Anti-cuts activities continue despite snow
Notts SOS
apace. This update has information on what Notts Save Our Services are
doing over the next few weeks, student actions and a new campaign to
defend language education.
Keep an eye on our website (www.nottssos.org.uk) for regular updates
and try to get involved in as much as you can.
1) FUTURE NOTTS SOS MEETINGS
We were meeting weekly but this has changed for the holiday period.
The venue may also change in the New Year but we will keep you
notified. Please put the Conference date in your diary. This will be a
major strategic meeting for the anti-cuts campaigning in Nottingham
and Notts.
Monday 13th December, at the International Community Centre, YMCA, 61b
Mansfield Road, Nottingham, NG1 3FN. 7.30pm until 9.30pm. All welcome
and you can just turn up.. This will be the last meeting in 2010.
Monday 10th January 2011, venue TBC
Saturday 15th January 2011, "Combating the Cuts," a meeting to bring
together to work out a strategy for defeating the cuts, Dunkirk and
Old Lenton Community Centre, 10.30am-4pm
2) NOTTS SOS NEWSLETTTER
The second issue of our newsletter is now out:
http://nottssos.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/nottssos_newsletter_2_dec_2010_final.pdf
This edition has information on student activism, campaigning to save
Gedling School and pressure on Nottingham City Council.
3) STUDENT ACTIONS
The student occupation of the Great Hall at the University of
Nottingham has been suspended, but local actions against the rise in
fees, education cuts and the scrapping of EMA continue this week.
1. At 2:30pm on Monday 6th, there will be a rally outside the Great
Hall in conjunction the Vice Chancellor meeting that the occupation
successfully negotiated. Please come down and show your support and
make some noise!
2. At 3:30pm, also on Monday 6th, all students are invited to join an
open forum discussion with the VC over the raise in tuition fees and
cuts to the university, which is taking place in the Great Hall. All
students are allowed to come, even if you weren’t in the occupation;
even if you’re unsure about your position. Come down and hear the
debate and get involved!
3. On Thursday 9th, MP’s will vote in the commons to raise tuition
fees. NSACF have organised coaches to take students, staff and
supporters down to London for the National Day of Action. This is a
big event, involving all occupations and the student movement as a
whole!
The suggested donation for the coach is £5, but whatever you can
afford. If you are interested, please email: nsa...@gmail.com with
your name – Coach leaves 9am from Portland steps on Thursday 9th.
Nottingham Students Against Fees and Cuts:
http://nsafc.wordpress.com/
4) DEFEND ESOL
A meeting has been called on Wednesday by UCU (Universities and
Colleges Union) and NNRF (Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum). This
cut will affect both service users and teachers.
Date 8th December 2010
Time 5.30pm
Place Refugee Forum, the Square Centre, Alfred Street North, off
Huntingdon Street. NG3 1AA
The government’s proposals for changing ESOL (English for speakers of
other language) funding next academic year pose an extremely serious
threat. They radically restrict the rights of many non-English
speakers to publicly funded classes, and threaten the jobs of ESOL
teachers.
In their new strategy for FE, the government will restrict access to
public funding to students from ‘settled communities’.
Only those students ‘actively seeking work’ and receiving JSA or the
new ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) would be eligible for full
fee remission. Others would be subject to so-called ‘co-funding’,
which in all likelihood means an increase in course fees, including
for those in low-paid jobs and on Working Tax Credit or housing
benefit. In addition, asylum seekers and students on Section 4
support would no longer be eligible for publicly funded language
classes.
This attack on ESOL funding would undermine integration, progression
and access to decent employment. It could push provision back into
the margins of voluntary teaching and under-resourced community
classes.
UCU and the Refugee Forum are jointly calling this organising meeting
for teachers, students and others to discuss what action we can take
to defend ESOL.
Everybody welcome.
Flyer: http://nottssos.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/defend-esol-flyer.pdf