GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

Very, very quickly, and I am afraid this one only has a small picture, this is also

interesting I think for higher education at Ruskin. As Paul has already said, we

offer youth work, social work. We do things that really make a difference. This

is an interesting snapshot of our demographics. Average age 30 on level 4 this

year. The youngest was 18, the oldest was 61. We have a huge range.

Women 66% and that is not the whole story either. These are often single

mothers, these are people with very difficult backgrounds that have worked

hard and want to come and study for a degree and move their lives forward.

43% of minority groups. That is not a representation of Oxford’s demographic.

We are really pulling in the right people and doing the right kind of work there, I

think.

Just to end on a note that Paul referred to earlier, Frances O’Grady gave a very

powerful speech at our 120 year commemoration and this is also important.

We had several people there telling their stories about how Ruskin has

changed their lives and, as Frances said, the point is that those people then go

on to change other lives in the trade union movement. That is very well

documented and that continues in the other fields that they go into - charity

work, youth work, social work, nursing - all of these really vital services that we

are training them up to do. Doug has very kindly allowed us to have a stand

here which we will be putting up a bit later, so if you do want to find out some

more we will have some literature out by the coffee area and, of course, we will

be here for the next couple of days, so, please, do come and talk to us. This is

why we are here. We would like to work move closely with you as well and to

see what other interesting, exciting projects we can work with the trade unions

and the GFTU. Thank you.

PAUL DI FELICE: Thank you. (Applause)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Nicky, and thank you, Paul, and thanks for all the

work that you do at Ruskin on behalf of our members and on behalf of ordinary

people that do not get ready access to education. It is now a pleasure to

introduce to address us Paul Gibson from Northern College.

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