So here we are and October has finished and we are in deepest darkest November, the month we all dread after summer training as this is billed as the ‘Storming’ month lol

This blog is a look back at my diary in October and what I got up to with me highlighting several key things that happened in the month.

So here were the O-so long days of October

3rd – Notts Trent Lifestyle Fair

4th – London 2012 meeting with the Mayors office

5th – Canterbury Christ Church

6th – Canterbury College

7th – Bournemouth Uni Freshers Fair

11th – Meeting with Imperial re: the upcoming Referendum

13th – City Uni Admission Impossible Stall

14th – SEANUS Exec

15th – BUGS Referendum

16th – BUGS Referendum

17th – UWE Referendum

18th – UWE Referendum

19th – UWE Referendum

20th – BUSA Executive Board

24th – Canterbury College Training the Executive

26th – Friends of Christ Church Students’ Union formation AGM and Launch

29th – NATIONAL DEMO

31st – Day in HQ writing piece for Imperial Referendum Website

The main thing of the month was obviously the demo, which I thought was brilliant, and everyone on it and who I have spoken to has commented on how much they enjoyed it. Congratulations to Gemma and Wes for the road show and speeches on the day were awesome as usual, as well as those who did the work leading up to it, some of us did more than others and we shall leave it at that. Stewarding was a very strange experience as I am used to be in the middle shouting, but for the event to go ahead NEC had to steward, and the demo was more important than us as individuals. I do have to say I got fed up of saying ‘Get off the pavement’ but all in a days work.

The referendums were both interesting and tiring. It reminded me of when you are out campaigning for election, the very early mornings and late nights. It was good to talk to ‘normal’ students about what NUS is and what it does. It seems that there is a real lack of knowledge about what we actually do and this needs to be communicated, and NUS do some work on getting our message out through our member Unions. I am proud to say that we won both referendums by 89% and the hard work paid off. Still, the debate was good and the margin of victory highlighted the student feeling on these campuses. Now we as an organisation are not perfect but to change something you have to remain within it.

It was a pleasure to be invited to the BUSA Executive Board as an observer. I have BUSA responsibility through the Strong and Active Unions Zone, and we are working on getting the relationship between the two organisations back on track. The meeting touched on several issues that are having an effect on our member Unions, as BUSA is undergoing some major changes and a possible merger that seems to split our member Unions as to whether it is a good thing or not. I will continue to monitor changes and the next few months will be very interesting as the merger takes shape. A pressing issue from the meeting that was evident was that BUSA had information that several Sports National Governing Bodies were pressurising their athletes into going into full time training rather than going to University. This is unacceptable and highlights some of the issues with London 2012 and this push for medals. We will hopefully be doing some joint work lobbying organisations to prevent this from happening.

I will be producing more on NUS’ role in the London 2012 Olympiad and information on Friends of Christ Church SU, and how Unions can tap into the resource of former students.

Well that’s my October update, it seems the work just keeps going but that’s what you let yourself in for when you’re on the Block!!!

If you want anymore information or have any questions then drop me an email bubble@nus.org.uk

Cheers,

Richard ‘Bubble’ Budden

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