NUS Yes for Affiliation to NUS – It’s the ONLY National voice for students
Argument 1 – National voice for students
ONLY National voice for students
- The National Union of Students is almost a 100 years old organisation which makes a real difference to the lives of students and its member students' unions.
- Around 600 students' unions are affiliated, amounting to approximately 95% of all higher and further education unions in the UK.
- They promote, defend and extend the rights of students and develop and champion strong students’ unions.
- At the minute, NUS is the ONLY National level lobbying body for students, which runs different campaigns throughout the year to support students.
Conclusion: There is no better alternative to NUS for helping support our Union campaigns. We are currently part of a huge community of Students’ Unions where we can come together and make positive change for students.
Argument 2 - Support
Support for Students’ Unions
NUS support all the member Students' Unions and Elected officers across the country.
- During the pandemic, NUS have been doing regular catch-up sessions with Officers to share best practice
- The NUS Officer and CEO support groups are strong networks which help us be part of a larger activist community
- NUS provide training opportunities for SU Officers and staff each year to develop as better leaders and advocates for students
- NUS are the Unions ‘Returning Officer’ during elections, this means if a student wants to appeal, NUS would be the third party to oversee the decision ensuring fairness. In addition, they also provide recommendations on Election rules to ensure they are free and fair.
Conclusion: NUS support our Officers and staff through training, support networks and alternative sessions to ensure consistent development. NUS also help ensure our Elections are run fairly for all students.
Argument 3 – Previous successful campaigns
Successful Campaigns
You might not know this, but NUS was the main lobbying body behind the following Student wins during and before COVID:
- Northern Ireland the government announcing a £1.4m hardship fund for students and Scottish government announcing a £5m hardship fund for students.
- In Scotland the Government passing a legislation that means students will be able to leave their tenancies with 7 days’ notice; new agreements will be subject to a 28-day notice period while the new Bill is in force. They are pushing for other UK governments to do similar. #NotStayingNotPaying
- £46m of hardship funding for students in England; not new money but an acceptance that support is required
- Council Tax Exemption for students: due to NUS standing up for the rights of students in the past, many students benefit from saving the council tax today.
- Totum Discount cards: They’ve lobbied for National level discounts for students.
- Postgraduate loans
- Tenancy deposit scheme
Conclusion: NUS have experience in running effective campaigns that benefit students. These campaigns could benefit so many of our students, why would we want to give that up?
Argument 3 - NUS current campaigns
Current Campaigns
NUS have launched many campaigns that are on-going but right now, the focus is on one campaign; responding to the coronavirus pandemic. They have launched Student Safety Net campaign where they are lobbying for:
- Re-do: All students, at all levels of education, should have the opportunity to retake this year of their qualifications, at no additional cost, while receiving full maintenance support.
- For fee-paying students who do not wish to take this up, then the government must commit to writing off this year of their debt, reimbursing this year of their fees.
They are also advocating for students nationally, with focus on
- Accommodation
- Student income
- Examinations & completing the year of study
- Supporting seriously affected groups including healthcare students, disabled students, and international students.
They also had the following campaigns running before fighting the pandemic became their priority:
- National Education Service: building an education system which sees education as a public good, a benefit to all of us by being accessible, funded and life-long education system.
- Save Erasmus: The UK’s membership of the Erasmus programme faces an uncertain future. Let’s fight for commitment from the Government to Save Erasmus.
- Attainment gap: fighting the unfair gap that exists between the degree outcomes of British white and BAME students.
- Holocaust campaign
- Welfare Campaigns
Conclusion: NUS are currently campaigning on many issues that we at UH are too. We could benefit from remaining affiliated so that we can involve ourselves in these national campaigns.
Argument 4 – Liberation Support
Liberation
They have recently elected a Liberation officer and have been running many Liberation campaigns such as:
- Black Students: NUS Black students’ campaign is the largest organisation of Black students in Europe and represents all students of African, Arab, Asian and Caribbean heritage and campaigns on issues affecting Black students at a local, national and international level.
- Disabled Students: NUS Disabled students’ campaign exists to represent and extend and defend the rights of disabled students. They work to positively impact disabled students’ lives and towards freedom from oppression for disabled people by campaigning, activism, research, and training which they deliver with the input of disabled students.
- LGBT+ Students: NUS Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans + (LGBT+) campaign exists to represent LGBT+ students and extend and defend their rights.
- Women Students: NUS Women’s campaign represents women students around the country and works to extend and defend their rights. The campaign is open to all who self-define as women, including (if they wish) those with complex gender identities which include 'woman', and those who experience oppression as women. They affirm that self-definition is at the sole discretion of the individual in question.
- Trans students: NUS Trans students’ campaign exists to represent trans students and fight for their rights.
Conclusion: NUS have national liberation roles to represent these protected characteristic students on a wide scale. These Officers can run national campaigns to help support these students further.