Labour Students in the Community - Mitch Theaker

As a society it is all too easy just to stay within the university grounds and not get involved in the local community and with local CLPs. But getting out there is so important. It’s the best way to spread the values we hold as Labour Students, it’s the best way to show that students are an integral part of the community, and it’s the best way of showing that we really care about the area we live in.

Over the years in Swansea, we’ve managed to develop strong ties within our community. We have elected members on many different Labour groups, we have organised campaigns to save a local library and a local tax office, and more recently we have been raising money for the Miners’ Appeal led by Peter Hain MP and the NUM.

No doubt everyone reading this will have heard about the tragic death of the Welsh Miners recently. Communities from around Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom shared in the sadness felt and acted together to support those who have been affected.

Our Secretary James Short, said in one of our Summer Skype meetings that we should do something to help so we organised some fundraising. At Freshers‘ Fayre members of our club wandered around and spoke to students, societies and businesses alike asking for any small donation. Now we didn’t raise much money. In fact I think we managed around £140. But it’s small acts like this that can really help bring communities together even if it is just for a small while.

I guess what I’m saying is that as Labour Students we need to get out there, on our streets, in our communities, and show we’re not an organisation of minute takers but of action takers. So go back to your next society meeting or speak to one of your committee members and get involved.

Mitch Theaker
Chair, Swansea Labour Students
Labour Students Regional Coordinator for Wales