Sheppey Students Quiz Lib Dem Deputy

Students at the Sheppey Campus of Canterbury College had the opportunity to quiz the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats when he paid a visit to the site on Friday (20^th May).

Simon Hughes MP spent time at the campus on Bridge Road in Sheerness in his role as Advocate for Access to Education – working with the Government to try and increase participation in Further and Higher Education.

An important part of Mr Hughes’ role is to meet with young people to find out how best to communicate the opportunities that are available to them.

Among the students at the meeting were Canterbury College Student Union President Pasha Hughes, Student Governor Eugene Tighe and Josh Rowlands who is Higher Education Officer at Canterbury College.

Following the announcement that EMA funding to students was to be scrapped, Mr Hughes was involved in creating plans for a new Bursary scheme for 16-19 year-old students starting courses in September and facing financial hardship.

Mr Hughes said: “Students want to make sure that there is a fair financial deal and that’s why I’m here, to hear them but also to make sure that they know the facts.” He added: “The key message is that there is now a better deal for students than there was at the turn of the year; there will be more money for helping poorer students to come and get qualifications post 16.” He went on to say: “We all have a responsibility to get people wanting to come to Colleges like this one, we have to make sure nobody in Kent feels that University or College isn’t for them.”

Following the meeting, Mr Hughes invited the students to visit him at Westminster to continue with their questions and to share ideas.