Notts students have come back from their Christmas break ready for action. This time it’s the turn of students in Further Education who are angry about the Con-Dem decision to scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

On Thursday, students walked out of their schools and colleges before marching to the Conservative Party offices in King Edward Court where they tried to get the attention of party workers. One student was arrested for criminal damage but was later released with a fixed penalty notice. Students marched to the police station to call for his release. A second protest was held on Saturday in the Market Square.

Newswire: Nottingham Students Protest Against Scrapping EMA | Nttm Students visit Conservative Party HQ – Demo | Nttm Students visit Conservative Party HQ – Detained | Nttm Students another Protest Against ScrappingEMA

Previous features: Nottingham students protest cuts | Notts Occupation Ends; Resistance Continues

Meeting in the Market Square Nottingham at 3.00pm on Tuesday 11th January, School and College Student gathered to protest at the Scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance. Students had earlier walked out at 2.00pm.

Nottingham Students Protested against scrapping the Educational Maintenance Allowance. I understand that the government plan to do this in September this year.

A rally was held in the square, before a tour round the block to take in the usual suspects like Vodafone and Boots, with much shouting of “pay your Taxes etc”.

Later, folks headed off to the Conservative HQ Offices at:

Conservative Party Office
1 King Edward Court,
Nottingham
NG1 1EW

For those that don’t know.

They weren’t expected and the gates to the compound there were open. People banged on the door, rang the bell etc, to try and get someone to talk about the issue. There was no answer :-) It was noted that there was a painting of Margret Thatcher, adorning the foyer causing many remarks! Many folks at other office windows were smiling and seeming to enjoy the demo as a spectacle.

The situation was good humored until one young lad was detained for, I think criminal damage, although i saw none. Folks then returned there to demand his release. Police were called and it is believed he was taken to Bridewell police Station, leaving via another entrance.

Video: Nttm Students visit Conservative Party HQ – Demo

Video: Nttm Students visit Conservative Party HQ – Detained

Demo then went back through town, visiting another Vodafone store, and having a bit of a sit-in.

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The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a means-tested allowance of between £10 and £30, paid to 16- to 19-year-olds who stay on in education.

Rolled out nationally in September 2004, EMA is intended to help with the cost of books, travel, equipment or anything useful to the continuation of learning. It’s paid straight into the pupil’s bank account, not their parents or their college, giving them independence and forcing them to take charge of a small weekly budget. The payments are under the condition that they attend classes regularly. If the pupil works hard or achieves good grades, there is the opportunity to earn bonuses.

EMA is available to 16-19 year olds who come from low income families and whose household’s net income is below £30,000 pa. There is an additional grant for those students from families household income is up to and below £20,000 pa. EMA currently exists all across the UK although the administering of it is devolved to the regional parliaments of Scotland and Northern Ireland.