Dubbed the ‘National Voice Of Students’, the NUS works across the whole of the UK with the broad aim of making a difference to the lives of students. The NUS is a membership organisation, made up of a national team of staff, a separate Union of Students in Ireland, and representatives in Scotland and Wales. The majority of universities in the UK are ‘members’ of the NUS, and will undertake work locally for the students, and get involved in national projects and campaigns.
One of the main functions of the NUS, is as a campaigning organisation, with ethics and the environment at the core of their values. Mental health, financial issues, racial equality, and transport issues facing students have, or will continue, to come under the spotlight. The NUS do this through training, research papers, campaigning across the country, and offering advice to those who want to get involved in student issues on a local level. Their ‘greener’ campaigns are a prime example of how everyone can get involved in Student Union Projects, which help union facilities, university campuses, and suppliers of student products and services all over the country, through schemes tackling energy efficiency, recycling, and more. There’s even a project to encourage students to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
On campus, a university’s student union is often at the hub of student life, and they have various different functions. Most student unions will have officers on site, employed to look after student welfare, and academic needs. There may be a committee, elected by the student body, who oversee all aspects of the student union, help run student led facilities, and represent the student body to the college.
It would be hard to ignore the other role student unions have though, as they are responsible for the clubs, societies, and exciting trips/social events that are put on each year. These include sports events, freshers week activities for new students, and the annual student balls. Many student unions are also part of the NUS Extra Card scheme, and will either distribute cards on campus, or be signed up to the online service. If you decide to buy the card, you can use it to obtain a vast array of discounts, both on the high street, and online. Save money on holidays, gap year trips, coach fares, eating out, going to cinemas, comedy clubs, and concerts, and even driving lessons. You can also get money off with retailers such as Amazon, Claires Accessories, Game, and JJB Sports. The card is valid for your time at university, but the discounts needn’t end there, as the NUS also have a Graduate Extra Card, which offers tailored discounts designed to help with career support, technology, and of course, your social lives.
You can find out more about the NUS Cards, what the NUS does on a local and national level, and all that’s going on at your university student union either via the NUS website, or via the social clubs and societies, and campaign pages on university websites.
