The Northern Echo and Durham Students' Union have joined forces to present a weekly column highlighting news from the university with an emphasis on students' work in the community

Success in union election

AN unprecedented number for representatives from Durham stood as nominees for key positions at last week's conference of the National Union of Students (NUS), which proved a valuable forum for the discussion of policy affecting those in further and higher education across the country.

DSU sabbatical officers, president Emily Fieran Reed and treasurer Paul Leake, stood for election to the national executive committee and the post of national secretary respectively, while conference delegate Peter Borthwick sought a place on the NUS higher education national committee. But congratulations are due to Durham graduate and local resident Timothy Packer after his success in being elected to the NUS elections committee, a post which is key to facilitating the future election of NUS officers, whose role will impact upon the lives of students nationwide.

COMMUNITY CASH: The university's Student Community Action (SCA) organisation received some of the £27m awarded through the Government's Active Community Fund to help universities promote and create volunteering opportunities. Over three years, SCA will receive £100,000, which will be used to increase the number of projects run by the group and to develop projects that have reached capacity. Among the first to benefit from the funding will be Kids Create and the Stockton campus. SCA will also use the cash to create ways of promoting its work and to increase the number of student volunteers and volunteering opportunities for the post-exam period.

FACING THE Challenge: As part of the Universities UK Diversity Challenge students from Durham have been speaking to consultants about how to make the university a more diverse place, with students and staff relecting the community. The students' ideas will be part of a report setting out an action plan for Durham to meet the diversity challenge. The university and Durham Students' Union are striving to ensure that they are recognised as organisations open to everyone, regardless of race, religion, disability or any factor other than ability to succeed as a student or member of staff.