Wow, I can't believe how quickly the last 3.5 months have gone! Firstly let me apologise for the time it has taken me to get this blog up - it has been a roller coaster of moving from Stoke to Birmingham, budgets, meetings and freshers fairs and now I can finally take the time to sit down and reflect on the last 3 months...brace yourselves lol
I am going to blog in statemented form, just stops me waffling on:
Women's Campaign:
Hollie Jones, Birmingham Guild of Students VP Welfare, is our Women's' Officer, she has filled the boots of Laura Sadler who has returned to her studies. Hollie and I have met on a number of occasions to discuss regional activity - there's allot in the pipe line! Re-claim the night events, including London (22nd November), Birmingham (January 17th) and Manchester (19th February) where WMANUS will be organising women and chaps (if permitted) to attend and show the west midlands support of an equal society.
Last week we attended Abortion Rights http://www.abortionrights.org.uk/ Public Meeting in the House of commons on the 7th October - this meeting identified the fight pro-choice campaigners and organisations are facing when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is represented to MP's during the Reports stage later on this month. There are some restrictive amendments which would turn back the clock and a number of amendments which will improve and extend women's rights. I was moved and equally appalled by a speech made my Dr. Audrey Simpson FPA Northern Ireland - I never realised it was illegal to have an abortion in Northern Ireland, they are not covered by the 1967 Abortions Act, women who are victims of rape and incest have no rights at all. When the bill gets presented at the end of October it really is the "last chance saloon" for Northern Irish Women, they can't wait another 40 years, another generation of women, who do not have equal reproductive rights.
Hollie Jones and I have written to EVERY MP in the West Midlands asking for them to support progressive amendments and reject the those which will deny women the right to choose - you need to write to your MP's and lobby them also - I can help with this wmanus@hotmail.co.uk .
We have organised the first WMANUS Regional Women's Reception on 20th November to be held and Birmingham Guild of Students, this is a FREE event for all women's officers and interested students where we will be looking at the future of the women's movement and whats going on at individual unions across the region! If anyone is interested in attending then please email vpw@guild.bham.ac.uk - invitations will be sent out asap please get them to the relevant women in your union and spread the word among your students!
Higher Education Funding Broke & Broken:
We all know that the price of Education is unfair, upper class solutions to middle class problems just aren't working for the modern student. Many of us support the fight for a fairly funded education system... However NUS launched on the 2nd September the Broke & Broken Campaign. It was great to see delegates from Newman University College, Keele, Birmingham Guild of Students and Staffordshire University SU there!
The report issued by NUS is a gooden, there are some true and scary statistics in there which only make me more concerned about the possible lifting of the cap in 2009/2010 - you can find a copy of this from www.officeronline.co.uk.
I attended a large number of freshers fairs, as you can imagine. throughout September and the start of October, many of which I doubled up with a member of the NEC. Naturally I spoke about West Midlands and all of the great campaigns we run around Hidden Course Costs, ARAF and LGBT movement, why its so important to get involved in your union and also Broke & Broken. So many students were shocked to hear the possibilities and concerned over siblings who will be going to University in the next couple of years. (BCU Students were brill - whole generation of activists I recon!).
The West Midlands Area NUS has a history of running big, strong and relevant campaigns, and is serious about a fairly funded education system, a day of action is in the planning stage - where will be using visible Higher Education Funding is no different. On the 3rd of October representatives from across the region attended our regional meeting, we discussed what as a region we want to do to demonstrate to the public, local MP's and your principles and Vice Chancellor that the West Mids measures to influence MP's, VC's and principles, to demonstrate to the public why a fairly funded education system is needed and to gather students to support the common cause! As they say "strength through Unity"! So keep your eyes and ears peeled for more info it will be coming very shortly!
Bill Rammell is saying his mail bag and inbox are empty - get lobbying him and your local MP's!
FE - your the future!
Whilst a Sabb at Staffordshire University I felt distant from WMANUS, we didn't really have a great deal of contact and the whole "what are we paying for" debate was a regular at FTO and Exec. meetings...
One thing which I soon discovered when I started as convenor was that FE intuitions need so much support in there development, engaging students and democracy! So I have been putting in allot of hours with my FE unions - City College Coventry, Stourbridge College, Dudley College, Walsall College, RNCB, Hereford and Worcester Tech have all be great and I have really enjoyed working with them all so far - lost of work around constitution review, year plans and how to widen participation and making the union accessible for all students.
