National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies
Encyclopedia
The National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies, or the AHS as it is more commonly known, is a national umbrella organisation for free thinking student societies in the United Kingdom
and Republic of Ireland. It is composed of student societies many of which are affiliated to NUS member student unions
. The aim of the AHS is to provide a national voice for free thinking student societies in the UK and help coordinate national activities.
, National Secular Society
and Humanist Society of Scotland
all sent representatives to pledge their support to the organisation. The name, structure and aims of the National Federation was agreed at this Conference.
The constitution of the AHS was ratified at a second conference in November 2008 which took place in Leeds
. Liverpool Atheist Society also formally joined the organisation during this conference and the first Executive were elected and a Board of Trustees appointed. The first website was launched shortly after.
From here, the AHS began organising its Press Launch. This occurred on 19 February 2009 at Conway Hall in London, and featured guest speakers Richard Dawkins
, AC Grayling and Polly Toynbee
, along with many students and other distinguished guests. An irreligious fair was held, with stands from the NSS, BHA, Accord
, the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain and Waterstones. This got the AHS a lot of press coverage, including half a page in the Guardian. The first issue of Secular Future, the AHS's Magazine, was released.
"I wish the new federation well, warmly applaud the initiative that has brought it into existence, and feel happier about the future as a result. This is more than another candle in the dark, it is a whole candelabrum, shining its welcome light onto the forward path, for the many who see the world as a natural realm, for which the responsibility - for the planet's health as for the peace, flourishing and good of all its human residents - belongs to humankind alone."
A. C. Grayling, The Guardian, Feb 2009.
The second AHS AGM was held in June 2009, hosted by Warwick Atheist Society, and saw the election of the second Cabinet, with Jenna Catley becoming President. The Regional Development Officer Scheme was launched at this AGM, and the first batch of RDOs were elected.
The second Convention was held on 27th February 2010, and hosted by the Oxford Atheist Society and Oxford Secular Society as part of Oxford Think Week. The event focused on training, with several workshops running throughout the day. The irreligious fair now featured the NSS, BHA, New Humanist
, Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, 10:23 campaign
, Camp Quest
UK, Iran Solidarity UK and Chris Worfolk Foundation, and the day was capped off with a performance by the BHA Choir.
The third AGM was hosted by Bristol Atheist, Agnostic and Secular Society. Richy Thompson was elected the third President, and the AHS was reconstituted to be facilitated and supported by the British Humanist Association. By now the Speaker, Film and Debate Directories had been created, the regular Newsletter had started and the new (and current) website was launched.
The third year has been the most successful in the organisations history more than doubling membership in the first 6 months!
The Regional Scheme is were the UK and Ireland are split up into 13 Regions. There are 9 in England, plus Scotland, Wales Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. Each region has their own Regional Development Officer (previously Regional Representative) who is lives in that region and is there to support and help set up societies there.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Republic of Ireland. It is composed of student societies many of which are affiliated to NUS member student unions
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
. The aim of the AHS is to provide a national voice for free thinking student societies in the UK and help coordinate national activities.
History
The AHS sprang from discussion on the Secular Portal, a now-defunct online forum for members of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student societies. Discussions there led to the organising of the Secular Student Conference hosted by Edinburgh Humanist Society in June 2008. The Conference was the organisations first annual conference and was attended by students from Durham, Edinburgh, Keele, Leeds, Oxford and Warwick and representatives from The British Humanist AssociationBritish Humanist Association
The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
, National Secular Society
National Secular Society
The National Secular Society is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no-one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of religion. It was founded by Charles Bradlaugh in 1866...
and Humanist Society of Scotland
Humanist Society of Scotland
The Humanist Society of Scotland is a Scottish voluntary charitable organisation that promotes humanist views. It is a member of the European Humanist Federation and the International Humanist and Ethical Union.-History and aims:...
all sent representatives to pledge their support to the organisation. The name, structure and aims of the National Federation was agreed at this Conference.
The constitution of the AHS was ratified at a second conference in November 2008 which took place in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. Liverpool Atheist Society also formally joined the organisation during this conference and the first Executive were elected and a Board of Trustees appointed. The first website was launched shortly after.
