UCU: Greater support for students needs and mental health

Motion

Motion text: Notes:
1. over a quarter of 16 – 24-year-olds have mental health problems with significantly higher rates among LGBTQ+ young people, an increase from 17.5% in 2007
2. over 1 in 3 reported deteriorating mental health while waiting for support
3. 16 – 19-year-olds with EHCP's has increased, but real terms top-up funding has decreased.
4. ALS, LSA and mental health support has been cut in many colleges
Believes:
a. young people's access to education is being reduced due to these cuts and lack of specialist support
b. LSAs and ALS staff are overworked, due to mounting caseloads
3. teaching staff workloads further.
Resolves to:
i. work with other trade unions, NUS and mental health charities to build a national campaign demanding increased funding to support students.
ii. produce branch resources to challenge excessive, unsafe workloads linked to this issue.
iii. gather evidence from branches on increased needs and cuts to support, use this to lobby government and management for increased investment.
iv. Ensure that any campaign and resources explicitly recognise and address the mental health needs of LGBTQ+ students.