ARAF:
ARAF groups and activists have been fighting the likes of the BNP and other far right extremist political fractions since the 1950's - you'd like to think that 50 years on, in our now diverse and multi-cultural Britain that racism and fascism are far gone - could I be anymore wrong!
After the freshers fair at Staffs (Bubble our stool was th best!) I attended the NORScaf peace in the community vigil in Stoke-on-Trent on the 20th September. This gathering was to counter act the BNP's National Demonstration, for an overview of the event visit http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/6429, originally planned for the 9th August the BNP's "Anti-Muslim Campaign", as they liked to call it, was launched in Stoke-on-Trent. The demonstration by the BNP was also in memory of Keith Brown, a BNP activist who was killed in 2006 in Longton.
Wes Streeting and Fiona Wood, president at Staffs SU, made fantastic speeches to the hundreds of peace supporters at the vigil along with ARAF MP's and members of Stoke-on-Trent's community. It was fantastic to see the solidarity, and as always I found myself rather emotional during the whole event. After the rally we marched through the streets of Hanley, SOT's town centre - after a few run in's with the police, because after all "Who's streets? OUR streets" supporters most defiantly demonstrated SOT's desire for a racist and fascist free city!
Tom Marley, WMANUS ARAF Officer and I have met on a number of occasions and will be publishing, online, the West Midlands Area NUS' ARAF Guide! (Very exciting) - this guide has been written by Tom and contains all the things needed to run engaging and vibrant ARAF events and campaigns on your campus' and also how to get involved in events your area!
The Stoke-on-Trent Mayoral elections and European Parliament elections are taking place at the end of April 2009 - I am currently working with the officer teams at Staffordshire and Keele Universities, Stoke and Newcastle-Under-Lyme Colleges to plan a day of action in April. If the SOT Mayoral elections follow the same pattern as the recent council elections, where I am sad to say the BNP gained 09 seats, then SOT will have a BNP Mayor - I doubt I need to expand on the consequences of such a disaster...
WMANUS full supports a equal and diverse society, where all members can live, work and study in a safe and free environment - West Midlands Area NUS fully supports the ARAF Campaign and we are looking forward to showing those who are racist and fascist that not only SOT's communities but students from across the region want them out of the city.
The TUC has a great history of ARAF activism - I have met with them and arranged some FREE ARAF Activist training days, which will be ran in partnership with WMANUS after the summer break. Details will follow shortly.
Reform:
Ah yes, that word "reform" its going to be a item on every ones agenda this year! National reform so may say should of gone through last year.... But it fell - we now need to look forward and work to ensure all of our members and officers understand the new paper, you can view all NUS materials here http://www.officeronline.co.uk/library/governance/274840.aspx
Conference(s) and Annual Conference 2009!! I have spent the last few days going through the new document and feel confident the paper is the right change and by removing jargon Before I go onto speak about NUS and WMANUS Reform anymore I would just like to clear a few things up - at Annual Conference 2008 I voted against the White Paper, for a number of reasons including: no liberation on the trustee board, consultation and terminology. However this doesn't meant that I will be encouraging you to reject the new paper at Extraordinary, langauge, zones and in depth consultation the paper is more accessible, making the national union free from old structures and will return it to what it does best - campaigning, representing and engaging! If you would like to talk about the paper or arrange for me to come down and work with you and your teams to break down the new paper then please ring me ASAP 07837059588 or email wmanus@hotmail.co.uk.
As you are all aware WMANUS has gone for one Convenor to two - however our constitution is yet to be changed! So its not only reform for NUS in 2009 but also WMANUS! I will be emailing all CM's over the next two weeks with some questions and any help will be much appreciated. The first Exec meeting is on the 27th October and we will be discussing WMANUS Reform.
Hidden Course Costs:
Policy was passed at Summer Conference 2008 for WMANUS to continue its work around Hidden Course Costs - I have been working with Oz Hetherington around this area, Widening Participation Officer, and have been collating email address' at freshers fairs and will be getting the first section of the survey out before the Christmas holidays.
This year we will be asking more institutions and including HE students in FE, nursing, teaching and FE students - this will give us a greater insight and more evidence to use when lobbying your VC's and principles!
October and November whats ahead:
27th October Midlands & East Regional Conference Leicester University - okay they aren't always the most productive events but this ones important!! There will be much discussion and debate about Broke & Broken and of course reform! West Midlands we are mighty and need to get our voices heard! Get registered and repersent your students!
