2012 Impact Report

Brighton B r ightn Students o o S t t h n g u i Union BrU dnetnst’ e s n d u ion Impact StIm n o p i URn actt e c a p p ort I2m 0 r 1 o 2 p Re 2012

Welcome to the Board of Trustees of University of Brighton Students’ Union Annual Report 2011/12.

This report explains how we ARE meEtING the aims OF OUR Strategic Plan and outlines the impact Brighton Students’ Union has had on its members’ lives during their time at the University.

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How we work OUR STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Our mission is the advancement of the education of students at the University of Brighton. We aim to achieve this by:

Brighton Students’ Union (BSU) was formally established as a charity in 2010 under the Education Act 1994.

STUDENT support

STUDENT WELLBEING

providing representation and support

promoting the interests and welfare of

for the students of the University

students during their course of study

STUDENT ADVICE

REPRESENTATION

PROVIDING ADVICE AND

being the representative channel

GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS

between students and the University

DISCUSSIONS & DEBATE

SOCIAL & RECREATIONAL

providing WIDE RANGING forums

providing social, cultural,

for discussions and debate

sporting and recreational activities

BSU is a charity with registered charity number 1137566. The Charity Commission regulates BSU and each year we submit our annual report and financial

statements, up-to-date information about Trustees and other administrative information.

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How we work

How we work

BSU operates on democratic principles

BSU operates on democratic principles

elected position and is an ex officio member of the Board.

Non-business policy making is made

by Union Council. Chair of Union Council is a cross-campus annually

UNION COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP

• Business and employment decisions • Approval of the annual budgets and accounts.

BSU employs a number of non-student full-time staff undertaking the management of its many activities and they are accountable to the Chief Executive in the performance of their duties.

The Board of Trustees has delegated the day-to-day running of BSU to a Chief Executive. The charity trustees receive an induction into their legal and administrative responsibilities with ongoing training during their term of office.

The Trustee Board meets every six weeks and is responsible for:

FIVE CAMPUSES

REPRESENTATIVES OF BSU’S CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

PARTNERSHIP COLLEGES

SU EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

EQUALITIES GROUPS

ACADEMIC COURSES

TRUSTEES BOARD STRUCTURE

FOUR LAY PERSONS

FOUR CURRENT STUDENTS

recruited, selected, appointed

by Appointments Committee

recruited, selected, appointed

by Appointments Committee

TRUSTEE BOARD

FIVE ELECTED FULL TIME STUDENT OFFICERS

CHAIR OF UNION COUNCIL

elected by cross campus secret ballot open to the student membership

elected by cross campus secret ballot open to the student membership

How we work with the University Relationship with the University of Brighton An estimated value to BSU for this free serviced accommodation has been included in the accounts at a conservative £236,550.

The relationship between the University and BSU is established in the Regulations of the University and detailed in BSU’s Constitution.

Copies are available to download online:

Although BSU generates additional income through trading activities it will remain dependent on the University for support. The Education Act 1994 imposes a duty on the University to ensure the financial viability of its student representative body and therefore the Board of Trustees considers this support will continue in the foreseeable future.

UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS brighton.ac.uk/studentlife/ studentadvice/regulations/ BSU CONSTITUTION brightonsu.com/youdecide/ constitution/ The University provides BSU with: • A Block Grant principally based on student numbers.

• Space in buildings owned by the University and inclusive of utilities, caretaking and cleaning staff.

TRUSTEE SUB COMMITTEES STRUCTURE Risk Management

STAFFING

TRUSTEE SUB COMMITTEE

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FINANCE

Adequate systems and procedures have been established to mitigate the financial and trading risks. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation in relation to staff, volunteers and participants in all activities of the Union.

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OUR AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

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BSU new initiatives 2011/12

SERVING STUDENTS

CONNECTING STUDENTS

building firm foundations working towards its new three year goal Empowering students

• To engage and empower the student body in working with others towards a positive experience for all across the locations of the University of Brighton.

• To inform and support the student experience through their academic, wellbeing, lifestyle, social, leisure and employability needs and aspirations throughout their time at the University, providing a firm foundation for future achievement.

Engagement Week (Keep,Start,Stop) February 2011 1126 students provided feedback on what the university should maintain, adjust and introduce. Activity took place on every campus, every day, and this research now forms a rich database of student opinion across the University.

