Peter Smallwood NUS Manifesto 2013

PETER SMALLWOOD
For NUS UK President #BacktoBasics

Putting every student at the heart of the NUS
UNIONS AS OUR HEARTBEAT I want to be the President who puts our Student Unions back at the heart of our National Union. This will see us going back to basics. Getting the simple things right that really matter to students and taking us to the core of what our movement was founded on; getting every student a quality education. EXPERIENCE Students Trustee (Union of Brunel Students) 2011-12 Student Assembly Member (Union of Brunel Students) 2010-12 VP Academic Representation (Union of Brunel Students) 2012-present NUS Union Development Zone 2012-present NUSSL Inter-relationship group 2012-present STUDENTS AS OUR LIFEBLOOD Everyone in FE and HE faces the same challenges day by day, and students talk about the small changes theyd like to make. We need an NUS President who will talk about those issues we hear every day on our campuses. Weve all heard about them havent we? Those students who want to see academic standards genuinely improve, because they arent being inspired by their studies. That student who needs help meeting new people because they struggled to settle in. The single Mother who is in desperate need of childcare so she can continue to study. The Sports club who simply want to raise money for a little bit of new kit. These are the issues we see every day and the sort we need to tackle for every student. WHAT WOULD I DO? Real help for Student Activities development - this is the largest resource used by our members. It deserves to be given real and effective representation. A stronger relationship with British Universities & Colleges Sport. Support for Unions to build long term strategic plans that will help build sustainable long lasting organisations. More training, tools and best practise to build stronger RAG and recognition for the National RAG programme. A strong robust drive to raise teaching and learning standards across the sector in both FE and HE. Campaign to support independent Student Media, and an NUS that doesnt interfere. Peters devotion to engaging with students and not being scared to challenge the stereotypes of the NUS is without question. I have every confidence in his capabilities, and eagerly await the forward thinking discourse his candidacy will bring to these forthcoming NUS elections. Matt, Edinburgh
REPRESENTATION FOR THE 7 MILLION, NOT THE 7000 I want to create a culture in NUS that sees us truly represent all our members. NUS has become too inwards looking, and has at times focussed attention on issues that really dont resonate with the majority of our membership. Im fed up of us fighting ourselves; excluding people we dont think we agree with, and forgetting that the vast amount of members are simply not engaged. I will be a President for the 7 million, creating an open, inclusive NUS that Students will be proud to belong to. A strong message for affiliation campaigns. Making every Student Union a member of NUS. A campaign to increase FE and HE Union collaboration. Supporting each other, working together in our communities. Real and effective help for small and specialist unions, a campaign lead by members for members. A National movement that opens the door to everyone, not just those the Leaders agree with.
If you would like a copy of this manifesto in another format, or have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch; Facebook: facebook.com/Smallwood4NUS Twitter: @Smallwood4NUS Email: [email protected] Website: Smallwood4NUS.co.uk
A CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT When Government is wrong we should oppose them. When Government is right we should work with them. Locally, Regionally and Nationally NUS have an inconsistent relationship with Government. When we do work with them we often dont get the desired results. When we oppose them we often dont produce the required outcomes. We need opposition that delivers change, and partnerships that have lasting legacies. We can do this by creating the effective activists of tomorrow; change makers! And to be clear, I dont care who is in power, right or left, red or blue, I will work with anyone who wants to make positive change for students. Work with all Students Unions to build activists and activism that is effective and delivers real results. Strongly hold Government to account with direction coming from our membership at large. Not just the politicos! A national campaign to build strong relationships with all levels of Government, to achieve real success when we agree. Regional wide campaigns for more local Government support for Student Unions. Encouraging member Unions to engage in Localism, building real change at a local level. EMPLOYMENT NOT JUST EMPLOYABILITY The argument that we should be focused on either tackling unemployment or creating employability is stuck in the mud! We should be doing both. Students want to see good graduate employment prospects, and they most certainly want to be employable. As a movement we need to start playing our part in helping to tackle the unemployment crisis, while doing all we can to help students be in the best position to get on the employment ladder. Campaign to make sure the work place offers fair and equal opportunities for all. Campaigning to make sure placements and internships are truly a stepping stone and not an alternative to employment. A campaign to lobby Government for real financial help for people on placements years. A strong national campaign to give Student Unions the tools to play their part in tackling unemployment and subsequently give their students the tools to aid employability. Before knowing Peter, I had big inhibitions about getting involved in student politics. Watching his success, and seeing what an impact he has made, he inspired me to become a student officer at Lancaster Student Union and I want an NUS that inspires new leaders. Charlie, Lancaster Student Union.
Its fantastic to see Peter running for NUS President. Its his grass roots engagement and connection with real students that is needed to help re-energise the student movement. As a former VP at Liverpool Guild of Students and NUS Disabled & LGBT Rep, I am happy to give him my full support and know he will be a strong voice for the full diversity of students in the UK. Please vote Smallwood #1 for NUS President! Tara, Ex Sabbatical Officer STUDENT-LED WELFARE We need to start truly leading Student Welfare! When did we become the movement that reacts and stop being the movement of ideas? If we want to change Welfare we need to lead the change. Showing that Students and their Unions are best placed to help those most in need, we need a fresh approach with fresh ideas. I want to see students that have loans and grants that cover the cost of living. I want to see a fairer deal for all Further Education students, young and mature; why should someones ages be a barrier to their education? We also need to continue to support our International friends, making sure they are supported by Government and their institution. But one of the biggest Welfare issues we face, is housing. We need to stop skirting around the issues and deal with the concerns on the ground. A collaborative campaign to crackdown on dodgy landlords and make sure Universities are providing the quality and affordable halls they should be! Lobby Government to work with Student Unions to provide and create a new emergency welfare scheme, allowing students to help students. Campaign to make Student Loans/Grant truly cover the cost of living. Provide support to Student Unions on working with community partners in the crackdown on dodgy Landlords. Oppose Further Education Fees. Oppose the inclusion of international students in the Governments immigration cap.
PETER SMALLWOOD
For NUS UK President
Putting every student at the heart of the NUS

Peter Smallwood NUS Manifesto 2013

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PETER SMALLWOOD

For NUS UK President #BacktoBasics

For NUS UK President

Putting every student at the heart of the NUS

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