After the disappointing result from the Minister, other Students' Unions adopted our #EaseTheFees campaign, and we are looking at join the Pause Or Pay campaign. Together they make a stronger argument with both lived experiences and the facts.

However, very positively, Guild HE threw us a lifeline by acknowledging the letter Lizzy and her President network sent them. Guild organised a meeting with the CEO and COO for all the Presidents that signed the letter. Justice for practical courses being let down by the Government was the primary topic of conversation and the Guild were supportive of the frustrations, reassuring attendees that they were doing everything they could to push the matter. The Guild had some fab news, which due to ‘confidentiality’ Lizzy cannot repeat, but alludes to the hopeful gradual return of our students to campus soon.

To show students her disgust at the lack of government acknowledgment for small and specialist universities with creative and practical courses, Lizzy published a video on Facebook explaining her stance and met with her network of SU presidents to work on a response to this.

Lizzy made clear her next steps were:

• working with Falmouth to keep the conversation with the Minster Student Lead
• working with Falmouth on the Hardship Fund
• meeting with her network of small and specialist SU Presidents to work on a response to the letter
• kickstarting the national conversation of #EaseTheFees (and try to lobby NUS to do the same), but we will need your involvement (more on this to come).

Breaking news

As a result of all the letters, campaigning, and ongoing conversations by our Universities with representative bodies and DFE, the Presidents have been offered the chance to speak to Michelle Donelan with a panel of students (invited by the Presidents). This meeting will take place Wednesday 24 February at 6pm, so stay tuned for updates.

Click here to download the panel's questions.