31st October FE CAMPAIGNS LAUNCH Derby College - it will be great to have as many of you there as possible! www.officeronline.co.uk If enough delagtes arew going from West Mids then I will organise some transport! Please email/call me with confirmation! I need to know by Monday 20th October lunch time! wmanus@hotmail.co.uk.
I have a feeling there is going to be some sort of Extradionary activity in the month ahead, I will, diary permitting, be free to give some last minute pre-conference training, as I remember what its like to be thrown in at the deep end - If you would like to talk about the paper or arrange for me to come down and work with you and your teams to break down the new paper then please ring me ASAP 07837059588 or email wmanus@hotmail.co.uk If you haven't already call for an Extraordinary Conference, to discuss the new proposals. You can find a mock motion at http://www.officeronline.co.uk/library/governance/274840.aspx or contact me!
WMANUS Winter Conference 17th November - to be held at Staffordhsire University Students Union 10-4! It is vital everyone attends and send delgates, in the past conferences have been poorly atteneded and with WMANUS Reform on the horizone there are some important decesions to be made about the regions future! I have emailed all of your presidents the conference call so they should be speaking to you very soon!
Regional Women's Reception on 20th November - to be held and Birmingham Guild of Students, this is a FREE event for all women's officers and interested students - Lucy Brookes LGBT Officer Womens Place NUS and (hopefully) Katie Curtis NUS Womens Officer will also be attenging the day! RSVP and for more information email vpw@guild.bham.ac.uk!
LGBT Activists Training Day 25th November - to be held and Birmingham Guild of Students. Register at www.officeronline.co.uk
Other stuff:
Other than all of the above there will be lots going on within FE - November will be a training month for me! Stourbridge, City College Coventry and Walsall to name a few!
I am going to be working with the Staffs team around E & E and Gender Neutral toilets and meeting with the new, full Keele Sabb team and delivering some training session.
Just a quick thank you to Adam Mason from Keele, he has been doing a fantastic job updating the website for me! I am happy to announce that he will hopefully be joining the Exec. committee on the 27th October and the Exec. meeting.
If there are any issues you would like us to raise at the meeting then please contact me - wmanus@hotmail.co.uk .
Well there we are, note to self I won't leave it so long next time!
Looking forward to seeing you all soon!
Sophie x x
I am going to blog in statemented form, just stops me waffling on:
Women's Campaign:
Hollie Jones, Birmingham Guild of Students VP Welfare, is our Women's' Officer, she has filled the boots of Laura Sadler who has returned to her studies. Hollie and I have met on a number of occasions to discuss regional activity - there's allot in the pipe line! Re-claim the night events, including London (22nd November), Birmingham (January 17th) and Manchester (19th February) where WMANUS will be organising women and chaps (if permitted) to attend and show the west midlands support of an equal society.
Last week we attended Abortion Rights http://www.abortionrights.org.uk/ Public Meeting in the House of commons on the 7th October - this meeting identified the fight pro-choice campaigners and organisations are facing when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill is represented to MP's during the Reports stage later on this month. There are some restrictive amendments which would turn back the clock and a number of amendments which will improve and extend women's rights. I was moved and equally appalled by a speech made my Dr. Audrey Simpson FPA Northern Ireland - I never realised it was illegal to have an abortion in Northern Ireland, they are not covered by the 1967 Abortions Act, women who are victims of rape and incest have no rights at all. When the bill gets presented at the end of October it really is the "last chance saloon" for Northern Irish Women, they can't wait another 40 years, another generation of women, who do not have equal reproductive rights.
Hollie Jones and I have written to EVERY MP in the West Midlands asking for them to support progressive amendments and reject the those which will deny women the right to choose - you need to write to your MP's and lobby them also - I can help with this wmanus@hotmail.co.uk .
We have organised the first WMANUS Regional Women's Reception on 20th November to be held and Birmingham Guild of Students, this is a FREE event for all women's officers and interested students where we will be looking at the future of the women's movement and whats going on at individual unions across the region! If anyone is interested in attending then please email vpw@guild.bham.ac.uk - invitations will be sent out asap please get them to the relevant women in your union and spread the word among your students!
Higher Education Funding Broke & Broken:
We all know that the price of Education is unfair, upper class solutions to middle class problems just aren't working for the modern student. Many of us support the fight for a fairly funded education system... However NUS launched on the 2nd September the Broke & Broken Campaign. It was great to see delegates from Newman University College, Keele, Birmingham Guild of Students and Staffordshire University SU there!
