NEC Induction | Regional Receptions | Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival | Zone Stuff | LGBT Committee | Bugs Handover | Radio 5 Live: “Buying Degrees”

NEC Induction

After kicking off the handover process at Birmingham Guild of Students, I journeyed up to Southport for the NEC Induction. We are brought together by various different conferences and this was our first time to enjoy each others company, learn each others priorities and start our working together. The training was first class, the venue was lovely and the NEC Meeting was relatively harmonious. It was also an opportunity to learn more about ourselves, each other and how we each work best.

Together we have all been planning the priority campaign of which I have been to all meeting bar one. Hope to see you all at the Campaigns Launch

Regional Receptions

Gemma, Bubble and I were the NEC on the South West Regional Reception. The event was lots of fun, with a great bunch of officers who were positive, keen to work together and get some wins for students. The best bit, as it always is with these things, was when we got to chat informally about each others political views, plans and outside interests, whether it be a focus on student reps, getting students on the Demo or getting the union a strategic plan. The day was nicely concluded by Pizza Express.

The West Midlands Reception was held at Birmingham Guild of Students, my own union. WMANUS did their brilliant presentation as ever; I recommend any of the non-affiliates to join – it is well worth it.

The Endsleigh presentation was interesting, I found their student fees cover policy interesting – one of the side affects of tuition fees. It has given me some ideas about student support, particular for international students – watch this space for more info.

Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival

Gemma Tumelty was guest speaker at this amazing testament to the founding of the British Trade Union movement, and she met the occasion and did us all credit. I was lucky enough to form part of the entourage that followed to support Gemma, and staff the NUS stand.

Gemma took the crowd by storm, the amount of people who came up to the stall to find about the project, and to say well done to Gemma, was huge. We really took this as an opportunity to launch our work to trade unionists, get support for Coalition 2010 and collate case studies of people affected by top-up fees. It brilliant to see Gemma able to walk side by side with Brendan Barber (TUC General Secretary) and Peter Hain MP (Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland) as a respected partner.

I was also able to meet staff and executive members from in the National Union of Teachers to kick off the NUT Scholarship that I hold and talk about campaigns.

Zone Stuff

I have attended my two zones, Higher Education and Welfare and Student Rights, and actively participated, but you will have to wait for the results until the campaigns launch...

LGBT Committee

I went along to the end of the LGBT Campaign training and planning. It seemed to be a brilliant event and we had one the nicest committee meetings I have ever sat in. There was lots discussed. I’m glad that inequality within our campaign is being taken seriously and was especially pleased with the election of the Disabled Students Reps being elected to serve as the National Councillors – I wish them both lots of luck.

It is also very pleasing to see real action coming from the policy passed at conference!

Birmingham President Handover

Doing two jobs at once was a challenge to say the least; there was plenty to wrap up, handover to do and goodbyes to say.

July saw the conclusion of this years part of the Wheelie Bins Campaign and the presentation of nearly 5000 petition cards calling on the council to give the citizens (especially the students) of Birmingham Wheelie Bins and more recycling. This was in order to give them a cleaner, rat free and more sustainable community. We are very lucky that the campaign got local TV and Newspaper coverage. I would like to thank Liz from WMANUS and Rob the new President at Newman College for all their help. To join all the students unions in Birmingham and support the campaign click: www.bugs.bham.ac.uk/wheeliebins

During July I also appeared in the Times Higher Educational Supplement (THES) supporting the role of Progress Files and Personal Development Portfolios.

I also went to my last university meetings, wrapped up my role in the organisation’s strategic plan and had a brilliant leaving party. For information, my final individual and team reports are attached.

Radio 5 Live: “Buying Degrees”

As the month drew to a close, I did - on behalf of NUS - the Sunday Night Radio 5 Live debate on whether or not people should be able to “Buy Degrees.” Not surprisingly, I argued that this undermined the hard work that millions of our members do every day to get their degrees while they are having to pay thousands of pounds to get a real degree, not a certificate ordered online.

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If you have any comments, questions and suggestions please get in contact. My mobile number is 07966 161 444 and email is richard.angell@nus.org.uk

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