NUS Announces LGBT Award Winners

NUS LGBT Award Winners
Added on 28/04/2009

The LGBT Awards, in association with UNISON, recognise and celebrate the great work done by LGBT student activists and societies at institutions across the UK.

Work carried out by these individuals and groups helps to improve the lives of LGBT students and extends their rights.

All year, individuals and societies work tirelessly, putting on events, fundraising, running campaigns and supporting LGBT students in their unions. Some do this limited or no funding or support from their institution.

At an awards ceremony on Saturday night at NUS LGBT Conference in Nottingham, awards were given for Higher Education Society of the Year, Further Education Society of the year, Campaign of the Year, Campaigner of the Year and Event of the Year.

Campaigner of the Year

The Award for Campaigner of the Year went to Tara Hewitt, Trans rep at Liverpool Guild of Students.

Tara was recognised for bringing trans issues to the forefront of the Guild’s work this year.
She petitioned for all transgendered individuals to be fully covered by the new Single Equality Bill, organising a Transgender awareness day with trans-related film-showings, stalls and talks, and got the Guild to agree to drawing up separate trans equality and transsexual action plan documents.

Tara was presented with her award by Craig Nelson, Co-Chair of Unison LGBT Committee.

Higher Education Society of the Year

Kingston Students’ Union picked up Higher Education Society of the Year for increasing membership and tackling the low numbers of women involved in the society.

As well as holding successful weekly social events, both at clubs and in non-alcoholic environments, the group has held talks and workshops for members on sexual health.

The group took its first steps towards becoming a campaigning LGBT this year with a fundraiser for the Terrence Higgins Trust, and have worked with the students’ union and LGBT officer to develop and distribute information about homophobia to schools where Kingston PGCE students attend placements.

Winners:

* Higher Education Society of the Year – Kingston University LGBT
* Campaign of the Year – York University Students' Union LGBT
* Campaigner of the Year – Tara Hewitt at Liverpool Guild of Students
* Further Education Society of the Year – St Brendan’s Sixth Form College
* Event of the Year – University of Birmingham LGBTQ