The report issued by NUS is a gooden, there are some true and scary statistics in there which only make me more concerned about the possible lifting of the cap in 2009/2010 - you can find a copy of this from www.officeronline.co.uk.
I attended a large number of freshers fairs, as you can imagine. throughout September and the start of October, many of which I doubled up with a member of the NEC. Naturally I spoke about West Midlands and all of the great campaigns we run around Hidden Course Costs, ARAF and LGBT movement, why its so important to get involved in your union and also Broke & Broken. So many students were shocked to hear the possibilities and concerned over siblings who will be going to University in the next couple of years. (BCU Students were brill - whole generation of activists I recon!).
The West Midlands Area NUS has a history of running big, strong and relevant campaigns, and is serious about a fairly funded education system, a day of action is in the planning stage - where will be using visible Higher Education Funding is no different. On the 3rd of October representatives from across the region attended our regional meeting, we discussed what as a region we want to do to demonstrate to the public, local MP's and your principles and Vice Chancellor that the West Mids measures to influence MP's, VC's and principles, to demonstrate to the public why a fairly funded education system is needed and to gather students to support the common cause! As they say "strength through Unity"! So keep your eyes and ears peeled for more info it will be coming very shortly!
Bill Rammell is saying his mail bag and inbox are empty - get lobbying him and your local MP's!
FE - your the future!
Whilst a Sabb at Staffordshire University I felt distant from WMANUS, we didn't really have a great deal of contact and the whole "what are we paying for" debate was a regular at FTO and Exec. meetings...
One thing which I soon discovered when I started as convenor was that FE intuitions need so much support in there development, engaging students and democracy! So I have been putting in allot of hours with my FE unions - City College Coventry, Stourbridge College, Dudley College, Walsall College, RNCB, Hereford and Worcester Tech have all be great and I have really enjoyed working with them all so far - lost of work around constitution review, year plans and how to widen participation and making the union accessible for all students.
ARAF:
ARAF groups and activists have been fighting the likes of the BNP and other far right extremist political fractions since the 1950's - you'd like to think that 50 years on, in our now diverse and multi-cultural Britain that racism and fascism are far gone - could I be anymore wrong!
After the freshers fair at Staffs (Bubble our stool was th best!) I attended the NORScaf peace in the community vigil in Stoke-on-Trent on the 20th September. This gathering was to counter act the BNP's National Demonstration, for an overview of the event visit http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/6429, originally planned for the 9th August the BNP's "Anti-Muslim Campaign", as they liked to call it, was launched in Stoke-on-Trent. The demonstration by the BNP was also in memory of Keith Brown, a BNP activist who was killed in 2006 in Longton.
Wes Streeting and Fiona Wood, president at Staffs SU, made fantastic speeches to the hundreds of peace supporters at the vigil along with ARAF MP's and members of Stoke-on-Trent's community. It was fantastic to see the solidarity, and as always I found myself rather emotional during the whole event. After the rally we marched through the streets of Hanley, SOT's town centre - after a few run in's with the police, because after all "Who's streets? OUR streets" supporters most defiantly demonstrated SOT's desire for a racist and fascist free city!
Tom Marley, WMANUS ARAF Officer and I have met on a number of occasions and will be publishing, online, the West Midlands Area NUS' ARAF Guide! (Very exciting) - this guide has been written by Tom and contains all the things needed to run engaging and vibrant ARAF events and campaigns on your campus' and also how to get involved in events your area!
The Stoke-on-Trent Mayoral elections and European Parliament elections are taking place at the end of April 2009 - I am currently working with the officer teams at Staffordshire and Keele Universities, Stoke and Newcastle-Under-Lyme Colleges to plan a day of action in April. If the SOT Mayoral elections follow the same pattern as the recent council elections, where I am sad to say the BNP gained 09 seats, then SOT will have a BNP Mayor - I doubt I need to expand on the consequences of such a disaster...
WMANUS full supports a equal and diverse society, where all members can live, work and study in a safe and free environment - West Midlands Area NUS fully supports the ARAF Campaign and we are looking forward to showing those who are racist and fascist that not only SOT's communities but students from across the region want them out of the city.
The TUC has a great history of ARAF activism - I have met with them and arranged some FREE ARAF Activist training days, which will be ran in partnership with WMANUS after the summer break. Details will follow shortly.
