Last week I was in London all week which I think will be a rarity for the next year. It was good to have a few solid days in the office to crack on with some work.

Me and Sian started planning our mental health campaign for the forthcoming year. We’ve got lots of strong mandates from National Conference to work on it which is great as it gives us so much scope. We’re in the middle of creating our campaign pack, and arranging a Mental Health Network Day (15th September in Manchester provisionally).We will be urging all kinds of officers to attend. The more people that can spread the positive message and have deeper understanding about mental health issues the better, so look out for the information in the NUS mailing.

I also have been doing loads of media work. I’ve written an article for the Independent for Fresher’s week and been doing phone interviews on everything from student finance, to accommodation to ASBOs for students (what a ridiculous idea). So if anyone sees quotes from me in Newspapers in September please send me the press cuttings, my Mum wants them!

On Thursday I attended the vigil in Trafalgar Square. It was a very special event, and Kat did us proud. I thought her choice of poem was really fitting and we should be proud of the part NUS played. Following the NEC meeting on Monday 11th I was part of the group who volunteered to be part of the NUS response to the London bombings. Throughout the next few days Jamal was getting stuff organised for the vigil and I helped out where I could. I just want to put something on record here- various things have been said about the fact that Jamal ended up on Channel 4 news with someone from an organisation NUS have a no platform policy on. I am and always have been a strong advocate of no platform policies, a position I’ve defended many times. It’s not my place to go into the ins and outs of his appearance, but I just wanted the chance to make sure everyone knows that Jamal has been fantastic in organising the NUS response. The white balloons, NUS banners and placards that were all over the press were all down to him and at such a difficult time he really did us proud, and I can’t highlight that enough.

On Monday 18th I went to Farnham for Surrey/Kent institute of arts officer training. I think it was the first time in my life I’ve been south of London so that was quite novel! The day went well, it was the first day in a really comprehensive week of training for the new officers which hopefully will fill them with confidence and inspiration. Good luck to the guys down there (who had the dubious honour of being on the receiving end of my first official union visit!) for the forthcoming year.

I was in the office on Tuesday. On Wednesday I met with a representative from the Howard League for penal reform, which specialises in the treatment of children in prison. Lots of student unions have recently set up their own penal reform societies to raise awareness so we were just discussing the ways NUS can support these societies. I also met with the Terence Higgins Trust, which was a real highlight. They’re undertaking some fascinating work at the moment, and I have high hopes for NUS undertaking lots of work with them over the next year.

On Wednesday night I went up to Manchester. Was very happy to get back up North, even if it was on the wrong side of the Pennines! On Thursday I had my first Co-op Housing meeting, at Manchester Union. I think I’m going to put some stuff about the project on my blog at some point for anyone whose interested. When it was first explained to me it was done in such a way that I was a bit cynical about it. The more I’ve found out about it recently the more potential I can see it has. It’s a huge project which will still be ongoing long after I’ve left NUS but we’re going to really go for it this year and try and get it back on track. The meeting, with the contractors, staff and officers from Manchester and Man Met went well. You’ll be hearing lots more about it! The meeting lasted most of the day and following an unplanned bus tour of Manchester (long story!) I went out to dinner with some of the Manchester sabbs, it was good to hear their hopes and plans for the next year,

Friday, and I was still in Manchester. I was at Man Met SU to do some in-house training on NUS with their officers which I had to cancel a few weeks ago due to the bombings. Within our region I got on well with last year’s Man Met crew last year so it was good to meet the new lot. It was quite strange for me in that last July, my first official NUS event as an officer was at the North West regional reception which was at Man Met. It kind of brought home to me what a whirlwind the last year’s been and I’m quite surprised (but very happy) where I’ve ended up! Anyway hopefully I made the workings of NUS a bit clearer for the new officers at MMSU. I think all of the NEC need to try not to get too carried away with the world of NUS, and remember that your average new officer probably doesn’t know what NEC or RO stands for, let alone what they do (and why should they?). I reckon we need to remind ourselves what it was like back in the day when NUS wasn’t at the centre of our universes, because otherwise we alienate people immediately. I enjoyed my days in Manchester, and felt like I’d accomplished a fair bit.

I’m spending the weekend preparing for Action through Advocacy on Monday, where I’m the lead officer. Looking forward to seeing the new course, meeting new officers, and getting everyone revved up for 05-06. I want them all to leave Herfordshire on Thursday thinking, “Yes, it really is all about the welfare!”.

Veronica x

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