Plymouth NEU

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Educate, Agitate, Organise! Page ran by Plymouth District Officers. Get in touch to get involved!

03/11/2026

📆 Join us on Monday 16th November at Lipson Cooperative Academy for our next OGM.

🗣️ The District section will be held at 5pm, where we will decide on the priorities for all education workers in our city. If you want your voice to be heard, join us!

🗣️ The Branch section will follow at 6pm, where we hear members workplace concerns, issues and also share how some issues have previously been solved.

🍴 When we finish at 7pm, we have a buffet supper which we invite you to join us for!

💻 Can’t make it in person? Send us a message for the zoom link.

👥 New to meetings and a bit unsure what to do? 👥
We run a Buddy system where one of the committee will be in contact with you in the days leading up to the meeting so you know someone there. They can come and meet you before the meeting begins so you don’t have to walk in alone. We understand going to a meeting for the first time can be daunting!
Like the sound of this? Please DM us so Lowenna or Charlotte (our Social Media Officers) can get back to you and pass on the relevant contact details ☺️

02/11/2026

🎄✨ It’s time to get festive! ✨🎄

Join us for our family friendly Christmas social filled with festive cheer, great company, laughter, and plenty of holiday spirit! 🎅🏻🥂

It’s the perfect opportunity to come together, celebrate the season, and make some special memories.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! ❤️🎄

27/10/2026

Together Alliance Summit

Mika, (District secretary, women’s officer) attended the Together Alliance Summit in London on 24th Oct.

The summit focused on understanding the growth of far-right movements and developing community-based responses.

Examples from Manchester and Chichester highlighted the value of coordinated local responses to incidents of racism and intimidation, including public rallies and community solidarity actions.

Education emerged as a key tool in combating prejudice. One of the most memorable contributions came from our own Daniel Kebede (general secretary) who said that racism is learned behaviour and therefore can be unlearned. He stressed that the task before us is to mobilise the anti-racist majority and build confidence among those who reject division and intolerance.

Several speakers emphasised the importance of unity. Sessions on women’s activism against the far right really showcased the idea of “Unity Over Division” and drew attention to the connections between racism, misogyny, and attacks on minority groups. Speakers also discussed the role of education, critical thinking, and community engagement in resisting divisive political narratives.

Speakers emphasised that tackling racism and far-right narratives requires organisation, education, and solidarity rather than simply reacting to individual incidents.

A recurring theme was the need to challenge the stories promoted by far-right groups while addressing the current conditions that allow those messages to gain traction. Those conditions, heavily linked to austerity were mentioned by several speakers.

They also highlighted how tragic events and social anxieties are often exploited to spread racist ideas and division.

A powerful contribution came from SB of the Runnymede Trust, “the scandal is the deliberate impoverishment of our communities.” This comment helped frame many of the discussions, suggesting that visible inequality creates conditions in which far-right movements can thrive.

The summit also explored practical organising strategies. At workshops throughout the day, delegates discussed creating bro

26/10/2026

If you are a Disabled member in the South West, voting is now open for your new Disabled Member Organising Forum Rep.

Our own disabled officer Charlotte Lowe is running for a seat and would love your vote 🩷

She says:

As a Qualified Teacher of the Deaf, I work every day to remove barriers, champion inclusion and support deaf young people to thrive. As a disabled member, I understand first-hand the importance of accessibility, reasonable adjustments and being heard.

Over the last four years I’ve become increasingly active within the NEU, serving as Social Media Officer, SEND Officer and Disabled Members Officer for Plymouth District, while also supporting colleagues in my workplace as a Health & Safety Rep. From implementing the Disabled Members Toolkit to advocating for reasonable adjustments, I’m passionate about ensuring disabled members are represented, supported and empowered.
I’m keen to use the Disabled Members Organising Forum to build connections, share good practice and strengthen disabled members’ voices across our union. Disabled members shouldn’t just have a seat at the table, they should be helping lead the conversation.

Please share with other members and districts 🩷

26/10/2026

Women’s Conference 2026

On Friday 16th October, Kayleigh (Membership Secretary, Branch and District president) and Mika (Women’s Officer, District Secretary) travelled to Birmingham for the first ever national Women’s Conference.

nationaleducationunion

Although every region in the NEU was represented, we were very proud to be part of the South West team, some of whom are directly responsible for bringing the women together for this superb event.

