| November Part 2: To Lobby, for FE, and the NEC! |
| 20/12/2006 |
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The part of month was focused around Westminster (lobbying on fees, pro choice policy and the mental health amendments) with further education activists and in the West Midlands at Aston or (even better) the Rock Up Against Top Up event that took place. Well done to everyone who organised it – I loved it. How I spent the latter November days:
1. FE Governors Training & FE “MAKE YOUR MARK” Event; The FE Governors Training was a really exciting event, I was there covering for Ellie Russell (VP FE) being the NEC host to the event and helping (more interjecting) at varying times with examples and case studies. Everyone there seemed to really enjoy the event and noted that it would add value to their experience as a governor of their college. My welcome went as follows: “Today you will engage in rigorous debate, important training and personal development to enable you to take on the governor role you are about to undertake. “Being a student governor is a unique opportunity that should be taken advantage of – you now have the ability to direct your colleges resources, head up quality assurance issues and advocate to the top of the college the issues learners face in the classroom and the canteen. What other opportunities are there for learners and young people to be part of commanding such budgets and being local leaders. When you get into the meeting you will notice that most people there are male, stale and pale! Not like the people in this room let alone reflective of your mates and colleagues in your colleges – so be clear that you can challenge them and their agenda so we can get from our education what we and our communities need not what other think we need! This role you now have not only makes you a voice for learners in your college but also a leader of the local community – and lets be honest with the often lack of anyone else – a leader of local young people too. “These meetings may sometimes be long, full of jargon and holistically inaccessible but today we will give you the tools to change this destiny so that you truly can command the role into which you have been elected. Keep true to your reason for getting involved – to affect change and build improvements for your members and classmates. “Enjoy, learn and grow. Good Luck.” At this point I must apologies for NOT being at the Mental Health Lobby of Parliament which took place at the same time. Please be rest assured that you have my unquestioned support on this issue. I think it, and some of the associated comments coming from the government, are a real disappointment. The disabled students campaign beat them last year lets hope that we can do the same this year. I have personally discussed the matter with my home MP, Andrew Selous and the two Birmingham MPs I met at the Pro-Choice Lobby of Parliament. I have emailed two of the other Birmingham MPs and the MP for Wolverhampton South West with whom I have worked closely in the past. The FE “MAKE YOUR MARK” Event was the FE London section of Enterprise Week that had 6 FE Unions and their students attend to meet decision makers and share their ideas. I was asked to do a welcome: “NUS is supporting this event because we believe that students and young people should play a full and active part in civic society; whether that be politics, business, social enterprise and community leadership. Today is a key opportunity for all of you to meet decision-makers, share your ideas and try to act on them. But just a word or caution before you all go off brokering your next money making deal – social enterprises can offer solutions to community based problems offering affordable, accessible services based on need, different to every community – that is as much about being enterprising! Enjoy!” 2. Women’s Campaign: Reclaim the Night & Pro Choice Lobby of Parliament. Both of these events were brilliant, inspiring and made me proud that NUS does this work. Reclaim the night (of which I attended the Solidarity Rally) was amazing; the speakers talked about very personal experiences and the real reality for women. One of the biggest issues for policy-makers is how we stop the situation where 30 years ago women had a 1 in 3 chance of having her rapist charged, now 1 in 20! Secondly the Pro-Choice Lobby of Parliament reaffirmed by commitment to the campaign and made me more assertive of my personal position as a member of the “Pro Choice Majority.” Again personal, inspiring and comprised of a first class speech by the National Women’s Officer! 3. The Aston Referendum Aston was a slightly different state of affairs to Imperial but being there at the results moment and seeing the reaction hopefully it won’t be long until there are back where they belong – in NUS and WMANUS! There is clearly some learning and listening to do now and I hope to be part of that process. It is also sad that the one big win that people know NUS has won for students is Council Tax achieved in 1992. It is not that we don’t have the wins but people don’t know about them. We need to be looking to what the next headline win will be! - - - - -I hope that has been an interesting insight about what I have done in the second half of this month, there will be more to follow but until then get in touch, send executive questions, invite me to your campuses or update me on the biggest issues for students in your college on richard.angell@nus.org.uk or call on 07966 161 444. The Blogs on this site represent the individual views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or practices of the National Union of Students. All links in blogs will open in a new browser window. The permanent URL for this specific blog entry is: http://www.officeronline.co.uk/blogs/richardangell/273630.aspx |
