What's this then? 

The Union runs several campaigns each year. These are commonly centred around making life better and fairer for students, but previous campaigns have also included everything from educating the student population on the dangers of Meningitis and Mumps (eww!) to campaigning against animal testing.

There are often issues that students really need to be aware of but could quite easily miss in their normal comings and goings from lectures. It is one of the responsibilities of the Student Support Officer to make sure that these issues are communicated to students to keep them well informed.

Examples of campaigns include student issues like housing, financial support, mental and sexual health, drink awareness, and anti-racism, right through to World-wide campaigns like GoGreen, Protect The Human, Free Tibet, World Aids Day, Fairtrade, CND, MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY, and Breast Cancer. The Union is also running its own campaign called "Use It, Keep It, Love It!" - look out for it throughout the year!

Why campaign? 

The collective strength of the student movement can make a real difference to students' lives and the wider world; we are a young vibrant group of people and our campaigns should always reflect that.

There may also be occasions where individual students may wish to communicate their message to the student body. In this case, students can either contact the Student Support Officer directly, or submit a paper to the Union Council where it will be examined. Once a campaign has been approved, the Student Support Officer will create and distribute publicity using some of the many forms available including UPSU Media, Posters, Flyers and Magazines.

Get Involved - your Students' Union needs you!

Volunteer and join the campaigns team to be the voice of UPSU. You'll be informing students of all the important issues that concern them, plus you'll be finding out what students want to say and helping them say it. Running campaigns requires many different skills, from prop-making, event planning, meeting MPs and web design - to climbing trees!

Union Campaign - Sexual Health 

Using a condom is the most simple, quick and easy way to avoid pregnancy and contracting STIs. It may sound patronising and you may have heard it all before but, if you're having unprotected sex, you're risking both your sexual health, and that of whoever you have sex with.

Ask yourself if it is really worth not using a condom? Could you handle being pregnant or having to tell all your old sexual partners that you have an STI, and that they need to go and get checked? Condoms are free from all family planning clinics and are also available from the Student Resource Centre.

One World Week

February 22nd to March 1st 2008: a week of events dedicated to celebrating the diversity of the students of Portsmouth. You can find out more about this week, including a list of events and photos, on the One World Week 2008 homepage.

Admission Impossible – London Fees Demo

Sunday 29th October: March against the extortionate fees you now have to pay for education –  Say NO to the soaring levels of student debt. We’re putting on a bus to London for just £1!

For more information on these campaigns, or if there's anything you want to know in the meantime, why not drop into the Sabb Office at the Union and have a chat with us?

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Wear it Pink Campaign, 2006

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