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The essential guide to
EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
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CONTENTS 2 | WHO WE ARE 4 | REPRESENTING STUDENTS 5 | WELFARE AND SUPPORT 6 | ACTIVITIES 7 | OUR SPACES 8 | COMMERCIAL SERVICES 9 | FINANCES 10 | OUR HISTORY 12 | GET IN TOUCH
WHO WE ARE 2
Edinburgh University Students’ Association exists to represent and support over 39,500 University of Edinburgh students through their time at the University, whether they be Undergraduate or Postgraduate (taught, research or online distance learning). All students enrolled at the University gain automatic membership to the Students’ Association.
Our core values are: Students first
Power to change
A place for all
Home from home
We have over 2,000 students in leadership positions
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We won the NUS Scotland award for the ‘best University Students’ Association’ in 2016/17! We are a separate organisation to the University of Edinburgh, but work in close partnership. The relationship between ourselves and the University is enshrined within both organisations’ governance. Our student representatives sit on a variety of University committees, including University Court. The University is also the landlord and the major funder of the Students’ Association. As an independent charity, we also have a Board of Trustees which is ultimately responsible for the financial, legal and reputational wellbeing of the Students’ Association. The Board is made up of the five Sabbatical Officers, four appointed Student Trustees and three appointed Lay Trustees. The Students’ Association employs staff to help in its operation. We have approximately 145 full-time equivalent permanent staff and 450 part-time staff (who are mostly students). We also have over 4,000 student volunteers working to keep the student experience at the centre of all we do.
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REPRESENTING STUDENTS We are committed to representing student interests and promoting student-led change, driving changes within the University and at a local and national level. We do this through our: Sabbatical Officers who sit on University committees and actively help shape University strategy and decision-making to benefit students. School and Class Reps who are appointed to represent the views and be the voice of students in each school and work to ensure the best possible academic experience for students, and a positive environment to work and study in. Activities, Liberation and Section Reps who are elected to represent the needs of our student societies, and of groups who have traditionally been marginalised in, or excluded from, higher education.
Student Council (open to all students) where our members are able to raise any issues, bring ideas and apply for funding to turn their suggestions into a reality. The Student Representatives also campaign for our students’ interests on forums external to the University. The Students’ Association is a member of the National Union of Students (NUS) and works with other Students’ Unions on issues of student concern and interest.
We worked with 2,310 Class Reps in 2016/17 eusa.ed.ac.uk/representation
WELFARE AND SUPPORT We’re dedicated to supporting students. Some of the ways we do this include: Our free, confidential and impartial advice service - the Advice Place. It provides a safe space for members to ask questions, and access information, advice and advocacy on a wide range of topics. Our staff offer expert professional support relating to finance, debt, housing, University processes and procedures including appeals, complaints, academic issues, misconduct and harassment. Students can also access free safer sex products and information on sexual health and wellbeing. Peer Learning and Support schemes which enable students to get support from more experienced peers: Peer Support Volunteers. Students are able to link-in with a student-led learning group based on their course, sign up for a student buddy or a mentor, and join an academic family. Awareness and support campaigns, like our annual Mental Health and Wellbeing Week, our sustainability festival (Sustain.Ed), and campaigns and events for Black History, Disability and LGBT+ History months.
Over 12,000 enquiries were answered by the Advice Place team in 2016/17 eusa.ed.ac.uk/adviceplace
8,700 students took part in Peer Learning and Support sessions in 2016/17 eusa.ed.ac.uk/peersupport
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ACTIVITIES 6
We support over 280 student-led Societies. Having a diverse range of activities is an effective springboard for students to meet new people, and get involved in something already established, or create a start-up group of their own; gaining valuable experience and having fun. These range from dance to debating and broadcasting to baking! In 2016/17, students who volunteered through our Societies and Volunteering System gave almost 50,000 hours of time to good causes! We also run the award-winning Global Students programme, aiming to enhance the global experience for students, inviting them to swap a language, learn about a new culture and meet new people from around the world. Our Postgraduate programme provides advice, support and relevant academic and networking events for postgraduates, specific to their needs.
We connect over 1,000 students via our online Tandem language exchange group each year! eusa.ed.ac.uk/global
We worked with 651 Postgrad Reps in 2016/17 eusa.ed.ac.uk/postgrad
We support over 280 societies with a membership of c.26,000 eusa.ed.ac.uk/activities
OUR SPACES Our four iconic venues: Teviot Row House, King’s Buildings House, Potterrow and The Pleasance are where our student community gather. Our buildings are a significant part of our service offering and identity. They host retail outlets, music venues, bars and catering facilities, and open social and study areas – offering studentfriendly atmosphere. Our venues host weekly and special one-off events and can be booked, free of change, for student activity. Whether it’s a quiz, live music, comedy, dance rehearsal, whisky tasting, debate or the Graduation Ball, it’s the events which take place in our venues that bring them to life.
