2023-24
CEO Introduction
As we look back on another year of progress for the Students’ Union, I am incredibly proud of how our community of members and staff has continued to evolve and thrive. Our commitment to empowering every student, creating a sense of community, and amplifying student voices has driven us to seek constant improvements in the way that we deliver, and as always, none of this is possible without the relentless energy and optimism of our students, staff, and trustees.
This year’s annual report highlights the strides we have made together. From expanding the reach and impact of our voice and support services, to delivering new and exciting activities for members, to advocating on
issues that matter the most to members, this year has again reinforced the importance of students and student-led change.
In uncertain times and a rapidly changing environment, we’ve remained agile and responsive, always focused on the needs of our members, as we look to create a truly student led SU which acts transparently in the face of complex decisions, one which is inclusive and empowering, and importantly, fun!
Thank you to all who have contributed, this report is yours, as together we are creating the new SU. I look forward to another year of growth, progress, and shared success.
Will Fuller Students’ Union CEO
About us
We are Cardiff Metropolitan Students’ Union ( SU for short). We are separate body and organisation to Cardiff Metropolitan University, and we are here to support you through your student journey at Cardiff Met. We provide you opportunities for expression of your opinion through the rep structures, communicate with the university and external bodies on your behalf, and facilitate recreational student activities such as Societies and Sport Clubs. We help you boost your employability through the Cardiff Met Award, and we provide support and advice to any members in need. Through all this, we aim to make your welfare & experience at Cardiff Met the best it can be.
Year In Numbers
We were able to engage 3,646 students in our membership services, which is 446 more than the year before!
We have had phenomenal 2,019 students voting in the SU elections in 2023/24, second highest number of voters, just 14 short of the previous year.
We have had over 5,100 students attend our annual SU Freshers’ Fayre, and over 2,000 students attending our SU Refreshers’ Fayre!
Welcome 2023
Welcome Week 2023 at Cardiff Met Students’ Union (SU) was a fantastic success, marking the beginning of the academic year by welcoming over 13,000 new and returning students. Our team worked tirelessly to create a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere that helped students feel at home from day one.
This year, our Freshers’ Fortnight was bigger and better than ever. We sold over 700 wristbands that granted access to an exciting lineup of 14 events, ensuring students had plenty of opportunities to meet new friends, explore the city, and experience Cardiff’s vibrant student culture.
The success of Welcome Week 2023 reflects the commitment of Cardiff Met SU to fostering a strong sense of community and belonging for all our students.
Freshers’ Fayre
The highlight of the week was our massive Freshers’ Fayre, held on Wednesday, which saw over 5,100 students attend . The event was packed with a diverse range of stalls from societies, sports clubs, and local businesses, giving students the perfect opportunity to get involved in university life and discover the wealth of services and activities available through the SU.
ReFreshers’
For the second time, we have organised the Refreshers’ Fayre in term 2, giving our January entry students opportunity to find out about the SU activities and services. With 60 stalls , we managed to get 2,010 of our students to attend and get engaged in new activities!
Representation
In 2023, Cardiff Met Students’ Union achieved a record-breaking level of student representation, recruiting 517 academic reps, the highest number ever. This is the most we’ve ever had, and it’s a testament to our commitment to making sure every student has a voice and is truly heard. It has been possible with centralisation of recruitment process through the SU with great support from all the academic schools. This enabled the SU to train most reps out of any year, with over 150 course reps trained.
The representation team has been led by your President Natalia Mia-Roach and VicePresident Rewathi Viswanatham, both of whom worked tirelessly to address key issues impacting the student body. Their work focused on critical areas such as timetabling, transport, the rising cost of living, and promoting mental health support in sport. Natalia and Rewathi collaborated closely with university leadership and external partners to advocate for solutions that would improve the student experience in these essential areas.
The SU representation was co-led by our six school reps and five part-time officers, who provided additional expertise and guidance throughout the year. These reps played a vital role in ensuring effective communication between the student body and the SU, gathering valuable feedback and advocating on behalf of their peers at both a school and university-wide level.
This year, the SU delivered Speak Week, where we asked students the question “What would be the 1 thing you would change if you ran the university?” and we received overwhelming 773 responses. They were encouraged to give us as much details as possible, and you are able to view the full report from our website.
Our representation network, with its unprecedented scale, has strengthened our ability to drive meaningful change and address student concerns more effectively than ever before. Cardiff Met SU remains committed to fostering a strong, student-led community where every voice counts, and we look forward to.
SU Advice & Support
SU Advice and Support is an independent and confidential advice service offered to all students enrolled on a Cardiff Met course, this also covers all students enrolled with our local partners and international partner organisations.
The service offers guidance on all aspects of university life including university procedures, academic procedures, housing, and student wellbeing. Our aim is to ensure that all students are fully informed of their options, are supported to make decisions, and signposted to services and additional support when needed.
