Helping estranged students

Added on 06/06/2008

Estrangement is a term that almost all students have probably come across – via their student loan application forms – but one that few probably understand or will ever have to face. For those students whose relationship with their parents has broken down it can be a difficult and daunting process.

NUS published a report into the experiences of estranged students in higher education. The report details about exactly where the problems lie for estranged students, and recommends solutions for government departments and local authorities.

The study has already received a positive reception – with the Pink News highlighting it last month.

Nia Griffiths MP has laid down an early day motion (EDM) asking the government to take forward the recommendations of our report. We want as many MPs as possible to back this EDM, so please email, visit or write to your member of parliament asking them to sign this EDM. The more signatories we get, the more attention it will get in Parliament.

Writing couldn’t be easier – we’ve created a model letter and you can find your MP with the widget below. We've also created a lobbying guide so you can get other students involved and help further the message.

Order the trans equality quide

Added on 28/05/2008

Copies of the new guidance on trans equality in post-school education are now available to order. Email us to order a copy today.

Download a PDF version here.

Victory for progressives on abortion and same sex couples

Added on 21/05/2008

NUS, through the Women’s and LGBT campaigns, won key victories for both women and lesbian couples yesterday (20 May) when parliament voted in our favour on abortion-rights and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

Legislation proposing to reduce the legal time limit for abortion from 24 weeks to either 12, 16, 20 or 22 weeks was defeated and legislation proposing to obstruct same sex couples from accessing IVF treatment was also.

NUS’ Women’s and LGBT Campaigns are delighted that their long-term campaigning to defend and extend the rights of women and LGBT people has paid off.

NUS Women’s Officer Kat Stark said “Students should feel proud of themselves because we have worked hard, in our unions, on our campuses and with our MPs in the run up to the vote on Tuesday. The lobbying, demonstrating and campaigning work that women’s officers have led on has had national impact and we have successfully defended a woman’s right to choose.

”Students should also feel proud of the impact they have had in defeating homophobic attempts to block same-sex couples, and single women, from having children.

”From listening to the debates in the House of Commons on Tuesday, it is clear that there is still widespread sexism and homophobia in parliament today. We need to make sure that we continue to campaign to eradicate ignorance and discrimination in parliament and in society – let this victory fuel us as we go forward in our fight for equality for all.”

Pro-choice support came from a wide breadth of people.

Jo Brand, the comedian said
"This time limit argument is a total red herring. It's the same old anti-abortionists with their anti-women agenda, making up the science as they go along. MPs should have no truck with it."

Christine McCafferty, Labour MP said
"There has been no significant improvement in the survival of babies born before 24 weeks gestation over the last 12 years, despite medical advances. If the current limit were reduced, it would have an adverse impact on the very small number of women or girls, who do seek late abortions."

Dr Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP said
"There has been a campaign of misinformation, assertion and irrelevant information about the abortion time limit led by very well funded organisations opposed to all abortion. Sadly, the evidence shows that it simply isn't the case that wanted babies born below 24 weeks are more likely to survive. It is a cruel deception on parents with pre-term babies. It would be astonishing if Parliament took a view against the united approach of all the relevant medical institutions."

Robert Key, Conservative MP said
"I am a member of the general synod of the Church of England. A recent Church of England briefing to MPs said that any support for campaigns to change the abortion law would be on the proviso that such measures were evidence based. I am yet to be convinced that lowering from 24 weeks would significantly reduce the abortion rate and I believe there are alternative answers. I think the answer is a massive advance in responsible sex education."

Julie Bentley, Chief Executive fpa (Family Planning Association) said
"The few women who need later abortion are the hardest cases - very vulnerable women in incredibly difficult circumstances. Some women don't recognise the symptoms of pregnancy, sometimes because of poor sex education - they believe the myths, like you can't get pregnant if you're a virgin. People don't make these decisions lightly and women do need the time to make that decision."

Wendy Savage, Doctors for A Woman's Choice on Abortion said
"As one of the few doctors who has performed later abortion in Britain, I know how difficult the cases are. In one case, after 1990, I had a call from A and E about a young 17 year old, 26 weeks pregnant who had been held captive as a domestic worker, raped by her boss and was going to kill herself if her pregnancy wasn't ended. I hope that right, logic and evidence will prevail amongst MPs."

Louise Hutchins, Abortion Rights Campaign Coordinator said
"Nadine Dorries MP's crusade to turn back the clock on women's reproductive rights shows an appalling disregard for women and the difficult circumstances that they sometimes face. Lowering the time limit would be devastating for this small number of women and force some to continue with a pregnancy against their will - causing long term psychological and physical harm, others will travel abroad for a later abortion if they can afford to and others, will risk a dangerous illegal back-street option. MPs need to understand that women will be watching very carefully how MPs vote on Tuesday. We are protesting to make sure women's voices are heard loud and clear to defend 24 weeks."

And the winners are...

Added on 06/05/2008

The best and brightest in the student LGBT community gathered for the annual LGBT Awards at the end of April and the following picked up the top prizes. Congratulations to everyone who won and thanks to everyone who took part.

Publication of the Year Award sponsored by Merrill Lynch
London Met LGBT

Involvement Award sponsored by Barclays Capital
UMSU LGBT (University of Manchester Students’ Union)

Event of the Year Award sponsored by Accenture and Diversity Milkround
Bristol University LGBT

Diversity Award sponsored by KPMG
SOAS LGBT (School of African and Oriental Studies)

Students’ Union of the Year Award sponsored by Lehman Brothers
University of Essex Students’ Union

Campaign of the Year Award sponsored by Barclays Wealth
Birmingham University Guild of Students LGBT Society

Campaigner of the Year Award sponsored by Credit Suisse
David Robson, Roehampton Students’ Union

LGBT Society of the Year (Further Education) sponsored by IBM
North Notts College LGBT

LGBT Society of the Year (Higher Education) sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers
Lancaster University, YOUR LGBT*

The award ceremony for the NUS LGBT Awards tool place at the NUS LGBT Conference on Saturday 26 April 2008 in Nottingham’s Britannia Hotel. Daf Adley and Lucy Brookes were elected as the new officers for the national LGBT campaign at the conference. Outgoing officers are Claire Anderson and Scott Cuthbertson, who have completed their maximum two years in office.

Write to Peter Mandelson and help end LGBT discrimination in Europe

Added on 22/04/2008

Within the next couple of months, the European Commission and the European Council will decide the fate of an EU directive that protects individuals against discrimination. There are, however, signs that sexual orientation will no longer be included as grounds for discrimination.

NUS LGBT is campaigning for this directive to be extended to cover all grounds for discrimination. Not only will this will protect your rights in the UK, but it will extend the freedoms that we enjoy to the larger LGBT community in Europe.

This is not the first time such a directive, which will affect the laws in every EU member country, has been proposed. In 2004, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, made a promise to personally ensure that legal protections would be enlarged to cover all forms of discrimination and the European Parliament has called for such a directive at least seven times in the past eight years.

Support the campaign
You can help support the campaign, organised by ILGA-Europe (the European branch of the International LGBT Association), by writing to our EU representative, Peter Mandelson and the EU President José Manuel Barroso.

We’ve created template letters for each to make it as simple as possible, all you need to do is download them and email the EU represenativives, details of which are below.

Write to Peter Mandelson, the UK’s Commissioner, by emailing this letter to peter.mandelson@cec.eu.int

Write to José Manuel Barroso, the President of the Commission, by emailing this letter to sg-web-president@cec.eu.int

LGBT Officer-elect Lucy Brookes used her speech on the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) to highlight this issue. You can download the speech, as a PDF, here.