Just thought that I would add short note. This weekend I will presnt to the Council of the Woodcraft folk the proposal for the next Venturer Camp 2010. The camps cater for young people who are over 12 to under 16, and last theme was Anti-Apathy. We held the camp and it was a great success, you can see some of the videos and info from the camp at www.venturercamp.org.uk.

We held a meeting open to all members which about 30 young people turned up to decided the future of the next camp - and in fact they decided it should focus on the future.

The idea of looking in the future - seeing what world we want to build and making the change to get there - it is a great theme. I hope that Council will approve the project idea and let us get on with it.

If you went to the last venturer camp and have any feedback or want to getinvoled in the next one then contact Dan the camp coordinator and I (the assistant) on vcamp@woodcraft.org.uk

Labels: Camp, Council, Venturer, Woodcraft Folk, youth

Well I've just started the job at the University of Bradford Union I'm the new Internal Affairs officer for the union. For this job I have to do the democracy of the union. Starting at the union has been interesting. While other sabbatical starting are learning the ropes find this prolonged hand over useful. However I do find it slightly suffocating. I was keen to get on with the job. However over these last few weeks I have come to like time with other sabbaticals, learning different ways of doing things and setting our objectives.

I want to make sure that the union is reformed next year however the plans that have been laid by the previous team isn't quite what i want. Surprisingly my problem is that it seems very much old union, old left kind of stuff. I'm convinced that we need to look forward to see what the union does and how we work. In some of the plans an LGBT forum will be set up to represent LGBT students, as will the women's forum and all have seats on the Council. I have two problems with this kind of democratic set up.

1. that it puts focus on particular groups that 'need' representation but fails to actually deal with the problems of lack of representation. For example, LGBT(Lesbian Gay, Bi and Trans) students and Women are very well represented in the Union (in fact they are almost over represented) however we can't just do the equation and fill a quota. There are still LGBT students that will remain unrepresented, to just create a seat on council will not reach out. What will is making sure that everyone can participate, that not just the 'political' class take part and that we don't mistake democracy for elections or representation.

2. having representative seats for sections of the liberation campaigns will undermine the part time offers role. The role which should be to coordinate liberation campaigns and welfare, part time offers should be about working for all students in the areas of their role. However it is not representation, when representation of liberation campaigns to be a key of council people like at other universities will start to call for the part time offers to be abolished.

We need to think of alternative ways of engaging with students, we need to use electronic media, hold drop in sessions, and allow all students to engage in ways that they want. If they want the union to work for them they it should do, students should decided how the union spends it money, decides its campaigns but they shouldn't have to have quotas on council as al students should be involved.

I will start a consultation to see what happens with the constitutional reform but I will make the case against quotas without reform every time.

Labels: Council, LGBT, UBU, Universy of Bradford Union, Woodcraft Folk

After us managing to get the gender equality (trans) motion though our union council I have posted a letter to all staff explaining the implication these changes. I'm sure that over the following weeks the changes will be put in place and we will be able to not only claim to compile fully with the law and its intentions but also morally in our duty to members the union. The wording of the motion can be seen here and the letter that I wrote to the paper after the motion failed the first time can be seen here.

Hello Everyone,

First of all just a little introduction, for those of you who I haven’t meet I’m Lloyd the UBU LGBT (lesbian gay, bisexual & trans) Officer.

Last week the Union passed a motion condemning discrimination against trans students and to meet the new legal requirements of all organisations to act positively to prevent discrimination against all genders which was included in the most recent sex and gender act of 2004

The motion delegated responsibility to implementing some of the changes to the Women’s Officer and the LGBT Officer. I’m writing to explain any changes in our work from day to day which we may have to take in to account.

The Union policy is now as follows The Union resolves:

* To be aware of the ways in which selecting gender neutral words actively contribute to promoting equality and inclusiveness.

In practice this means that when writing documents, letters and policy unless specifically referring to a gender neutral words should be used. E.g. “if a union official has an interest s/he must declare it” should now read “if a union official has an interest they must declare it”



* To increase education and awareness by:
- Running a campaign highlighting the position of trans students and issues around gender identity.
- Providing training on trans issues for all staff and officers of the union
- Coordinating training and education with the university and its staff.