2023/24 we have seen quite a rapid increase in cases throughout the year. This shows the impact of later cases that were coming in as a result of the marking and assessment boycott at the end of the previous academic year, as well as overall increase with students struggling to balance their studies with their personal commitments.
Academic year (1st July to 30th June) Total cases supported.
During 2023/24 we have continued noting the complexity of cases that started the year prior.
Elections
We held the annual student-officer elections in March, electing your first Student President and Vice-President (Education). Elections are one of the most important times of the year, when you get to decide which ideas and candidates resonate with what you have been experiencing, and who should lead the SU in the upcoming year. We aim to get as many students as possible engaged with our democratic functions, and we needed to follow up on the success of the previous year.
We were able to have 2,019 students casting their vote in either of the categories, and although this was a decrease of 14 voters from the previous year, it was a % increase as the university had smaller student population this year. The SU was able to increase the turnout to 16.2%, up from 15.1% the year before. This could be attributed to number of factors, such as building on the support provided to candidates throughout the election process, and extended period of nominations.
The support provided to candidates, combined with longer nomination period has seen an increase in candidates running – 16 in total, up from 15 candidates in 2023.
We continued our incentives with cupcakes, and new addition of protein shakes in Cyncoed. We created a giveaway that contained 6 varsity tickets, and an Xbox to boost the turnout. The SU ensured that voting on all our station was secure and helped in getting more students engaged in voting.
The voting period has been reduced from 3.5 days to 2.5 days, which saw improvement in the welfare of candidates, while not having negative impact on the turnout. The feedback from candidates was largely positive and we hope to grow the support offer further.
Student Activities
SU Sport
The SU saw tremendous engagement in sports, with 29 active clubs and a total of 60 teams. These clubs attracted 1,702 student members, showcasing the strong sporting culture within the university. Whether participating in competitive fixtures or recreational activities, students enjoyed a wide range of sports that fostered teamwork, leadership, and physical well-being. The thriving sports scene at Cardiff Met continues to be a key aspect of student life, offering opportunities for both personal development and athletic achievement.
SU Sport has seen the return of many regular activities such as BUCS Wednesdays, with some of our biggest events attracting much wider audiences than ever before. We have seen return of our Clash on Court (basketball and netball) matches, and return of Cardiff Clash , which consisted of 4 BUCS showdowns between Cardiff Met & Cardiff University held at Cardiff Arms Park Stadium.
Student Activities
SU Societies
As we continue our mission of empowering students, and be at the heart of student experience, we were able to have a successful year growing our society membership. We ended the year with 48 active societies , up from 31 in previous year, and up to 929 society members , up from previous year’s 755!
During the 2023/24 academic year, SU societies flourished, providing a space where students could find community and personal enrichment.
From cultural groups celebrating diversity to academic societies supporting professional development, each played a vital role in campus life. Many societies organised successful events, including charity fundraisers, skill-building sessions, and social gatherings that created a strong sense of belonging. Memberships grew significantly, demonstrating the students’ passion for extracurricular engagement. These societies helped foster leadership, creativity, and friendships, making them an essential part of the student experience at Cardiff Met.
Student Activities
The Cardiff Met Award
In the 2023/24 academic year, the Cardiff Met Award saw great success, with 93 students registering and 41 completing it. This award encourages personal and professional development through extracurricular activities, enhancing students’ employability and self-awareness.
Participants gained valuable skills and confidence, with many securing internships and improving their career prospects. The award fosters a commitment to growth and better equips students for the job market, making it a standout program in Cardiff Met’s focus on holistic student development. The award’s completion is recognized on students’ HEAR reports, marking a significant achievement.
SU Workshops
The SU continued providing free personal development workshops. We hosted series of workshops delivered by external providers, aimed at enhancing students’ employability and skill sets. These workshops covered a range of topics, including leadership development, CV writing, interview preparation, and mental health awareness.
The sessions were well-received, offering practical advice from industry professionals and tailored insights to help students navigate their career paths. These opportunities allowed students to gain valuable external perspectives, preparing them for the competitive job market and equipping them with essential life skills.
Celebrating Success
The SU has received more than 850 nominations across our various awards, in order to recognise the amazing work undertaken by fellow students, student leaders and university staff!
Sports Awards
Our Sports Awards have attracted over 450 attendees , acknowledging and celebrating the successes of our sport clubs, athletes, coaches and support staff. Our partnership with university’s broadcast MSc course enabled us to play a fantastic year of sport video which has raised the spirits of all our archers. As part of the awards, we received over 500 number of nominations which we recognised on the night.
