Club, Society & Project Budgeting 2011
imperialcollegeunion.org
Introduction Dear Chairs and Treasurers, Welcome to the Budgeting Guide which contains all the information you should need to produce your budget request for 2011-12. Each year the College gives the Union a large sum of money, a subvention, to be spent on our members. A large proportion of this, approximately £300,000 is allocated directly to our Clubs, Societies & Projects. By completing a budget request with your projected expenditure for 2011-12, we are able to allocate money to your activities. The ways in which the subvention is spent is restricted which means it can only be spent within certain categories (such as affiliation, referees, or ground hire). What’s changed this year? For this year, the process has not changed, however due to potential cuts in our subvention from College, the Union will need to pass part of these cuts on to Clubs, Societies & Projects. I hope this Budgeting Guide proves to be of some use, and good luck with your budget application. Remember that there are numerous officers and staff who are able to help if you get stuck, so never be afraid to ask. Thanks, Ravi Pall Deputy President (Finance & Services) t: 020 7594 8060 (ext. 58062) e: dpfs@imperial.ac.uk
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Getting Started The Budgeting Process All proposed Club, Society or Project expenditure must be included somewhere in this budget submission, even expenditure that you do not wish to apply for a subsidy towards. You should enter the total cost for all proposed activities. The subsidy requested need not be the maximum subsidy allowed. Subsidies can be requested at any percentage up to this maximum. It is likely that each Management Group will have their own category rules (i.e. only 50% of ground hire), these should have been distributed to all Clubs, Societies & Projects. If you have not seen these, make sure you ask for them. For example, the maximum subsidies for RCC Clubs & Societies are: 100% affiliation fees 75% competitions throughout, including BUCS 50% conferences 50% consumables 100% copyright materials 50% cultural activities 100% equipment and repair (N.B. your unspent equipment grant this year is rolled over) 75% ground hire 0% instructors, except core health and safety or core requirement for club activity – case by case 75% insurance 0% publicity 75% referees 50% speakers 100% telephones 50% hospitality 50% travel expenditure
Deadlines The deadlines below will be strictly adhered to and well advertised. Please note that no submissions will be accepted after the deadline regardless of any reasons given. If you foresee a problem reaching the deadline, contact the Deputy President (Finance & Services) before the deadline. No Budget = No Money = Dormant Club, Society or Project Timeline: 10/01/2011 – Club/Society/Project Budget system opens for submissions. 07/02/2011 – DEADLINE: Club/Society/Project Budget system closes for submissions. 21/03/2011 - Club/Society/Project Officers informed of allocations. 18/03/2011 – Appeals to Management Groups 09/05/2011 – Appeals to Clubs & Societies Board 26/05/2011 – Appeals to Union Executive Committee
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Getting Started cont... Appeals Appeals by Clubs, Societies or Projects against any budgeting decisions will be considered at a meeting of the Clubs & Societies Board. There will be only one meeting where appeals are heard, so clubs should ensure they submit any appeal in writing in time for this meeting. Verbal appeals given at the meeting will not be considered.
Level of Detail The completed budget should contain a reasonable amount of breakdown for the amounts requested in each category. Requests for random amounts of money without justification will not be looked upon favourably. Acceptable example of a request: 5 climbing trips, as last year; average cost of minibus £200, fuel £150 for each trip. Total £1750 Poor example of a request: £500 for club travel as that’s what we got last year and we want to do the same again.
Event Funding There are two types of events, social and core. Core events are eligible for funding across the available categories, funding for social events will not be given. To differentiate between the two: Core events: • In line with the aims and objectives of the Club, Society or Project • Should cover costs • Participation should be restricted to members (though there may be an element of viewing or spectating by external people). Examples include weekend climbing trips, lecture or talk by a speaker, or sports competition. Social events: • Goal is social interaction, unlikely to be in the aims and objectives of the club. • Seek to make a profit or surplus to fund more social events. • One-off in nature and not regular. • May include some external participation. Examples include dinners, trips to a performance, or bar nights.
