Welcome to the club.
If you're a student at the University of Bristol, congratulations! You're officially a member of Bristol Students' Union!
Your membership includes:
- access to our bar, gig venue, and SU Living Room
- the ability to join 400 clubs, societies and networks
- our free support services for lettings and academic advice
- representation on the issues that matter - like wellbeing, your course and housing
We're working for:
- Decent, affordable student accommodation
- Improving the quality of your academic courses
- Fair access to health, mental health and wellbeing services
- Equality and accessibility across the University experience
Our Vision | A union for all students
Your students' union is for all Bristol students, led by elected student representatives, they campaign, advocate and ensure students remain at the heart of everything the University does.
Want to see what we mean by that? Click here to see what we've done for students recently.
Whether you're looking to pursue your hobbies, improve your employability, make a difference or just blaze your own trail. If there’s anything you want or think needs to change, we’re here to listen to and support you, so get in touch.
Our Mission | The community and voice of Bristol students
Our elected student representatives are the voice of the whole student body, using insight and research, they campaign and advocate for students’ rights and ensure students remain at the heart of everything the University does.
Our highly experienced staff and student representatives offer expert advice, support and informationto all students who need it, when they need it, in ways they need it; supporting all aspects of university life.
We are the hub of student groups, activities, and events; a fun place to make new friends, develop new skills and discover new interests.
Our values | Influencing every decision
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Wellbeing
- Community
- Sustainability
- Fun
Achieving our Vision
From record levels of student participation, UK leading rates of election turn out, an amazing staff team of over 70, strong financials, good governance, and high quality services, we are a healthy and robust organisation; rooted in our values, focused on the future, and always putting our members first.
The University of Bristol Students' Union is a membership organisation democratically led by students, supported by a staff team who run the day to day activities and services provided by the organisation. The Students' Union provides the infrastructure for enabling the Bristol SU strategy, vision, mission and values. Improving the student experience and ensuring that the organisation meets the needs of its members is at the core of our purpose.
One of our core values is Sustainability. As such we've put together this document to summarise the key aspects of activity within Bristol SU, their relative environmental impact and steps being taken to mitigate their negative impact.
Want to Get Involved?
Elections
Twice a year we elect over 600 students like you who represent students on issues around course quality, cost of accommodation and improving the experience at the University of Bristol.
Our elections take place in October and March.
AMM
The Annual Members Meeting (AMM) is the SU’s biggest democratic event and any student can attend and vote on new policy.
You can also submit a motion in advance of the meeting that if passed, will become SU policy for the next three years.
Student Council
Student Council is the primary representative forum of the Students’ Union. It creates policy which directs the focus of the elected officers.
Members discuss and vote on motions submitted by students and any that pass become active SU policy.
The Legal Stuff
Charity
- Bristol SU is a registered charity.
- Our regulator is the Charity Commission
- Our charity number is 1139656
Company Information
- Bristol SU is also a registered company limited by guarantee, which means the assets and resources of the charity are held directly by the company.
- We have to comply with company law.
- Our company number is 6977417
- Our regulator is Companies House
- Our Trustees are also the company Directors
- Registered office: University of Bristol Students' Union, Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol. BS8 1LN
- VAT Registration Number: GB 139221286
Why Bristol SU exists - our charitable purposes (or objects)
We are not for profit, so any income we make from our commercial services goes straight back into providing services for students. We are governed by charity law, which affects what we can spend money on and we work with other Students’ Unions and affiliated bodies to help us achieve this. Our purposes are about advancing the education of students at the University by:
- promoting the interests and welfare of students at the University and representing, supporting and advising students;
- being a recognised representative channel of communication between students and the University, and other external bodies;
- providing social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities and forums for discussions and debate for the personal development of students
Our purposes, also known as the objects of the Union, are stated on page 4 of the Union's Articles, our governing document.
Charities, Donations & Ultra Vires
Student groups are legally part of the Students’ Union, and so the laws regarding charitable companies also apply to student groups, and affect what the Union and societies can spend their money on.
The purposes (objects) for which Bristol SU may spend its funds are defined on page 4 of the Union’s Articles. Any expenditure other than for those purposes stated is classed as Ultra Vires and is therefore illegal.
The Golden Rules
Ultra Vires is a phrase used legally to mean anything beyond our stated aim. Legally we are not allowed to make any ‘ultra vires’ payments, so we cannot spend money on things that are not achieving the stated purpose/object of the Union or the society. Any donations are also affected by the legal rules on charitable companies – in their most basic form, this means Bristol SU cannot donate union money to other charities, political parties, campaigns or trade unions.
When considering Ultra Vires we use the following three ‘golden rules’.
- Students’ Unions shouldn’t use their resources to campaign on an issue that does not affect “students as students”.
- Students’ Unions should maintain neutrality when it comes to political parties
- Students’ Unions should not give money to other organisations to do things that they are not allowed to do themselves
The most common examples of Ultra Vires are:
Charity work
We are not for profit, so any income we make from our commercial services goes straight back into providing services for students.
- The Union should not use money to subsidise charity fundraising but the Union can grant funds to a fundraising society to put on events / activities due to the personal development / educational benefits to the event organisers.
- The Union should not donate money to other charities.
- You can still fundraise, but you need to cover the costs from money raised or from society money that is not from the Union.
Campaigning
- Clubs and societies can only use Union money to fund campaigns directly related to members as students.
- You can only use Union money to subsidise places on demos which relate to student issues e.g. top up fees. If campaigns do not fall into these categories, the Union cannot fund them.
- If a campaign did not fall into the permissible categories, you can fundraise and use the club or society membership account to fund the campaign as you wish.
Opting out of Union membership
If you decide you no longer want to benefit from your free membership to your students’ union, you can opt out by emailing bristolsu@bristol.ac.uk, addressing the Chief Executive with your request. It will only apply to that academic year and if you wish to remain opted out in future years you will need to send an email each year,
If you are just looking to receive fewer emails from us, you don’t need to opt out of membership, you can change your communication preferences here, however there are still some emails that we're required to send you regardless of opt in status.
Please note that only full members get to vote in elections for your student representatives.
Footer Last
 |
 |
 |
 |
© University of Bristol Students' Union 2016. Charity #1139656 Company #6977417 Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