Arriving just in time for dinner, we caught up with some friends from the SW and made a new friend or two. We were sat together in regions which made connecting really easy.

Karaoke, movie night and other activities filled up the evening after dinner, and fringe events filled up the lunch session if you didn’t have enough information input!

The representation of South West women who took the podium was incredible, Charlotte Ovey (Devon) led part of the It’s Not OK Toolkit session which was a stark and emotional reminder of how MVAWG can escalate.

Krystal Louise told the story of how she discovered there was no women’s conference, how she refused to take no for an answer and created the momentum which made the first ever Women’s Conference possible.

We heard from Sarah Kilpatrick, NEU and Debra Beale, inspirational leaders in the Union - and we even allowed Daniel Kebede to address the conference - no boys allowed, but we make an exception for him.

We had workshops on maternity (Rosie for NEU District 15 exec), neonatal and shared parental leave, health and safety; menopause, endometriosis, adenomyosis.

Sunday morning we heard from a wide variety of different activists sharing their stories of Women Winning in the Workplace. From major district successes to small but powerful personal victories.

Mika (Plymouth) invited the conference to be part of her journey to create the WAVES project and become the first Anti-misogyny reps. Meryl (Bristol, CLF)showed us the power of the Arts and Minds campaign and we let our brains get creative.

This was an empowering event open to all NEU women, not just reps or officers, so next time, make sure you, or the woman in your life signs up!

22/10/2026

At our latest General Meeting, Plymouth NEU members passed a motion standing in solidarity with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and its brave volunteers.

As educators in Britain’s Ocean City, we know firsthand how vital the RNLI is to our coastal community, safeguarding our students, families, and visitors year-round.

We unequivocally condemn the recent targeted campaigns, doxing, and physical assaults directed at RNLI volunteers who carry out essential, non-political, lifesaving work every single day.

Tragically, official National Water Safety Forum (WAID) data showed 202 accidental water-related fatalities in the UK in 2025 alone.

With the updated statutory Relationships, S*x, and Health Education (RSHE/RSE) curriculum placing explicit emphasis on teaching personal and water safety (including the Water Safety Code), early water safety education in our schools has never been more critical.

What Plymouth NEU is doing:
💷 Financial Solidarity: Making an immediate solidarity donation from District funds to support ongoing RNLI operations.

📚 Promoting Educational Resources: Encouraging all Plymouth schools and colleges to utilize the RNLI’s tailored water safety sessions across all age groups.

📢 Supporting Our Educators: Providing resources for NEU Reps to highlight water safety within D&T, PE, and PSHE/RSHE planning.

Trade union solidarity extends to all workers and volunteers facing intimidation simply for doing humanitarian work. Thank you, RNLI !

16/10/2026

Coffee, cake and a catch-up at the garden centre.

Whether you’re a long-standing member or just curious about getting involved, you’re always welcome to join us at brunch.

We’d love to see you at the next Saturday 24th October ☕️

16/10/2026

Books Not Bombs! 📚
Over the weekend, our Plymouth ISO, Molly, represented the South West region at the NEU International Solidarity Conference 2026 in London.
From the devastating impacts of US sanctions on healthcare & education in Cuba, to Ukrainian children sitting exams amidst drone attacks, and Palestinian educators fighting for children’s dignity, the message was clear: Education is a basic human right, not a casualty of war.
We also marched alongside NEU comrades in London during lunch to show solidarity with Palestine! 🇵🇸✊
Key Takeaway for Educators & Schools:
We need to shift our national priorities from militarisation to public services. Check out the new NEU report “The Security We Choose: The opportunity cost of UK military spending for education and human security” to share with your workplace!
🔗 Read the report here: neu.org.uk/latest/library

Professional photos: Kois Miah 📸

08/10/2026

Fancy brunch this Saturday?

Come along to The Box and say hi!

01/10/2026

Join us for a meal tomorrow at Taproom 🍴

Address

Plymouth

Website

http://www.neu.org.uk/, https://neu.org.uk/about/contact-us/district-branch-finder/plymouth

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