In the coming months we will be providing training particular to roles in the union for all our staff. This is something that Hannah, Myself and Andy will coordinate and you will hear about what’s happening in regards t this nearer the time.



* To allow students to self-define on union forms.

In practice this means that Union forms must have a self defining box for gender. E.g. “sex: male _ female_ (please tick)” should now read “gender ____________”. This change is to come in line with the changing University policy and most recent parliament Act of recognising more than two genders.
Please note, where forms are provided from outside the university/union please contact me for calcification (home Officer forms for example cannot be changed, but we can lobby for the changes.)



* To support trans students in their right to use gendered toilets in line with their gender definition.

This area effects our bar staff and ent.s staff the most, in practice what it means is if someone, self defines and lives their life in a particular gender role they may use those facilities. It is clear that under the new legislation, a bloke on a night out, for example, dressed up in drag wouldn’t be classified as living in that gender. However this is a tricky issue and more guidance and training will be provided in the near future.

I would suggest that if there are concerns about particular instances that often approaching the issues sensitively with the person concerned is the best way and if there are further issues please do contact me.


I hope that this is clear and people understand the changes and how it may affect the day to day work of the union. Please if there are any problems do contact myself and I will do my up most to respond to any concerns and queries.
I’m in the part time exec office on Monday morning, Wednesday afternoons and Thursday evenings for people to drop in or phone and email anytime of the week.

Labels: Council, LGBT, Staff, Trans, UBU, Universy of Bradford Union

The motion that last night got passed is passed bellow, this is a real step in the right direction, at last the union is responsive to the needs of the minority's I'm chuffed seeing the problems that this motion faced when it was originally before council that we got this though, thanks to everyone that turned up despite the farce that was council , unelected, refusing students voting rights, I think that it not only showed badly on council but left people unhappy with the process, a good day but shameful display from councillors.

This Union Notes:

1. That trans people are widely discriminated against facing ignorance, harassment and sometimes violence.
2. Bradford trans students have voiced their concern regarding the lack of awareness and recognition of their identities and acceptance of their needs.
3. Sex, biologically, is not a straight forward issues and similarly gender is not binary.
4. That Union and University policy prohibits discriminations based on gender or other relevant distinctions.
5. That the Sex Discrimination Act 1976 makes its unlawful to discriminate against gender and the Sex Discrimination Regulations 1999 make it unlawful to discriminate against people intending or undergoing gender reassignment.
6. Trans (for example gender queer, intersex or transsexual) students are often forced to use gender neutral accessible toilets while on campus and were these do not exist (such as in Colours) are forced to used gender specific facilities.
7. That present Union and University forms discriminate against people who cannot define as a binary distinction of either male or female and are forced to at present complete forms inaccuracy.

This Union Believes:

1. Gender is self-defined, not physically assigned, as the latter would be a denial of existence of trans students and a contravention of union policy.
2. Confining gender to a binary distinction discriminates against students unable to define as only either male or female.
3. That people have the right to live according to their gender identity, free from discrimination and harassment.

This Union Resolves:

1. To condemn transphobia and discrimination on ground of gender identity.
2. To be aware of the ways in which selecting gender neutral words actively contribute to promoting equality and inclusiveness.
3. To increase education and awareness by:
1. Running a campaign highlighting the position of trans students and issues around gender identity.
2. Providing training on trans issues for all staff and officers of the union
3. Coordinating training and education with the university and its staff.
4. To allow students to self-define on union forms.
5. To support trans students in their right to use gendered toilets in line with their gender definition.
6. To, when redeveloping the union, provide facilities that are required by trans students.
7. Request that the University also follow these guidelines and campaign to this end if the request is refused.
8. That executive actively implements all resolves with the coordination by the Women’s Sabbatical Officer and the LGBT officer who should report back on progress to council.

Proposed: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (UBU LGBT Officer)

Seconded: Sophia Coles-Riley (Uni of Bradford LGBT society political secretary)

Labels: Council, LGBT, Trans, UBU, Universy of Bradford Union