Fair Spend
Encyclopedia
Fair Spend are a non profit organisation
founded in 2010 which lobbies
for students in the UK. The organisation advocates for concessions for students in state funded education, particularly in regards to products and services such as study material, transport and other miscellaneous costs. Similar to the UK branch of the National Union of Students, fair spend eligibility is much wider.
The organisation support students studying in primary
, secondary
, further
and higher education
. Both Undergraduate
and Postgraduate
.
The student:
Examples of such products and services are:
They are also going advise organisations that may have overlooked certain qualifying criteria for existing discount schemes that they may have and work with them in correcting these oversights.
. It will provide Primary and Secondary schools as well as other youth organisations such as youth centres, the opportunity to run their own internet radio stations managed by the young people.
Fair Spend will be hosting the radio stations websites as well the audio streaming and will not charge for this service. Schools will have to pay for music copyright to PRS For Music and PPL
.
without Adequate support.
Fair Spend have received endorsements from the following people:
's that have been asked to endore Fair Spend have said that the economic environment will not allow for such a scheme to exist and that existing discount schemes such as the one available from the National Union of Students is sufficient.
Some MP's have chosen not to endorse Fair Spend at this time due to the massive amounts of downtime the website has received in the last month. Many people were unable to view the web site due to an unknown server issue.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
founded in 2010 which lobbies
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
for students in the UK. The organisation advocates for concessions for students in state funded education, particularly in regards to products and services such as study material, transport and other miscellaneous costs. Similar to the UK branch of the National Union of Students, fair spend eligibility is much wider.
The organisation support students studying in primary
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
, secondary
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
, further
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
and higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
. Both Undergraduate
Undergraduate education
Undergraduate education is an education level taken prior to gaining a first degree . Hence, in many subjects in many educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a bachelor's degree, such as in the United States, where a university entry level is...
and Postgraduate
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
.
Aims
Fair Spend aim to create a membership scheme to students which they will pay a small fee for. This fee will cover the production of the card and administration work. This card will allow students to receive discounts on products and services at participating retailers and companies. At present the scheme, titled The Fair Spend Scheme is currently still in the early stages of development and is expected to be released by September 2011.Eligibility
Almost anybody who is still in education will be eligible for the fair spend scheme when it is released to the student population. The criteria the student must meet is as followed:The student:
- can be of any age
- must be studying at a fully accreditedEducation in the United KingdomEducation in the United Kingdom is a devolved matter with each of the countries of the United Kingdom having separate systems under separate governments: the UK Government is responsible for England, and the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are...
educational institution within the UK - if in primary or secondary education must be studying at a state funded establishment. Where a student is studying in a private establishment, then the school will need to be enrolled on the scheme in order for the student to qualify
- must have parental permission if under the age of 13
Discounts
Fair Spend believe that there are a huge amount of products and services in the UK that Fair Spend feel are extortionately priced for people in full-time employment let alone students. It is these products that they say they will be focusing our efforts on to add to the fair spend scheme.Examples of such products and services are:
- National RailNational RailNational Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
Services - CinemaFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Tickets, Snacks and Drinks - Theme Parks and other amusements
- Bus services outside of London
- Studying materials
- Sporting Events
They are also going advise organisations that may have overlooked certain qualifying criteria for existing discount schemes that they may have and work with them in correcting these oversights.
The School Radio Scheme
In April 2011, Fair Spend launched a new scheme in response to their conference in WinchesterWinchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
. It will provide Primary and Secondary schools as well as other youth organisations such as youth centres, the opportunity to run their own internet radio stations managed by the young people.
Fair Spend will be hosting the radio stations websites as well the audio streaming and will not charge for this service. Schools will have to pay for music copyright to PRS For Music and PPL
PPL
PPL may refer to:* people* phospholipid * Pakistan Premier League, Pakistani soccer league* Pay per lead, method of marketing* Pontypool and New Inn railway station, Wales; National Rail station code PPL...
.
Endorsements
Fair Spend said in a press release that they are currently looking for endorsements from London MP's. This is because as stated in their mission statement, they will be rolling out the scheme in London first as a test of the schemes success. They have said that they will not begin lobbyingLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
without Adequate support.
Fair Spend have received endorsements from the following people:
- Tom BrakeTom BrakeThomas Anthony Brake, known as Tom Brake, British Liberal Democrat politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Carshalton and Wallington.-Early life:Tom Brake was born in Melton Mowbray, moving to France when he was eight...
, Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Carshalton and Wallington
- Andy LoveAndy LoveAndrew McCulloch Love is a British Labour Co-operative politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Edmonton since 1997, winning in 2010 with 53.7% of the vote.-Early life:...
, Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for EdmontonEdmonton, LondonEdmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
- Margaret HodgeMargaret HodgeMargaret Hodge MBE MP, also known as Lady Hodge by virtue of her husband's knighthood, is a British Labour politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Barking since 1994. She was the first Minister for Children in 2003 and was Minister of State for Culture and Tourism at the Department...
, Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for BarkingBarking (UK Parliament constituency)Barking is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It has elected Labour MPs since its creation in 1945, usually with strong majorities.- Boundaries :The...
Sponsors
Some companies have chosen to sponsor Fair Spend. They include:- RegusRegusRegus plc is a multinational corporation that provides serviced office accommodation in business centres worldwide. As of March 2011, it operates 1,100 business centres in 85 countries. The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index...
Plc - JustDevelopIT
- Gradwell dot com Ltd
- Webfusion Ltd
- cPanelCPanelcPanel is a Linux based web hosting control panel that provides a graphical interface and automation tools designed to simplify the process of hosting a web site...
Structure
Fair Spend consists of an executive cabinet that will comprise of- President - Vancant
- Vice President Vacant
- Membership Director - Vacant
- Executive Director - Thomas Sampson
- Board of Members - Vacant
Criticism
Many MPMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
's that have been asked to endore Fair Spend have said that the economic environment will not allow for such a scheme to exist and that existing discount schemes such as the one available from the National Union of Students is sufficient.
Some MP's have chosen not to endorse Fair Spend at this time due to the massive amounts of downtime the website has received in the last month. Many people were unable to view the web site due to an unknown server issue.