Union Representative - Avery

Today I have written to the Prime Minister and relevant Ministers expressing my concerns about students in Palestine with offers at UK Universities. The stance is simple, bring them to safety.
 

The letter reads:

Dear Prime Minister and Ministers,

I am writing to you as an elected representative of the University of Lancashire Students' Union, a widening participation institution that is proud to give people the incredible opportunity of a high quality education. Our students and I are concerned about the fate of dozens of students who have places on courses at UK universities who are still currently trapped in Gaza.

These students have worked tirelessly to earn their places, passing exams, writing applications, taking English tests, and attending interviews - all while living under siege in Gaza. Education is their only hope - and time is running out. These students deserve a fair chance, not only for a quality education but a chance at life.

It is welcome that 34 students with fully funded scholarships arrived in the UK on 23rd September, but we know that dozens others, and those who do not have fully funded scholarships remain unable to travel to the UK. I raise this with urgency because time is running out.

I am supporting NUS's call for the UK Government to remove all barriers in order to evacuate all remaining students with offers to study in the UK, as well as allow the students' dependants to come to the UK with them to ensure their safety. NUS is also calling on universities to waive fees and administrative barriers that stand in the way of students beginning their studies this year.

Other European countries - including Belgium, Ireland, and Italy - have already taken steps to support students in similar situations. I, among other students here in the UK, urge that we do the same.

I call on your government to save these students by:

• Evacuating all Palestinian students holding offers to study in the UK in 2025/26, regardless of whether their positions are fully funded

• Working with universities to remove barriers to students attending, including language tests which are impossible to obtain in Gaza, fees and other administrative barriers

• Allowing dependents of the students to travel with them to the UK to ensure their safety

Yours sincerely,

Avery Greatorex 

SU Rep, University of Lancashire SU

Over the past few months I’ve been working hard to represent you, from national campaigns and parliamentary meetings to community events, LGBTQIA+ organising, and supporting student voices here on campus. This report highlights what I’ve been doing on your behalf, the wins we’ve achieved together, and the work still to come as we continue pushing for a fairer, safer and more inclusive experience for every student at UCLan.

NUS Fair Deal Week of Action - From 20–23 October I took part in the National Union of Students (NUS) Fair Deal Week of Action. The campaign focuses on improving apprentice pay, increasing funding for students, and tackling the rising cost of study.
My main aim was to get students signed up to the campaign so they could stay involved. Thanks to everyone who took part, out of all the unions in the UK, we made the top 20 for sign-ups, which is a huge achievement!

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Students (APPG) - On 5 November I attended the APPG on Students in Parliament. The meeting focused on the long freeze on maintenance loans and how this is pushing students into financial difficulty.
I raised concerns from the perspective of a working-class student including how unequal fees could shut people out of university, the pressures on commuter students in Lancashire, and the impact of rising travel costs, especially if courses become more specialised.
In future, I’d like to work more closely with our insights team so I can take even more detailed student evidence into these spaces.

Remembrance Day - On 11 November I represented our union at the Remembrance Day commemorations in Burnley. 

Weaving Trust (Citizens UK Lancashire) - On 12 November I joined the Weaving Trust event in 53 Degrees, bringing together community organisations and local leaders.
Talking with international students, especially around concerns about rising anti-immigration protests, helped remind me why our work on solidarity and inclusion really matters.

NUS England Conference - On 19–20 November I attended the NUS England Conference. I was there as a volunteer member of the NUS Democratic Procedures Committee (DPC), not as a Lancashire delegate.
Once again the debate on Palestine became heated, resulting in walkouts and calls for disaffiliation. My view is that disaffiliating wouldn’t benefit our students, and many of these calls feel more performative than strategic.

Preston Pride - Trans Day of Remembrance - Later on 20 November I spoke at Preston Pride’s Trans Day of Remembrance event. It was powerful to see students and local community members coming together to honour the lives of trans people we’ve lost.

LGBTQIA+ Students Get-Together - I helped with the setup of our LGBTQIA+ student social, which brought together queer students from across the university. This was a fantastic first step in building a stronger, more active community ready to push for positive change.

Student Assembly - Our Student Assembly has now taken place, giving students the chance to raise issues, debate ideas, and shape the direction of our union. Thank you to everyone who contributed, your voices genuinely steer our work.

World AIDS Day - We marked World AIDS Day with awareness-raising, signposting, and community-focused activities. It was really positive to see students engaging with both the history and the ongoing fight against stigma and inequality.

Ongoing Work

Here’s what I’m continuing to work on next:

• Partnership with Aberystwyth Students’ Union on a Trans Safety Project

• Continued organising with LGBTQIA+ students

• Early planning for LGBT+ History Month

• End-of-term activities (and yes, Christmas!)