Students for Shakira: Shakira #1 For NUS President
Education was not valued where I grew up.
People did what their parents did before them: just try and survive. I don’t regret anything I’ve done in my life – not least raising my two beautiful girls. But I know now that I was taking part in a cycle of poverty and despair.
I don’t want that for my children. So I made a choice.
At my lowest moment, I went back into college. I realised education was the only way to enter back into society -
back to work and into independence and away from crime and abusive relationships. I don’t want anyone else to go through the system as I did – choosing eating or heating, not being able to buy sanitary towels, even dealing when I had to. I want my daughters, their friends and their children to realise the value of education immediately. It terrifies me that their generation may be left behind. I know education will give them the very best chance in life. A chance to be the leaders and entrepreneurs of the future.
Education saved my life, it gave me hope, aspiration and above all opportunity. It is that spirit of optimism we need NUS to embody if it is going to shape our education and our world.
The only way is a national union, united and fighting for free education for everyone.
Making education a real option for everyone
If we’re serious about real change in education, our movement must recognise the impact of class. We must make it our mission a eradicate student poverty and class inequality in all its forms.
My NUS will:
1. Set up a student poverty commission to EXPOSE and demolish:
1. Class barriers in all forms of education
2. Barriers that stop students getting involved in their SU
3. Unfair apprentice pay and barriers that stops students getting immediate financial support and security right now in all forms of education
Fight real student issues, with students
1. Giving students meaningful and secure employment
2. Tackling the shameful growth in student homelessness
3. Keeping students safe - from sexual harassment to knife crime
Will immediately reprioritise work
on access
1. Anonymise the UCAS system so that students are judged on their application not their name or race
2. Fight for a bursary and scholarship scheme that works for students
3. Specific bursary for student carers
Empower students' unions
1. Increase the resources every students' union has to campaign on the issues affecting their students
2. Working with you to be knowledgeable and active in identity politics and race - free from the fear of vilification from your national union and its leaders
3. Creating a national program to support aspiration in our local communities
Why I love students' unions
The best students’ union is one where students grow their politics, learn new skills and ideas, meet new people and expand their horizons.
I have particular love for students learning about liberation issues and pushing the whole system to be diverse and as liberated as possible.
It makes me mad when I hear people slagging off SU's - they are amazing places led by inspirational people and I am honoured to champion them.
My NUS will act professionally and do serious, hard work. NUS should be a collective umbrella for what students’ unions own and operate together. So why does it feel like its approach to SUs work is either to control it or to kill it? We deserve an NUS which makes students' unions lives easier not harder...
My NUS will;
1. Bring some campaigning fire combined with intelligence, innovation and energy. Our movement wins
when we speak at all levels with facts, coordination and a fresh vibe.
2. Our movement is nothing unless it can use its size to truly represent the diversity of our membership such as single parents, student carers and care leavers. I will continue building upon the great progress made by putting FE at the heart of our movement.
3. ... Money Money Money! NUS should give SUs more resources not waste their money! So if it doesn't improve the lives of students, if it doesn't support SUs and if it doesn't make education better then let’s stop doing it!
My promise for students and students' unions
My NUS will GET THINGS DONE.
My NUS will invest every penny into transforming our members. My NUS will research and analyse policy based on what members tell us matters to students on the ground. My NUS will not be obsessed with getting the media spotlight, we will put local students’ unions first, supporting them to talk about the impacts on real students.
My NUS will be fun, vibrant and a welcoming environment to take part in. My NUS will promote safety and zero tolerance on bullying particularly on social media. My NUS will lay a foundation to support students and young people to be part of something bigger, empowering them to control their destiny and the world around them.
My NUS will:
WIN massive national investment in skills and Further Education
• SECURE a new wave of lifelong learning opportunities
• WIN FUNDING for full-time officers for every students’ union
• GET an independent ombudsman for FE (like the OIA for HE)
• SUPPORT students’ unions to engage working class students and widening participation groups
• DEVELOP a transition programme for officers moving into HE from FE
• IMPROVE mental health support services across education
• FACILITATE healthy interfaith dialogue and events to investigate solutions to promote peace and justice
• CUT transport costs and improve accessibility to education, especially in rural areas
• IMPROVE childcare provision for staff and volunteers across our movement
• ENSURE better education and rehabilitation for young offenders
• TACKLE knife crime and gang culture through education
• STEP-UP our student demands for a post-Brexit deal for the UK and tackle hate crime through a vibrant anti-racism campaign
My fully accessible manifestos are available on my campaign website at www.students4shakira.org - please download them!
I'm voting Shakira because at a time where the purpose of education is under sustained attack by the right-wing government in London, it is crucial that NUS is a credible powerhouse, uniting students across the country to fight. NUS has been divided for too long, and there is nobody who has worked harder for a United movement than Shakira. Students need Shakira as NUS President
Vonnie Sandlan, NUS Scotland President
I'm supporting Shakira for President because she has never been afraid to stand up for her students, even when her
opinion might be unpopular. I've never met someone that cares so much for her members and will do anything to make sure they are heard. She'll be a fantastic president when we are facing the challenges of Brexit and the HE Bill."
Emily Horsfall, Keele SU
I have never met someone who so cares so deeply about students and education. She is truly one of a kind - and will make a fantastic NUS President. Shakira has my full support!
Abdi Saed, City of Liverpool College SU
Students4Shakira.org