The Save EMA campaign is bringing together students, parents, staff and trade unions, to organise Save EMA Day on 13 December.

As colleges and sixth-forms around the country hold lunchtime protests against government plans to axe financial support that would leave many students unable to continue their studies.

Protestors will be contacting their local MP to make the case for keeping the EMA, which is a key factor in improving participation in further education and colleges in some of the most deprived areas of the UK.

In London that equates to just under 100,000 teenagers, and in some areas of Birmingham, Leicester and the North West, as many as four-fifths of students receive the EMA. Areas such as these will be the hardest hit if the government breaks its pre-election promise and scraps the EMA.

The campaign is being run by us the Save EMA campaign alongside the National Union of Students (NUS) and the University and College Union (UCU), as well as trade unions such as Unison , the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), Unite and the GMB.

Campaign Leaflets and Posters

What else can do?

• If you’re a student, make urgent contact with your other campus unions and student reps to discuss local ideas for the day
• If you’re a member of a trade union, speak to other union branches and community groups in your area and involve them in your plans
• Approach your college principal about your plans - ask them to support the day (many principals are concerned about the axing of the EMA)
• Sign the joint unions EMA petition and join our Facebook page inviting your friends.
• Contact your local MP to ask them to sign the petition, attend and/or publicly support the day and the campaign or sign EDM 811.
• Let us know your plans for the day – email [email protected]
• Email us pictures of you event to [email protected] – please mark the email subject matter “Save EMA Day”. Also please state which college you are from
• Contact the local press and let them know what you are planning for the day.
• Online campaigning - promote your event on Facebook and Twitter (#SaveEMA)
• Joint the Save EMA campaign Facebook Event group and invite your Facebook friends too

For many students the EMA is a lifeline which if axed could see them forced out of education. This would have a devastating impact on colleges, communities and would put even more college jobs at risk.

We can’t let this happen!