14th March 2008
New website launched to increase tax awareness
The HM Revenue and Customs have recently launched a campaign, backed by NHS, that aims to increase tax awareness and understanding and enable students to have access to accurate information regarding tax. As part of this campaign they have launched a new website, www.studenttaxadvice.org.uk , which provides detailed information on tax issues including details of tax thresholds and how much tax should be paid, a tax calculator so students can work out if they are due a tax refund and information on how to go about getting a refund if they are. There is also an extensive FAQ section to answer common tax queries.
If students have any problems regarding work and tax issues and cannot find help on the site they can contact the Student Advice Centre.
Vicki Kirby, Guidance Worker, Student Advice Centre
13th February 2008
Valentine's Day Message to Improve Young Drivers' Safety
The life threatening implications of dangerous driving will be highlighted to the city's students on Valentine's Day when two people are cut from the wreckage of a car.
The award-winning 'For My Girlfriend' campaign will be launched at the University of Leeds by the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in partnership with Leeds City Council's road safety team.
Read the full press release from Leeds City Council (pdf)
8th February 2008
The Cribs are commemorated at LUU.
Wakefield band The Cribs have followed in the footsteps of some of the world's top acts by appearing on stage at The Refectory. Bands and performers such as The Clash, Elton John, Kaiser Chiefs, Rolling Stones, Paul Weller, The Strokes and of course The Who have all played at Leeds' largest live music venue, each appearing on several sell-out occasions during their careers. In the 40 year history of the building's use for concerts however, no act had successfully sold out two consecutive nights, two consecutive years in a row. That is, until the 8th and 9th February 2008 when The Cribs headline the Shockwaves NME Awards Tour for two rammed to the rafters shows, repeating the success of their standalone headline shows on 9th and 10th June 2007.
To commemorate this first, The Cribs will be presented with an award by the University of Leeds at their forthcoming February dates in a celebration of another milestone in the history of this legendary venue and its continued support of the local music scene. The Refectory currently hosts over 40 live concerts per year and The Cribs appear as part of the Shock Waves NME Awards Tour 2008 and will be supported by Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, Does It Offend You Yeah? and The Ting Tings.
Tom Salmon, Events Manager, Leeds University Union.
Read the updated Press Release (pdf)
Find out more about The Cribs at www.thecribs.com
Find out more about the NME Awards Tour at www.nme.com
1st February 2008
Celebrating Culture at LUU!
The International Cultural Festival is a new student event giving student activity groups and members a chance to celebrate their own cultures within Leeds University Union. It's the first year of the event and the first of its kind within the Union, and will hopefully become an annual event in years to come.
Amy Ronge, Leeds University Union's PR Assistant.
Read the full Press Release posted on the BBC Website
30th August 2007
Press Release - NUS celebrates victory as HSBC U-turn.
Following enormous pressure from thousands of students and graduates from across the country, HSBC has made the welcome decision to reverse its decision to charge full interest on graduate overdrafts.
Read the full Press Release
6th March 2007
Press Release - How Safe Do Students Feel?
Leeds University Union has recently conducted a study on student safety. The groundbreaking research about students' attitudes in Leeds towards their welfare showed that 85% are concerned about their personal safety.
Read the full Press Release
18th January 2007
Students rise from political slumber
After thousands of students took to the streets of London to protest against top up fees last year, the student representatives of the University of Leeds have called for an audience with their University and the higher education Minister Bill Rammell MP to discuss the worrying state of higher education.
The Great Fees Debate will take place on the 24th January at 5pm in the Student Unions Riley Smith Hall, where students will be presented with the opportunity to probe the Pro-Vice Chancellor; Mr Rammell; local Liberal Democrat MP, Greg Mulholland; and NUS VP Education, Wes Streeting.
This is a one off chance for students from Leeds to directly influence policy makers on a local and national scale. It is also a chance to find out where your University really stands on the marketisation of higher education. If you want to be part of this influential debate and have a chance to influence educational policy that could change the education system as we know it, don't miss The Great Fees Debate!
Damola Timeyin, Communications and Democracy Officer 2006 to 2007
13th December 2006
Response to Referendum Results
Leeds University Union is committed to maintaining the freedom for all our members to follow individual beliefs in a positive and harmonious environment.
Following the outcome of the recent referendum Leeds University Union will continue to build positive relationships between groups and individuals on campus, and we assure all students that regardless of belief or background that their safety and welfare are paramount.
Policy passed by the referendum in no way changes Jewish students' right to support the state of Israel or debate the issue. The Students Union is an organization which supports and provides opportunities for debate and expression; however we will not tolerate behaviour which strays into the realms of racial or religious hatred, and any instances of anti-Semitism will be dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner.
We believe all students have a right to study in an open and fair environment without fear of prejudice.
We intend to continue our fight for equality following a year in which Leeds University Union received national coverage for its fight against fascism, and are constantly looking for ways to strengthen interfaith relations on campus, through LUU's Interfaith forum.
We remain committed to maintaining the freedom for all our members to follow individual beliefs in a positive and harmonious environment.
13th November 2006
Students rise from political slumber
After thousand of students took to the streets of London to protest against top up fees, the student representatives of the University of Leeds have called for an audience with their Vice Chancellor and the Higher Education Minister Bill Rammel MP to discuss the worrying state of higher education.