Membership Fees The minimum membership fee for any membership club receiving grant is £2.00. Additionally, you must charge a minimum membership fee based on the amount of grant you receive. The minimum membership fee is 10% of your allocated grant (except in the insurance category) divided by the number of full members (plus VAT). For example, if you were requesting a total of £650 across various categories (except insurance) and you expected 20 members, your minimum membership fee would be £3.25+VAT (10% of £650 = £65, £65 / 20 members = £3.25+VAT). However as the Union is a VAT-registered organisation, members must pay VAT on the membership fee (see the Finance Manual for more information). This means your minimum membership fee will have VAT added at the rate of 20%, or in the case of sports clubs, 5%. Continuing the previous example, the actual minimum membership fee would be £3.90 (£3.25 + 0.2*£3.25) or, if a sports club £3.41 (£3.25 +0.05*£3.25).
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Completing the Budget Aims and Objectives These fields will auto-fill from last years submission. Any changes here will not change the constitution pages - these must be approved by a general meeting of the Club/Society/Project and subsequently the Management Group.
Membership Details Try to be as accurate as possible here. If you overestimate your membership your full budget will not be released, if you underestimate your membership your budget allocation may be adversely affected. Previous year’s membership can provide a good indication of what the numbers should be. After considering how much subsidy you are receiving, enter a realistic membership fee. It is likely that this will need revising after you have completed the budget submission.
Sponsorship Details This information is for Management Group records and as extra information for budget allocation. You should outline any current sponsorship deals.
Budget submission Description – Describe the activity the money will be used for. Right click on the field to expand it. Rank - Ranking your club expenditure enables allocation based on your highest priorities (i.e. your core activities). Cost (£) - What is the total cost of the activity? Subsidy (£) – How much money are you requesting? Funding Categories for Clubs, Societies & Projects
Affiliation Fees Costs associated with the affiliation of a club to an external organization, which must provide some tangible benefit to the club to be eligible for funding.
Notes
Examples
Benefits should be described in the description. Clubs will only be given funds to affiliate to one organisation unless absolutely essential (such as being unable to conduct primary activity).
Affiliation to national body that provides discounted training. Affiliation to a national body that allows league entry. Affiliation to a political party – though this will not be subsidised. Affiliation to a “pro-scribed organisation”, e.g. Al Qaeda, Red Hand Defenders, etc.
Remember to enter all proposed affiliations; ICU has a legal responsibility to report any affiliations it makes.
Competitions Entry fees to competitions for clubs. Each club is eligible for funding for 2 long running competitions (e.g. leagues) per team within the club. For ULU and BUCS, the league and associated cup count as one competition.
Notes
Examples
Alternatively, it is possible to apply for up to 10 one-off competitions or equivalent (i.e. 10 weekends). If the location and duration of the competition means that accommodation is absolutely necessary, it may requested at £15 per night per member.
Entry fees for sports teams to ULU and BUCS. Entry fees for weekend chess tournament in Edinburgh and accommodation for one night. Any costs associated with a competition that is not actually the entry fee, e.g. equipment or referees.
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Completing the Budget cont... Conferences Entry fees for conferences and exhibitions for a club, and attendees should be representing the Union in a meaningful way to others.
Notes
Examples
Clubs will not be subsidised for more than 10 one off conferences or exhibitions.
RAG attending an annual RAG conference to represent the Union and acquire knowledge. Any club going to visit a museum, museum exhibition, collection on display. Any club attending a trade show or similar event (e.g. DramSoc attending PLASA) Any form of academic “field trip” which should occur as part of an academic course.
If the location and duration of the competition means that accommodation is absolutely necessary, it may requested at £15 per night per member.
Copyright Materials Costs associated with the hire or purchase of copyright materials such as books, scripts, magazines and music.
Notes
Examples
If associated with an event, it must be classified as a core event.
Sheet music for Orchestra. OS Maps for the Outdoor Club. Materials to be sold to members e.g. training manuals.
Cultural Activities This category is to fund clothing, costumes and decorations to be used in promoting the culture represented by the club. Funding should be requested for specific items and not just an amount of money.
Notes
Examples
If associated with an event, it must be classified as a core event.
Funding for decorations for a national food fair. Funding of beer for to promote club drinking culture.
Equipment & Repair Funding of equipment which has a lifetime of greater than one year or for the repair of existing items of equipment that have lasted more than one year. Materials for repair and equipment with less than one year should be claimed for in the Consumables category.