Student-Led Teaching Awards (SLTA’s)
Our annual awards that recognise the exceptional efforts university staff are making. This year, we have moved the course rep awards into the SLTAs to drive turnout, which was very successful move. The awards received total of 247 nominations this year. Unfortunately, due to the financial constraints, the SU will not be able to rerun these in the following academic year.
Student Achievement Awards
We were able to celebrate the hard work undertaken by our student-led societies, society members and any extraordinary contribution to student life in 2023/24. We have received 102 nominations across the different categories. We were able to celebrate these successes jointly with the Student-Led Teaching Awards, which attracted 80 attendees on the night.
Events
Diwali
We hosted our Diwali celebration for the third consecutive year, drawing over 200 attendees. Led by your Vice-President, Rewathi Viswanatham, the event became a vibrant celebration of culture and community, featuring traditional music, dance, food, and beautiful decorations.
It brought together students from various backgrounds to enjoy the festivities, fostering inclusivity and diversity across campus. Diwali continues to be one of our most popular cultural events, celebrating the spirit of togetherness and cultural exchange.
Varsity
The much anticipated and biggest sporting event at Cardiff Met, this year hosted by Bath University! The event has returned bigger than ever, with 3,000 students watching or competing at the event. With incredible weather and atmosphere on the day, students were able to participate in day packed with matches and even competition between the mascots!
The attendees were given a Varsity T-shirt and were provided with a transport to and from Bath on the day in order to ensure their safety and good experience.
Welfare Initiatives
Harm Reduction Approach
In partnership with the University’s Student Services, the SU continued its work on the SOSUK Drug and Alcohol Harm Reduction Scheme for a second year. This initiative focuses on supporting students with alcohol or drugrelated challenges through a harm reduction approach. The aim is to educate students on the risks of substance use while offering guidance, support, and resources for those struggling, rather than just discouraging use.
Period Dignity
With extra funding, the ‘Dignity. Period.’ campaign continued, offering free period products across both campuses. Working with the estates team, the provision was expanded from SU pick-up points to bathrooms across the university.
Governance and Democracy Reviews
The SU initiated key organisational review in 2022/23 year, which included the Governance & Democracy Review. The work on the Governance & Democracy Review has started, and if you would find out more, the report is available to read here
Governance Democracy
The SU Board of Trustees has now changed its composition to include up to 4 Full-Time Student Officers, two student representatives, one from each campus, and 4 external trustees in order to bring more external expertise into the organisation. We would want to thank all former members of the board, and especially the school representatives who dedicated time and effort into building up the board and making these changes possible.
There were other significant changes, which included changes to the General Meeting regulations, most notably lowering the quoracy to help students have space where they can get together and hold the organisation to account.
At the end of the year, the Board has approved further changes to its structure, with establishment of additional subcommittees to further assist the functions and decision making of the board. This subcommittee structure will be implemented in October of the incoming academic year.
The SU was successful in creation of an online space on website, where students can post any ideas, they would want to see discussed by the Full-Time Student Officers and School Representatives. The SU has started building set of Byelaws in order to start establishing our democratic structures and create the Student Forum, where student policy would be discussed. In addition, the SU started looking at creating Byelaws on referenda, to empower students to make grass-root changes. All of these we aim to implement throughout the following academic year 2024/25.
The SU held review of the Full-Time Officer roles and came up with recommendations of 4 officers with remits of: Student President, VicePresident (Education), Vice-President (Welfare & Liberation), Vice-President (Activities). Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to secure the funding from university to implement these, but we managed to change our current structure to introduce the Student President and VP (Education), while we seek further university support for establishment of VP (Welfare) and VP (Activities.
Student Officer Reflection
Looking back on our Union’s work during the 2023-24 academic year, it is so evident that this past year has been filled with achievements that speak to the strength and spirit of our community. I am honored by the confidence that students placed in me as your President to continue advocating for their interests.
Throughout the year, we have connected with students across countless initiatives, many of which are highlighted in this report, while others continue to develop. From our events and venues, like Centro and the Shop, to the steady stream of students visiting us at the office, the Union has and continues to serve as a vibrant space for support and engagement.
Daniel Flaherty Student President
I’m incredibly proud of the positive impact our Union achieved last year, but I’m also aware of the many challenges we continue to face. Students have encountered significant obstacles, including the cost-of-living crisis, accommodation shortages, mental health difficulties, along with countless other distinct challenges. Many of you have had to balance studies with increasing work commitments due to these pressures. Despite these realities, I am inspired by the resilience and commitment to change within our community.
Looking ahead, I am excited to begin my first year in this role with a focus on partnership, collaboration, and ambitious change. Building on our Union’s history and the foundation laid by past leaders, we will work to address these challenges with solidarity and compassion, strengthening our community for all members. This is the vision I hold for our Union, and I look forward to continuing our progress alongside students, staff, and the broader community in the year ahead.