New FSA website helps your students manage their finances

Added on 24/07/2008

The FSA, Britain’s financial watchdog, has designed a new website to give you and your students the facts about money. What about money? has NUS’ support as it includes good information on higher education funding for Scottish, English and Welsh students.

Aside from the basic information there are also budgeting tools, featured articles on everything from travelling to mobile phone insurance and well structured guides for people at different stages of life.

Visit www.whataboutmoney.info to find out more.

Students will also be able to gain up-to-date financial information and student life advice on our new website, www.nus.org.uk, launching on 4 August.

Are you up to speed on student housing?

Added on 16/07/2008

NUS has teamed up with Unipol once again to provide a training solution to one of the big issues facing welfare officers: students need somewhere to live but how do we make sure they get the most out of their residential experience?

This three day seminar, called 'Student housing: the market, the community and what students' unions can do' will run from 12 August to 14 August and will aim to answer this question by looking at:

• Trends and developments within student housing
• Proposed legal reforms (keep watching this space for more on this later this month)
• Regulation and whether or not it’s having the desired effect
• How to get your local authority involved
• And much more

The training will take place in Leeds and will cost just £87 per delegate. Spaces are limited, so book now to avoid missing out. For full details, and to sign up, visit the Unipol website.

The way forward for Welfare and Students' Rights

Added on 28/05/2008

We’ve had some great successes over the past year but what does the future hold for the Welfare and Students' Rights Campaign? We’ve put together documents outlining the future aims and you can view it here.

Why are Muslim prayer rooms needed on campus?

Added on 23/04/2008

Many universities have dedicated space for Muslim prayers, however, not everyone is at this stage. NUS supports the need for such space and the Welfare Campaign is currently undertaking a survey on Muslim prayer rooms at universities up and down the country so that we can better help you, our members, provide better services for your Muslim students.

It is an obligation upon all Muslims to pray five times a day, with each prayer occurring at a specific set time, as well as within a congragation.

We will use the results to highlight best practice and assist any unions which may, at this time, be finding it difficult to offer space to their Muslim students.

Please take a few minutes to fill in our survey.

If you have any questions please email fatema.suleman@nus.org.uk or ama.uzowuru@nus.org.uk.

Ama meets with the Mayoral candidates

Added on 10/04/2008

Vice President (Welfare) Ama Uzowuru spent Tuesday night (8 April 2008) at a London mayoral hustings organised by No 2 ID - the anti-identiy card organisation. The hustings were attended by representatives from the Green Party, the Left List, UKIP, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Party. Ken Livingstone, current Mayor of London, was unable to attend but a 'proxy' was sent in his place (pictured).

Sadly, due to the time restrictions of the event, Ama's question on the potential charges faced by holders if they need to change their details - an important issue for many students as they move from halls to rented accomodation - could not be answered at the event.

You can read Ama's latest blog, inspired by the hustings, in the blogs section.