Activism takes many forms and shapes. When we first hear of the term “activist” many of you will not consider yourself one. Activism is what other people do, it’s too political. But the truth is that many students are activists through what they do and how they act. By signing up to a club or society or signing a petition then you are being an activist.

I got involved in my students’ union not as a hardened hack (that came later) but as a student who was angry that the union decided to do something without telling any of us, and thought it was in the best interests of students at Canterbury Christ Church. It sounds trivial, but by doing a deal with the university to change the logo on our sports teams kit to the university squiggle, the union created a group of over 100 students wanting to change what our union did. We organised, we got people active and we watched as the union backtracked when they realised students were against them.

Our union made the mistake of not consulting their students on an issue they thought wasn’t important. When you go into a meeting and speak on behalf of students, you will be listened to more and be a better representative if you have taken that issue to students so you can truly say you represent their views.

Within your students’ unions you will have many people who are involved in what you do, or that turn up to various events, or organise things within their halls of residence. All potential activists waiting for you as unions to go out, speak to them, find the right issue and get them to lead on it. Just because someone has not been involved in everything or doesn’t sit on your union council does not mean they aren’t passionate and don’t want to be leading your campaigns – the chances are that we as unions have not connected with them properly.

So this is my challenge to you – have a look at your union, the involved students and those who aren’t involved. Then work out how you campaign and how you can get students to lead those campaigns.

The Activist Academy gives unions these tools and gives students the skills to campaign and to be campaign leaders. It allows you to identify those students who can make a difference to your unions, and it means that you can reach more students with communications about what the union actually is.

Unions should be known for their campaigns and their representation, and the Activist Academy can start you on the journey to truly making your union create that campaigning culture.

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