Political and social awareness 70+ Societies were operating in 2011/12 helping keep students aware of political and social issues.

54% increase in students using BSU's academic support service

participation

Students are at the heart of Brighton Students’ Union and we work to engage and empower them. The principal aims in the new three year strategy approved by the Board of Trustees and Union Council are:

BSU helped over 450 students with appeals, academic misconduct cases and complaints. The service provides longer opening hours, better records and is now introducing live online advice.

Through empowering, serving and connecting students over the next three years BSU aims to achieve: 1. Growing demand for student involvement with the Union 2. Top third performance as a Students’ Union

2011

2012

141% increase in participation in the Parklife sports programme achieved by the growing effectiveness of the partnership with Sport Brighton.

Additionally much success on the pitch included the Men's Futsal 2nds winning the BUCS national trophy title.

2012

3. Clear and accessible paths for student participation 4. Union premises meeting the students’ needs 5. Places for ideas, enterprise and action

1500 student leaders actively participated in roles of responsibility including course reps, club and society organisers, elected officers, volunteering projects and campus development teams.

Campaign of the Year At the National Union of Students Higher Education Awards ceremony, BSU won the award for NSS Promotional Campaign of the year 2012 in recognition of its work over Engagement Week.

Elections 2012 3,588 students voted in 2012’s spring election – an 86% increase on the previous year and the SU’s highest turnout on record.

Referendum 2012 1,237 voted in the referendum to decide on continued NUS membership; a resounding 90% were in favour of maintaining membership.

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2011

168% increase on 2011 nominations for the highly regarded Excellence Awards.

300,000+ customer transactions with students by BSU operated retail and catering outlets

The food coop, just one of the 69 societies across the campuses, was recognised twice for its activities in the year.

It received a special commendation in the NUS Society of the Year Awards as well as an Enterprising Community Project Award.

Campus Development Teams on each campus are being organised, placing students at the heart of the decision making of BSU. This has been successfully piloted in both Hastings and Eastbourne.

BSU has a membership of 22,000 students across all campuses and areas of study. This broad and varied profile requires BSU to provide a growing range of opportunities to connect with each other through new experiences.

10,000+ hours of paid employment provided to students across all of our main campuses covering work in BSU’s receptions, shops, cafes, accounts, administration, events and projects.

3,500+ students reached through health and wellbeing campus activity including screenings, campaigns and road shows.

As a student-led organisation with close links to the University BSU focused on greatly increasing its communications with its members through a growing range of social media networks.

500 events organised, promoted and supported in partnership with students throughout the year; everything from the weekly club nights, Christmas and Summer parties, club and society socials and celebrations and a wide range of performances and productions. These provide valuable income fully invested back by BSU into the activities of clubs and societies developing new student experiences.

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Brighton SU increased revenue streams through new partnership activity with some leading complementary brands including the Guardian and Endsleigh, adding valuable income to service areas.

BSU worked to improve communications with its membership covering a range of Union events and activities and promoting and encouraging student engagement, focusing on targeted needs.

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FINANCIAL REVIEW

FINANCIAL REVIEW

£735,575. Free reserves stood at £281,989 at year end representing 13% of annual expenditure.

BSU’s gross income from all sources this year totaled £2,148,203. Total expenditure of £2,151,650 on its wide range of student benefits left a small deficit for the year of £3,446. BSU has continued to benefit from the recognition and support of the University, albeit that the block grant from the University decreased in the year from £741,580 to

BSU acts as custodian for funds raised by the student-led Clubs and Societies and RaG amounting to £48,921 at the year-end.

we raised...

£2,148,203 Su Events £116,768 SU marketing and media £100,811

Grants £829,935

SU Shops £724,082

SU Cafes & catering £100,481

we gave back...

Advice & representation £166,881

Clubs & Societies £58,536

Jacob Kahane

President & Chair of Board of Trustees

BSU INCOME: £2,148,203

£2,151,650 Commercial Activities £191,067

“Brighton SU is a charity which truly invests in its students, placing them at the heart of everything we do”

BSU EXPENDITURE: £2,151,881

Wellbeing £106,581 Campaigns & Communications £102,271

Su Events £140,448 SU Shops £847,489

TOTAL DEFICIT: £3,447

SU Cafes & catering £186,626

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