Reform:
Ah yes, that word "reform" its going to be a item on every ones agenda this year! National reform so may say should of gone through last year.... But it fell - we now need to look forward and work to ensure all of our members and officers understand the new paper, you can view all NUS materials here http://www.officeronline.co.uk/library/governance/274840.aspx
Conference(s) and Annual Conference 2009!! I have spent the last few days going through the new document and feel confident the paper is the right change and by removing jargon Before I go onto speak about NUS and WMANUS Reform anymore I would just like to clear a few things up - at Annual Conference 2008 I voted against the White Paper, for a number of reasons including: no liberation on the trustee board, consultation and terminology. However this doesn't meant that I will be encouraging you to reject the new paper at Extraordinary, langauge, zones and in depth consultation the paper is more accessible, making the national union free from old structures and will return it to what it does best - campaigning, representing and engaging! If you would like to talk about the paper or arrange for me to come down and work with you and your teams to break down the new paper then please ring me ASAP 07837059588 or email wmanus@hotmail.co.uk.
As you are all aware WMANUS has gone for one Convenor to two - however our constitution is yet to be changed! So its not only reform for NUS in 2009 but also WMANUS! I will be emailing all CM's over the next two weeks with some questions and any help will be much appreciated. The first Exec meeting is on the 27th October and we will be discussing WMANUS Reform.
Hidden Course Costs:
Policy was passed at Summer Conference 2008 for WMANUS to continue its work around Hidden Course Costs - I have been working with Oz Hetherington around this area, Widening Participation Officer, and have been collating email address' at freshers fairs and will be getting the first section of the survey out before the Christmas holidays.
This year we will be asking more institutions and including HE students in FE, nursing, teaching and FE students - this will give us a greater insight and more evidence to use when lobbying your VC's and principles!
October and November whats ahead:
27th October Midlands & East Regional Conference Leicester University - okay they aren't always the most productive events but this ones important!! There will be much discussion and debate about Broke & Broken and of course reform! West Midlands we are mighty and need to get our voices heard! Get registered and repersent your students!
31st October FE CAMPAIGNS LAUNCH Derby College - it will be great to have as many of you there as possible! www.officeronline.co.uk If enough delagtes arew going from West Mids then I will organise some transport! Please email/call me with confirmation! I need to know by Monday 20th October lunch time! wmanus@hotmail.co.uk.
I have a feeling there is going to be some sort of Extradionary activity in the month ahead, I will, diary permitting, be free to give some last minute pre-conference training, as I remember what its like to be thrown in at the deep end - If you would like to talk about the paper or arrange for me to come down and work with you and your teams to break down the new paper then please ring me ASAP 07837059588 or email wmanus@hotmail.co.uk If you haven't already call for an Extraordinary Conference, to discuss the new proposals. You can find a mock motion at http://www.officeronline.co.uk/library/governance/274840.aspx or contact me!
WMANUS Winter Conference 17th November - to be held at Staffordhsire University Students Union 10-4! It is vital everyone attends and send delgates, in the past conferences have been poorly atteneded and with WMANUS Reform on the horizone there are some important decesions to be made about the regions future! I have emailed all of your presidents the conference call so they should be speaking to you very soon!
Regional Women's Reception on 20th November - to be held and Birmingham Guild of Students, this is a FREE event for all women's officers and interested students - Lucy Brookes LGBT Officer Womens Place NUS and (hopefully) Katie Curtis NUS Womens Officer will also be attenging the day! RSVP and for more information email vpw@guild.bham.ac.uk!
LGBT Activists Training Day 25th November - to be held and Birmingham Guild of Students. Register at www.officeronline.co.uk
Other stuff:
Other than all of the above there will be lots going on within FE - November will be a training month for me! Stourbridge, City College Coventry and Walsall to name a few!
I am going to be working with the Staffs team around E & E and Gender Neutral toilets and meeting with the new, full Keele Sabb team and delivering some training session.
Just a quick thank you to Adam Mason from Keele, he has been doing a fantastic job updating the website for me! I am happy to announce that he will hopefully be joining the Exec. committee on the 27th October and the Exec. meeting.
If there are any issues you would like us to raise at the meeting then please contact me - wmanus@hotmail.co.uk .
Well there we are, note to self I won't leave it so long next time!
Looking forward to seeing you all soon!
Sophie x x
