The almost 250 attendees at the 2011 Convention of the National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies (AHS) on Saturday attested to the rapid growth the organisation has seen in recent months, having gone from 14 to 32 societies since last July. The audience were entertained by six speakers, 14 organisations and the BHA Choir.
The theme for the day was around demonstrating the importance of participation in atheist, humanist and secularist activities, and following on from the very popular “non-religious organisations fair”, this is what the speakers set out to do. Lord Warner of Brockley, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (to which the BHA provides the secretariat), discussed his work on Humanist campaigns in Parliament, and followed by Gerard Phillips, Vice President of the National Secular Society, discussing the work of the NSS. Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the BHA, followed this by discussing the state of religion and belief amongst the young in Britain today, setting out the work of the BHA and in particular the Census Campaign.
BHA Distinguished Supporter Robin Ince then entertained the crowd with a speech on the science that motivates his lack of religion. Johann Hari described many of the challenges facing the non-religious in Britain today. BHA Vice President A C Grayling discussed each of atheism, humanism and secularism in turn, before the BHA Choir performed a fantastic seven song set that had the audience cheering all the way.
The Convention continued onto the Sunday, with a day just focussed on students – those who are on student committees, or are looking to form a society. Workshops on sustainability and finances, starting a new society, media and the press and running Reason Weeks worked to motivate students in these areas. The BHA Choir ran a choral workshop in which they taught some of the students “Do You Realize??” by the Flaming Lips, leading to the “AHS Choir” performing the song for the rest of the students. Andrew Copson and BHA Trustee David Pollock both pretended to be religious in order to run a hugely popular debating workshop with the students, with many improving their skills in arguing over the session.
Speeches from member societies were followed by an Extraordinary General Meeting, in which the AHS’s Caucus voted unanimously to expand to become an organisation covering the Republic of Ireland, as well as the UK. Finally, the AHS held its Society Awards for 2011, with University of Bristol Atheist, Agnostic and Secular Society winning Best Society overall. Winners were presented with certificates, as well as videos of congratulations from A C Grayling.
AHS President Richy Thompson commented, ‘I’m absolutely delighted with how the weekend went, and the numbers it attracted. As well as reaching a large number of students from existing societies, a number attended who are looking to set up new ones, and we are hopeful that the AHS will continue to grow.’
Andrew Copson, who is also a member of the AHS Board, added, ‘The AHS is certainly having a great year, and the BHA looks forward to continuing our fruitful relationship with them in the future.’
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For comment or information, contact Richy Thompson, AHS President, at president@ahsstudents.org.uk, or Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive, on 020 3675 0959 or andrew@humanists.uk.
The National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies is the umbrella organisation for all non-religious student societies in institutes of higher education across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The AHS’s vision is a thriving atheist, humanist or secular student society in every institute of higher education in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, networked together, with a shared voice in public life, whose members can contribute to and be part of the wider national and international movement. The AHS’s mission to build, support and represent atheist, humanist and secular student societies; to facilitate communication between them, to encourage joint actions and to ensure that their members have opportunities to be part of the wider national and international movement.
The British Humanist Association is the national charity representing and supporting the interests of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.
The AHS is facilitated and supported by the BHA.