debt for some time and no one has really got a handle on it. This could be on a combination of grounds. NUS’ finance isn’t at the top of everyones agenda – why should it be. NUS should look after that itself. The NEC are not trustee’s of the money going through NUS and therefore won’t see it as the priority Students’ Union officers do with their own finances - and lets be blunt finances is not the most exciting subject in the world! I also wouldn’t think that student officers get involved to talk about money – they get involved to change and to lobby governments and institutions and while understanding the role of finance within this do not see it as THE priority.

What we hope this gets across along with presentations at the first round of regionals is a collective sense of it being a problem we all have to tackle together. It is also noted that it is rare that NUS gets a set of officers who genuinely want to reform the organisation in positions of influence at the same time. Equally rare is a year where we are not putting all our time, energy and resources into lobbying against the government on a single policy such as top-up fees thus freeing up some time to look at the organisation itself – something that has been far too long in coming as you will note.

What follows is us telling you where we are financially and where we want to go and how. You will also be pleased to hear that financial statements, management accounts, estimates and research and papers surrounding funding issues such as the NUS card are all on the nusonline and officeronline websites. Furthermore the NEC receiving monthly management accounts.

I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have at any point and also to listen to any recommendations to open up our finances further.

Yours in Unity,

Martin Ings
National Treasurer 2004/05

NUS Special Report and Plan

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