Thank you, Heriot-Watt University Student Union!
Today I travelled to Edinburgh to co-host the first NUS UK Liberation Collective workshop of the academic year alongside our NUS Scotland President, Justine Pedussel. It was a real privilege to spend time with student liberation activists, hear about the issues facing students in Scotland, and start mapping out what a Scottish Liberation Network could look like.
I believe liberation organising should never be concentrated in one place. National conversations often become centred on England, leaving students in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland feeling disconnected from the wider movement.
This year, our officer team is absolutely determined to change that because Trans, racialised, disabled, women and LGBQ+ students live and study in all four nations, the Liberation Collective should reflect that. The Liberation Collective is a space where students can build relationships across borders and support one another around the issues that matter most to them and their peers.
The conversations we had today left me feeling really hopeful about what we can build together in the next two years. So if you're a liberation activist, officer, rep or organiser in a students' union anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, I'd love to hear from you. We're building something ambitious, and we need your voice to make it happen.
The movement grows when more people have a place within it. Let's get building.