From here, the AHS began organising its Press Launch. This occurred on 19 February 2009 at Conway Hall in London, and featured guest speakers Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
, AC Grayling and Polly Toynbee
Polly Toynbee
Polly Toynbee is a British journalist and writer, and has been a columnist for The Guardian newspaper since 1998. She is a social democrat and broadly supports the Labour Party, while urging it in many areas to be more left-wing...
, along with many students and other distinguished guests. An irreligious fair was held, with stands from the NSS, BHA, Accord
Accord (coalition)
The Accord Coalition is a campaign coalition, launched in 2008, which brings together a wide range of member organisations, both religious and non-religious, that are concerned that legislation around admissions, employment and the curriculum in state funded faith schools in England and Wales can...
, the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain and Waterstones. This got the AHS a lot of press coverage, including half a page in the Guardian. The first issue of Secular Future, the AHS's Magazine, was released.
"I wish the new federation well, warmly applaud the initiative that has brought it into existence, and feel happier about the future as a result. This is more than another candle in the dark, it is a whole candelabrum, shining its welcome light onto the forward path, for the many who see the world as a natural realm, for which the responsibility - for the planet's health as for the peace, flourishing and good of all its human residents - belongs to humankind alone."
A. C. Grayling, The Guardian, Feb 2009.
The second AHS AGM was held in June 2009, hosted by Warwick Atheist Society, and saw the election of the second Cabinet, with Jenna Catley becoming President. The Regional Development Officer Scheme was launched at this AGM, and the first batch of RDOs were elected.
The second Convention was held on 27th February 2010, and hosted by the Oxford Atheist Society and Oxford Secular Society as part of Oxford Think Week. The event focused on training, with several workshops running throughout the day. The irreligious fair now featured the NSS, BHA, New Humanist
New Humanist
New Humanist is a monthly magazine published by the Rationalist Association in the UK. It has been in print for 125 years; starting out life as Watts's Literary Guide, founded by C. A. Watts in November 1885....
, Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association, 10:23 campaign
10:23 campaign
The 1023 Campaign is an awareness campaign & protest against homeopathy. The campaign is organised by The Merseyside Skeptics Society, a non-profit organisation of skeptics in the United Kingdom...
, Camp Quest
Camp Quest
Camp Quest, founded in 1996, is the first residential summer camp in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Norway specifically for the children of nontheistic or freethinking parents .-Purpose and identity:Camp...
UK, Iran Solidarity UK and Chris Worfolk Foundation, and the day was capped off with a performance by the BHA Choir.
The third AGM was hosted by Bristol Atheist, Agnostic and Secular Society. Richy Thompson was elected the third President, and the AHS was reconstituted to be facilitated and supported by the British Humanist Association. By now the Speaker, Film and Debate Directories had been created, the regular Newsletter had started and the new (and current) website was launched.
The third year has been the most successful in the organisations history more than doubling membership in the first 6 months!
Organisational structure
The AHS is run by a committee composed of representatives from each society, namely the president and an elected representative. From the committee the executive, composed of a President, Secretary and Treasurer are then elected to form the core leadership body of the organisation. The Cabinet consists of the Executive and Officers (Press Officer, Head of Membership, Head of Education and Web Master).The Regional Scheme is were the UK and Ireland are split up into 13 Regions. There are 9 in England, plus Scotland, Wales Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. Each region has their own Regional Development Officer (previously Regional Representative) who is lives in that region and is there to support and help set up societies there.
Founding members
- Durham University Humanist Society (Durham UniversityDurham UniversityThe University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
) - Edinburgh University Humanist Society (Edinburgh University)
- Leeds Atheist SocietyLeeds Atheist SocietyLeeds Atheist Society is a Leeds University Union affiliated free thinking student society based at the University of Leeds. It was founded in 2006 and has since grown to become the most active free thinking student society in the United Kingdom as well as being instrumental in the foundation of...
(Leeds University) - University of Liverpool Atheist Society (University of LiverpoolUniversity of LiverpoolThe University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
) - Keele Humanist Group (Keele UniversityKeele UniversityKeele University is a campus university near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as an experimental college dedicated to a broad curriculum and interdisciplinary study, Keele is most notable for pioneering the dual honours degree in Britain...
) - Oxford Atheist Society (Oxford University)
- Oxford Secular Society (Oxford University)
- Warwick Atheists (Warwick University)