( a guest post by Layla Morgan)

Last week marked the end of the Freshers Fair at Oxford University. Held in the Examination School on the High Street, this three day event marked a resurgence for the OULD as hundreds of students signed up to receive emails and join the oldest political society in Oxford.

The brightly coloured stall, adorned with a brand new banner attracted a steady stream of students asking for more information or to ask about their latest campaigns. Beers mats with ‘I Love Me’ were given away to promote the Body Confidence Campaign started by Jo Swinson MP, now a minister for Equality. The Bears for Belarus campaign which fights for greater Democracy in Belarus also received a lot of attention. OULD are also firmly behind the OU for Obama campaign and will be supporting Obama’s re-election into November. With strong links already between the Liberal Democrats and the Democrats in the USA, this is a natural extension to a flourishing partnership between the parties.

This is the first year that Lib Dem HQ has employed a full time Liberal Youth officer, Katherine Pugh (katherine.Pugh@libdems.org.uk) who was able to send out subsidised freshers packs across the country. She was been working hard to connect the Liberal Youth wing of the party (see www.liberalyouth.org for more info) to local parties and central campaigns to enhance our campaigning capabilities for the 2013 local elections.

Co-Chair of OULD Rio Jones commented,  “I am really pleased to see so many people sign up this year. It is the best it has been since entering coalition. We plan to add an extra dimension to the club this year by doing more campaigning and offering training for our members. It is going to be a great year”

If you would like more information about the OULD, contact Rio or his counterpart Mairi Robertson. You can visit their facebook page or email them at co-chairs@oxfordlibdems.org.uk.