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In 2016/17, we organised or supported almost 900 events in our venues eusa.ed.ac.uk/whatson
COMMERCIAL SERVICES 8
We run a variety of commercial services, including significant operations during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In 2016/17, our annual commercial turnover was ÂŁ8.6m. Much of our commercial activity provides valuable student services in its own right, and any profits are reinvested back into our other student support services. Our commercial services reflect the views of our members, with their feedback directly driving changes to our offer and its delivery. For example, our bars and club nights are a big part of what we do, with an emphasis on creating a safe and welcoming environment that is accessible to all. Our shops and catering outlets balance the need to be profitable with the service requirements of different campuses and a diverse student membership; providing good value and a wide range of product options.
In 2016/17, we developed new food offerings at King’s Buildings House, based on feedback from over 1,100 students eusa.ed.ac.uk/ourvenues
FINANCES Our combined annual turnover in 2016/17 was £12m. The commercial turnover from our bars, cafés, shops, events and festival operations was £8.6m and this generated a surplus of £0.6m. Grant income received from the University in 2016/17 was £2.5m and provided the majority of our available resource. There were several smaller sources amounting to approximately £0.5m. All our income is used to provide our student advice, support, activities and representation services, as well as the provision of our buildings for students use. We also use it to pay for the staff that support the whole organisation such as our Human Resources, Marketing and Estates teams.
In 2016/17, our combined annual turnover was £12m eusa.ed.ac.uk/about/finances
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OUR HISTORY 10
The Edinburgh University Women’s Union is founded (EUWU)
Student Robert Fitzroy Bell founds an Edinburgh Students’ Representative Council (SRC)
1884
1889
The SRC establishes the Edinburgh University Union (EUU) and the purpose-built student union building Teviot Row House opens
1905
The SRC, the EUU and Chambers Street Union merge to form Edinburgh University Students’ Association. Through the SRC, the Students’ Association is the oldest students’ union in the UK
1964 EUWU votes to become mixed and is renamed the Chambers Street Union
1973
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Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) Union becomes part of the Students’ Association
Moray House Institute of Education Union becomes part of the Students’ Association
1994 The Students’ Association and the King’s Buildings Union merge
1998
2004
The Students’ Association affiliates with the National Union o f Students (NUS)
2011
A fifth Sabbatical Officer role is created, along with other changes, as part of a democratic review undertaken as part of our 2015-19 Strategic Plan
2012
A new constitution, including Trustee Board, is established, although not in place until 2014
2016
GET IN TOUCH 12 If you and your colleagues would like
to know more about the Students' Association, or about specific aspects of our work, we are happy to attend or present at any events you may be running.
Sabbatical Officers 2017/18 President, Patrick Kilduff president@eusa.ed.ac.uk Vice President Activities and Services, Kai O’Doherty VPactivities@eusa.ed.ac.uk Vice President Community, Ollie Glick VPcommunity@eusa.ed.ac.uk Vice President Education, Bobi Archer VPeducation@eusa.ed.ac.uk Vice President Welfare, Esther Dominy VPwelfare@eusa.ed.ac.uk
Trustee Board The Trustee Board includes the five Sabbatical Officers and: Student Trustees Bharat Chaturvedi Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller Adam Noach Vacant position Lay Trustees Douglas Blackstock Stewart Goldberg Yvonne Stewart
Senior Management Team Chief Executive, Stephen Hubbard stephen.hubbard@eusa.ed.ac.uk Director of Membership Support and Development, Sarah Purves sarah.purves@eusa.ed.ac.uk Finance Director, Euan MacLean euan.maclean@eusa.ed.ac.uk Commercial Services Director, Michelle Berry michelle.berry@eusa.ed.ac.uk (from Jan 2018) Projects Director, Alan Duff alan.duff@eusa.ed.ac.uk
eusa.ed.ac.uk/about/contactus
Key contacts Academic Engagement Coordinator, Megan Brown megan.brown@eusa.ed.ac.uk Advice Place Manager, Gin Lowdean gin.lowdean@eusa.ed.ac.uk Conferencing enquiries, Ian Williams ian.williams@eusa.ed.ac.uk Estates Manager, Alan Blackwood alan.blackwood@eusa.ed.ac.uk Events and Entertainments Manager, Rachel Dyas rachel.dyas@eusa.ed.ac.uk Festival Business Manager, Olivia McLean olivia.mclean@eusa.ed.ac.uk Finance and Invoicing enquiries, Anne Clarke anne.clarke@eusa.ed.ac.uk HR Manager, Allan Farquharson allan.farquharson@eusa.ed.ac.uk International Engagement Coordinator (Global Students), Christina Schmidt christina.schmidt@eusa.ed.ac.uk Marketing and Communications Manager, Emma Robertson-Werner emma.robertson-werner@eusa.ed.ac.uk Peer Learning and Support Manager, Katie Scott katie.scott@eusa.ed.ac.uk Representation and Democracy Manager, Al Powell al.powell@eusa.ed.ac.uk Student Volunteering and Activities Manager, Meher Kalenderian Meher.Kalenderian@eusa.ed.ac.uk
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Edinburgh University Students’ Association reception@eusa.ed.ac.uk 0131 650 2656 eusa.ed.ac.uk
King's Buildings House
The Pleasance
Potterrow
Teviot Row House
Edinburgh University Students’ Association is a charity (SC015800) and a company limited by guarantee (SC429897) registered in Scotland. Registered Office: Potterrow, 5/2 Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AL