Thousands of students have taken part in protests, stunts, petitions and written to their MPs to show their anger and raise awareness of the consequences of scrapping of the EMA.
The proposals, put forward by the coalition Government, would get rid of the £564 million of funding the initiative provides each year - a lifeline for 635,000 young people in further education.
The save the EMA campaign caused a stir on Twitter, where it was the second most talked about subject on the social networking site, with thousands of people tweeting reasons why the EMA should be saved.
Students from Warrington Collegate, where 61 per cent of students are dependent on EMA, showed their local MPs just what EMA means to them – by giving them their socks. The stunt demonstrated how the Government is taking everything away from young people.
"Education is a human right and not a privilege for the rich" said Alistair Worrall a BTEC sports student from Warrington Collegiate. While another student, Amie Colligan, says she will suffer severely from the proposals. Amie said: "£30 a week is hardly enough to get me to college already, losing this will mean I have no choice but to find a job and forget about going to university."
Vice President Further Education Shane Chowen said: “There is significant momentum growing across not just the FE sector, but also the wider educational community, that scrapping EMA is a massive mistake. Now is the time that the Government listens to those who know best in this instance, college principals, student representatives and indeed students themselves.”
There was a whole raft of action taking place across the country , here are just some of the activities organised by students’ unions and students.
Canterbury College students staged a mass petitioning of the whole college. They will also be sporting save EMA branded Christmas decorations this week.
City of Bristol College held a protest at lunchtime.
Strode College students took part in a RIP EMA event. The students’ union and Universities and College Union held a joint musical event with students coordinating a mass letter writing and petition signing campaign.
Basingstoke College of Technology & Queen Mary College held an is education history event. Held at a local museum, the event petitioned members of the public and held a lecture on how education shaped Basingstoke.
Richmond-Upon-Thames College held a lunchtime protest, which marched from the college to Vince Cable’s constituency office in Lion Road to deliver a letter of protest about the abolition of the EMA.
Bradford College organised a day of action. The students’ union president appeared on BBC Radio Leeds, there was also lunchtime protest and a petition.
Blackpool and The Fylde College booked out the college library for the day to use as base for mass petitioning activity.
Gateshead College invited local MP Ian Mearns to speak to students, there was also be a petition.
Cornwall College students signed up by recording what they use EMA for and “EMA helps me to be…” by linking it with career aspirations.
Colchester Institute students wrote to their local MP Michael Gove.
The Oldham College students took part in handprint activity in the social space to symbolise what EMA (and ALG) helps students with in their everyday lives.
Greenwich held a small demo alongside their UCU. They had plans to have a meeting with their local MP Teresa Pierce on the day.
Lambeth welcomed Andy Burnham MP as well as running a series of workshops educating their students on cuts in general followed by a peaceful protest outside the college.
Ealing Hammersmith and West London College students have sent at least 200 letters to their MP, a very active day took place, with debates at all their campuses discussing EMA issues and a question time with their principal.
City and Islington College appeared on local radio throughout the day talking about the impacts of cuts on further education.
Brookhouse College Hackney organised a lunchtime protest, which London Mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone attended.
Bilborough Sixth Form College, Nottingham organised joint union action with UCU.
Doncaster College students canvassed and petitioned at both their major sites.