Firstly, lets get one thing straight. Despite my manifesto design, I am not promising to get free Oyster cards for all students! However I do want to see an NUS that engages with the wider student body in a more meaningful way than a discount card. NUS has often been too inwards looking, focussing on issues that don't resonate with the majority of our membership. It’s time for an NUS that reaches out to the 7 Million and brings them together. It’s time for #OneNationNUS!
Students Trustee (Union of Brunel Students) 2011-12
Student Assembly Member (Union of Brunel Students) 2010-12
VP Academic Representation (Union of Brunel Students)
NUS Union Development Zone 2012-present
NUSSL Inter-relationship group 2012-present
DEFENDING AND EXTENDING STUDENT UNIONS
Student Unions are the heartbeat of our National movement. They are a place where you can enjoy yourself; from bars, to sports teams and societies. They are places you can turn in your hour of need. We need to defend the importance of Student Unions. Up and down the country Student Unions are working hard for their students, and I will make sure NUS is working hard for them.
In these tough economic times, our Unions are feeling the pinch. I will push for affiliation fees to come DOWN, keeping money with the Student Unions offering welfare and advocacy services on the front line.
NUS has oodles of excellent resources, but they aren't as accessible as they could be. Lets open up these resources (like NUSConnect) and help the activists on the ground!
This campaign is not endorsed by John Major, Ed Miliband or Benjamin Disraeli
A CONVERSATION WITH THE WIDER MEMBERSHIP
I want to champion the concept that block members are the very people to be engaging with the wider membership - making sure that all block members are getting into student unions and meeting Sabbatical Officers. But not just that - we should be speaking to students on the ground about the issues that really matter to them as well. It is my task to bring back those ideas and concepts and fight hard for them on NEC. I will be a block member that champions the voices of our member institutions, and I wont be afraid to stand up for those voices that have been shut out in the past. I will also hold our Officers to account, making sure conference mandates are fulfilled, and that every penny of your affiliation fees are spent wisely.