Well its Friday evening, at the end of another tiring week, and I’m probably not in the best frame of mind to be blogging, but then again, maybe it’ll make me feel better to get a few things off my chest!

The fortnight started with the second ‘Action through Advocacy’ which is the new training programme for welfare and education officers, which myself and Julian attended. It was in Preston this time, at UCLAN (come on the North West!). It talked about the actual course in my last blog, and hopefully the officers who attended got a lot out of the course. I’ve really enjoyed the chance to engage with new officers at training and pick their brains about what they want from NUS this year and the issues which are most revelant. I really want to remember what its like to be an officer in a union in the work I’m doing nationally, so feel free to give me feedback at anytime (veronica.king@nus.org.uk).

In my view one of the best sessions at both events was the session on student finance for 2006. Actually coming to terms with what the advent of top-up fees means is pretty shocking, and this was reflected very strongly in the officers reactions. Just because myself and Julian weren’t shocked when we witnessed the presentation doesn’t mean we’re any less outraged and upset by fees than we were as activists campaigning against them a few years ago, and for my part I can’t stress that enough!

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the training, the hard work of the staff and people from outside organisations was really appreciated. And a big up to my old chum Tom Gee who was coerced at short notice into coming to do his presentation on course reps, well done! (I hope you’re happy now you’ve had a mention in my blog!). Oh and sorry to anyone who had to witness me and Julian slaughtering ‘Sound of the Underground’ on karaoke!

It was back to London on Thursday and a busy day on Friday, as I had meetings at both the Home Office and Corgi. Both meeting were very interesting and productive. The Home office meeting was looking at how NUS can work with the home office in rolling out local partnerships between students unions and local police forces. With corgi we discussed gas safety and a campaign they’re looking to run focusing specifically on students which is obviously good news for us- will keep you posted on both. I was happy with how both meetings went, neither was controversial or contentious, yet they both have the potential to make some really positive changes for students. I reckon that’s true of a lot of welfare work, but it doesn’t mean its ‘fluffy and innocuous’!

Monday was the NEC meeting. I’m sure you will hear a million (or at least 27) different accounts of this. On the noncontroversial side, me and Sian got the money we need for our mental health campaign pack approved, hooray, And the student activities campaign is looking top. I think the low light of the meeting for me was being accused of being unscrupulous! We’re all entitled to our own views and I do feel at times at NEC meetings there is a downright lack of manners. Yes we all want to take mass action, yes we all would like to have a demo, but just because some of us have reservations about what’s best in the long run for our national union; would have liked the opportunity to consider some new innovative ideas for mass action; and would have liked the regional observers to have had the chance to go away and get feedback from the regions before we committed to a plan, there’s no need to throw personal slurs at us. I really appreciated the contribution of the regional observers at the meeting. They are great for bring the NEC back down to earth and keeping us on track.

Tuesday I was in the office, trying to catch up with the last week’s e-mails, and on Wednesday I was at NEC media training. All my life I’ve talked too fast, and I tend to be really passionate about issues, so it was really good for me to have the chance to try and improve myself. Incidentally I’m amazed how northern my accent sounds after listening to recordings of myself!

On Thursday, along with Pav, I attended the funeral of Anthony Walker in Liverpool. I have very strong ties to Liverpool as a city- I lived there for there for the last 4 years and it will always be special to me. I, like everyone else was shocked and appalled at this brutal murder. In my view, Liverpool is a very tolerant city, with large populations of different cultures and races living alongside each other and working together happily and peacefully- that was my experience of Liverpool. I was pleased but not surprised then to see the Liverpool Echo has launched a ‘Liverpool says no to racism’ campaign following Anthony’s murder. The funeral itself was quite amazing- 1000s of people packed into the Cathedral, and it was a very touching service. What will stay with me, is the pastor who spoke, and asked , “How could this happen, after Stephen Lawrence?”. I am proud to be part of an organisation which is so active and so committed to anti-racism work, and surely this underlines even further the need for us all to get involved in it.

Friday, on to Manchester for another co-op meeting at Man Met. Good to have an update, and we’re all aware we need to keep momentum going on the project. We had a presentation on it at ATA and got some positive feedback, so I’ve put some info on my blog about that for those who are interested.

Well that’s me done, I shall look forward to seeing many of you at the campaigns launch on Thursday.

Veronica x

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