NUS Welfare Campaign

The NUS Welfare Unit provides expert advice within education and welfare policy areas of concern to NUS by:

Consultations, Responses and Policy Development

We represent NUS policy to government and external organisations - written and oral submissions. We point out policy issues and opportunities for development. We liaise with other organisations to strengthen policy point.

External Affairs and Liaison

We maintain an extensive and professional policy network for NUS by regular contact with a wide range of people including civil servants, representatives in related organisations, vice chancellors, principles and trade unions.

Membership of Policy Committees

We assist and brief National Executive Committee officers to directly represent the views of students to decision-makers and influential people in related organisations and government.

We also assist NEC members to respond to government policy and legislative consultations, and to give evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees.

Publications

We provide technical and policy driven information to Students Unions, students, the public, the media, and other organisation. For example, the Welfare Information Pack.

Information & Casework

We offer support to student union officers and student union staff on welfare and education issues, and information to students themselves on issues that concern them. We provide accurate expert information to the public, media and other organisations.

Research

We conduct both primary and secondary research, to inform and support policy development and to provide the sector with evidence based policy. We advise other departments on research and evaluation techniques.

Training and Advice

We develop and deliver presentations to both internal audiences for example NUS’ Summer Training Programme and external audiences. We advise NUS regarding campaigns/lobbying/press strategies.

Technical Editing

Occasionally we are asked to undertake technical editing of documents produced by government departments and other organisations. This is to ensure the documents are relevant to student concerns and take on board the NUS and student perspectives.

Convenors and Committee Members

The Vice-President Welfare, Veronica King, who is the elected officer with responsibility for the welfare campaign, convenes the welfare campaign. In addition to this, 3 other members of the national executive committee are part of the welfare taskforce- James J Walsh, Benson Osawe & Flick Cox.

Several members of staff run the NUS Welfare unit, helping us to implement our welfare remit.