By Maddy Russell, Second Year Politics and International Relations
The National Union of Students, which represents Bristol and the majority of UK higher education institutions, has revealed it is facing significant financial difficulties.
In a letter to the group’s affiliated students’ unions, the NUS said that it was unable to cover an estimated deficit of £3 million from its existing reserves.
Students’ unions across the country were told that the organisation may need to mortgage its headquarters, reduce staff and curtail its activities in order to save money. In a letter to its unions, the NUS said that the measures proposed would help it ‘get to safety’ within an estimated period of six months. It also appealed to members in helping to reshape governance and address the underlying causes of the issue.
Members have also been invited to partake in ‘strategic conversation’ with their ideas on the future of the NUS. A Turnaround Board is also in the process of being established with the goal of making changes beyond 2019, when President Shakira Martin is due to step down.
27 - 28 Nov is NUS Strategic Conversation, a chance for Presidents and Chief Execs from around the country to come together and collaborate on what is next for the NUS and for our membership. For more info and sign up details visit https://t.co/aCd3Hb24vW pic.twitter.com/mpctwZIcas
— NUS UK (@nusuk) November 9, 2018
Stanford, Bristol’s Union Affairs Officer, told Epigram: ‘The financial issues facing the NUS are unlikely to directly negatively impact our staff and students at Bristol. However, there are useful support services that the NUS provides to all the student’s unions, particularly in representation, research and student voice and potential cut backs could affect the quality or delivery of those services.
‘Our aim as a Students' Union is to engage with all opportunities we can, most imminently in Strategic Conversation 2018, to minimise the losses for the NUS and ensure Bristol students continue to receive benefits of membership.’
With Bristol SU being one of the founding unions of the NUS in 1908, Stanford expressed his confidence that Bristol shall have a ‘strong voice’ in tackling this issue in the coming months.
Featured image: Twitter / @nusuk
