What inspired you to get involved with your union?
I've always been one to speak out if I'm not happy with something. At school I was forever writing letters the Principal about all sorts of things. So when I saw that I had an opportunity to get involved at college, I just went for it. I had no idea what a students' union was, to me, NUS was a discount card, and when I saw that the majority of the Executive were made up of characters from kids TV shows I gathered something was up. Whatever this students' union lark was, I knew it was important, so when I got elected, I made it my mission for it to be taken seriously.
What has been your biggest success so far?
There has been so much over the last four years being involved in student representation that I'm really proud of. I feel a great sense of achievement every time I come out of a meeting with a Head of Faculty and a student who's now getting the right support on their course doesn't want to quit anymore. Every time we hold elections and the turnout was higher than last time - these are some of the successes that stand out most for me. Getting elected on to the NEC should be on there too I suppose.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing students today?
For many students, college comes second next to their employment responsibilities. That's because the financial support system we've got doesn't go far enough and isn't keeping up with the rising costs of living and studying. This extra pressure on students is damaging their education, so we must focus on making sure that students don't feel that they have to work an extra 20 hours a week above their studies. This is becoming more difficult because of the recession and the fragile job market. Some students and their families have lost their jobs, adding even more pressure to their course. I've met apprentices who have been laid off and their college is struggling to find them a new job. Too often, we link the recession to industry, bankers and politics - the focus has to be on students if we're going to see the skilled workforce we need when the economy picks up again.
What are you most looking forward to in your role as Vice President FE?
Primarily I just want to get out there and see what's happening. Help out where I can and really shout about the good work that's being done in unions across the UK. I'm also looking forward to what's been described as a "Dream Team" of an NEC. I'm really excited to be working with actual FE students on the Block of 15 for the first time and working with my fellow full-timers. Plus, the FE Zone Conference is going to be fantastic!
What challenges do you think lay ahead?
One thing we all need to make sure of is that our colleges and learning providers continue to invest in Learner Involvement. It'll be easy for them to use the recession as an excuse for cutting this investment but we need to be saying that actually, now more than ever, we need to be heavily investing in the Learner Involvement Agenda and involving students in decision making, including the students from the evening courses, the apprentice reps, the international students, HE in FE and FE in HE students too. Whilst I'm a firm supporter of the CALL Campaign, I think that we have to be upping the steaks locally as well as nationally to really get the message across. The recent lobby of parliament showed how much support there was, but it also showed a government yet again, out of touch with adult education.
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
In terms of further education, I'd make it fully funded for everyone. One thing that really irritates me is seeing colleges get away with charging students hundreds of pounds for ‘materials/course fees’ and then giving them out of date and battered equipment to use for vocational courses like plumbing, construction and hair and beauty. Then to top it all, you have to pay even more for trips and extra curricular activities. I've seen adults turned away from my college during open evenings because the course they want to do is too expensive or doesn't exist anymore. I believe FE should never become a place where your right to education depends on your ability to fork out for the bills that come with it, and I fear that our colleges are being forced to think money more than the needs of their students and local community.
Tell us one thing we'd be surprised to learn about you...
I was in a band until quite recently. We started out in school and played every day, but things died down a bit as we found trying to find somewhere to rehearse without disturbing too many people was difficult. Also, I could never afford a drum kit of my own so always had to either go without or borrow someone else's (or beat box ... terribly). We played covers mainly, some indie stuff, dash of punk and lots of Red Hot Chilli Peppers!
What keeps you smiling?
Cliché coming up…genuinely being in an environment where the people you work with are just as passionate about the job in hand as you are - that makes me smile!