The great Fees Debate will take place on the 29th November, Where students will be presented with the opportunity to probe the Vice Chancellor, Mr Rammel, Conservative Peer Baroness Perry, local Liberal democrat MP Greg Mulholland and NUS President Gemma Tummelty.
6th October 2006
Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre achieves an award in Quality!
Bright Beginnings is the childcare centre of Leeds University Union and the University of Leeds. Following a Quality Counts Assessment in June, Leeds University Union would like to congratulate Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre on achieving Level 2.
Quality Counts is the accreditation scheme of NDNA, the National Day Nurseries Association, and is the leading force in the promotion of high-quality day care for children. The overall award is based on portfolio-building, mentoring, training, self-assessment and independent assessment leading.
The feedback received from the assessment sums up the excellent service provided by Bright Beginnings. Here are just a few of the comments received:
"The management team are very committed and enthusiastic about the setting and are fully involved with a new project to build a larger setting for completion in 2008".
"The setting is very well organised and is run in a professional manner to deliver a very good standard of service"."
"Care and Education is an especially strong area of expertise within the setting".
"It is obvious that this is the kind of environment which children want to be in".
More day nurseries across the country are working towards Quality Counts than any other childcare quality assurance scheme. Leeds University Union are proud that Bright Beginnings continues to improve its service, raising the standard and ranking among other nationally recognised high-quality childcare providers.
Achievement of the Quality Counts Awards reinforces Bright Beginnings core values of offering first class care in a safe and stable atmosphere, ensuring the childcare provided is of the highest quality and standard.
The award also promotes positive messages and benefits to all involved with Bright Beginnings. For staff, it creates a positive culture of continuous improvement, increasing motivation, involvement and commitment. It also provides reassurance and confidence for parents. Most importantly, good-quality childcare benefits children by positively affecting cognitive, language, social and emotional development.
29th September 2006
LUU promotes Equality and Acceptance
Leeds University Union continues to work with all groups to promote equality and acceptance on our diverse and vibrant campus. We believe all students have a right to study in an open and fair environment without fear of prejudice.
We intend to continue our fight for equality following a year in which Leeds University Union received national coverage for its fight against fascism, and are constantly looking for ways to strengthen interfaith relations on campus, through LUU's Interfaith forum.
We remain committed to maintaining the freedom for all our members to follow individual beliefs in a positive and harmonious environment.
13th July 2006
Frank Ellis
Leeds University Union was horrified by the views of Frank Ellis. We are proud of our multicultural campus community and the diverse city in which we live. We believe that he was bringing disgrace to the University by using his status to try to legitimise racism.
Although we feel that freedom of expression is important; students have a right to study without fear of prejudice. Views such as those of Dr Ellis have no place in this University's community and we are pleased that he will no longer be associated with the University of Leeds.
7th June 2006
At last...a deal and an end to student suffering
Leeds University Union is delighted that UCU have suspended the boycott of assessment and will ballot its members on a pay settlement. This brings an end to a very long period of distress and uncertainty for students at Leeds. We hope that our finalists can now graduate on time and with the right degree with no further hold-ups and we will continue to fight for our members to ensure that there are no long term consequences for them as a result of the action.
We are pleased that academic staff have received a well deserved pay increase which goes some of the way to redressing years of poor salaries. We have consistently maintained that well paid and well motivated academic staff are central to our members student experience.
An independent review of what the sector can afford is also welcome as it will give objectivity to future negotiations. Sally Hunt has said that UCU will continue to fight for better pay. We implore UCU to learn from this dispute and not again use these tactics which punish students.
5th June 2006
Let us gradute...please!
As the exam season ends for thousands of students who have worked hard throughout this academic year, uncertainty still looms over the future of their degrees. Leeds University Union is once again asking all sides to finally resolve this dispute and allow our efforts to be properly recognised with the right degree, on time.
Despite the frustrations and anxieties of students, the AUT continue to boycott all assessment leaving many extremely worried about their degrees' and futures'. LUU has consistently voiced condemnation of the tactics chosen by the AUT and asked that they would return to marking.
Now at such a late stage in the year, there is widespread dismay at the lack of progress being made.
At the same time, LUU has written to UCEA to ask that all Vice-Chancellors look favourably upon the offer made by the AUT for a two year pay deal and a full and open review of HE funding. LUU considers this to be a positive step which could offer the opportunity for a swift resolution.
LUU has called upon Bill Rammell and Greg Mulholland (MP for Leeds North West, the UK's largest student constituency) as well as Universities UK (UUK) to use all possible influence to bring this action to an end.
As frustration over this prolonged dispute swells across the country, many other student unions are also writing to UCEA, urging Vice-Chancellors to view this offer as a realistic way forward and consider the best interests of students now and in the future. LUU fears another layer of market forces will further damage our education system if national negotiations fail and VCs force local deals.
Erin Mc Feely, Democracy and Communications Officer, LUU: "Students deserve more than to be used as a bargaining tool in an industrial dispute. The AUT should now use other methods against the employers and reassure students that our degrees will not be jeopardised. Equally, we are calling upon UCEA to accept the offer of an independent review and demonstrate their willingness to bring this to an end."