Notes
Examples
Consideration should be given to storage requirements for any equipment purchase.
Chess sets, climbing harnesses, lifejackets. Anything with expected life of less than one year.
Ground Hire Costs associated with the hire of space or facilities to carry out club activities. Claim should be for the maximum level of activity.
Notes
Examples
Funding will only be allocated where it is not possible to utilise free facilities within the Union and College.
Hire of ice rink. Hire of external venue when appropriate facilities are available within College.
Instructors Costs associated with the instruction of club members related to the core aims and activities of the club. The instruction must be absolutely necessary for the activity being pursued.
Notes
Examples
Both coaching and personal development are acceptable.
Funding of Indoor Hockey coach. A cookery course for the Mountaineering club.
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Completing the Budget cont... Publicity Category for stationery items connected with either the administration of the club (e.g. photocopying meeting minutes) or publicity for core activity events (e.g. poster photocopying costs).
Notes
Examples
All clubs are eligible for a free photocopying in the Student Activities Centre. All FU/CSC’s are entitled to free printing for printing meeting papers.
Blue-tack to hold up posters printed in SAC. CSC/FU minute production costs.
Referees For the payment of referees or officials where the rules of a competition specifically require them.
Notes
Examples
Requests for funding should be in line with the requests made under Competitions and meet the same restrictions with regard to numbers.
Funding of referees for Rugby BUSA league matches. Non-qualified officials.
Speakers This category is for the costs of bringing in a speaker to give a talk (e.g. reimbursing their travel costs), equipment required and providing hospitality for them and one other person.
Notes
Examples
Normally up to 6 speakers a year may be funded.
De La Beche society having a speaker to talk about orogenesis. A talk to raise funds for use later in the year.
Where the speaker has been engaged for an event, it should be a core event.
Telephones This category is for the rental of office phone lines and the cost of telephone calls associated with these lines. Include the extension number and a realistic estimate of the call charges based on the previous year.
Notes
Examples
Only FU’s, CSC’s or clubs with offices/workshops can claim for this subsidy and only if they already have a telephone line.
Office phone (ext. 58062) with line rental at £94 a year and £15 of calls. The President’s mobile phone/Blackberry contract.
The Student Activities Centre has a phone for club usage.
Hospitality This category is only for sports clubs to provide refreshments for non-IC opposition sports teams.
Notes
Examples
Cost at Harlington is £1.80 per person.
3 matches with 14 non-IC opposition at £1.80 per head. Sandwiches for committee meeting.
Travel Expenditure To cover the costs of travel within the UK and its territorial waters, to participate in an activity in line with the core aims and objectives of the club.
Notes
Examples
FU/CSC officers should not claim money here to represent the Union, this is held centrally.
Funding a number of canoeing trips and the associated fuel costs. Taxi fares to get home from the bar night.
Insurance Funding of insurance cover for a club or a club’s equipment where it is absolutely necessary.
Notes
Examples
Most clubs will not need this category!
Insurance for gliders so that they are able to fly. Insurance for any item belonging to an individual and not the club.
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Completing the Budget cont... Extra-Funding Categories for Management Groups
Newsletter Category to cover the production and distribution costs of a departmental or faculty-wide newsletter.
Notes
Examples
Include any expected advertising or sponsorship as a negative amount to offset the subsidy required. DepSoc/FUs only.
CivSoc departmental newsletter Printing newsletters for alumni
Handbook Costs associated with printing of faculty-wide handbook for Freshers. A detailed breakdown of production costs (quantity, size, no. pages) and distribution costs (only if outside of central Union’s mailing) should be given.
Notes
Examples
You should also outline any expected advertising of sponsorship income as a negative amount to offset the subsidy required. FUs only
Well justified claims meeting the criteria above. “That’s how much we got last year.”
Contingency Used for dealing with minor unplanned and unforeseen expenditure.
Notes
Examples
The amounts should be justified with details of contingency expenditure from previous years and how likely this is to reoccur. CSC/FUs only
“I want a slush fund.”
Contacts If you have any questions or worries, your first port of call should be your Management Group Treasurer. If you encounter any problems with the online system please email webhelp@imperial.ac.uk
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