Impact Report 15/16

rusu.co.uk

2015/16

IMPACT REPORT

CHARIT Y NUMBE

R: 1158523

rususnaps15

MESSAGE FROM YOUR STUDENT OFFICERS 16/17 The five of us are your elected Student Officers for this academic year. It’s our job to ensure that you are fully supported and represented throughout your time here at the University of Reading and that you have the best student experience possible. We provide great services, opportunities and activities for students at Reading University Students’ Union (RUSU). We also work with the University to create positive change on campus, to make your University better!

SED JOSHI DIVERSITY OFFICER

PIP OPPENHEIMER WELFARE OFFICER

This impact report highlights the work that RUSU did last academic year. It should give you a better understanding of our aims, achievements, income and expenditures.

After all this is your Students’ Union, so we want to make sure it’s working for you.

There are so many different ways to get involved with RUSU, from being in a society or sports team, volunteering, using our free advice service, to representing your course mates. You can even run to be a Student Officer and have input into setting the strategic direction of RUSU.

BEN COOPER PRESIDENT

We are sure that many of you have also enjoyed a good night out at the Union, had a drink in Mojo’s or a coffee from Café Mondial. Make sure that you continue to get more involved and make the most of RUSU.

NIALL HAMILTON

Thank you for such a great year!

EDUCATION OFFICER

SED JOSHI – Diversity Officer PIP OPPENHEIMER – Welfare Officer BEN COOPER – RUSU President NIALL HAMILTON – Education Officer MOLLY PHILPOTT – Activities Officer

MOLLY PHILPOTT ACTIVITIES OFFICER

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CONTENTS INTRO

FINANCE

ROLL CALL

4

ABOUT RUSU 5 MISSION / AMBITION

INCOME 22 EXPENDITURE

23

5

ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION ADVICE

6

ELECTIONS

8

ACADEMIC REPRESENTATION

10

STUDENT OFFICER CAMPAIGNS

11

PTO CAMPAIGNS

12

STUDENT LED CAMPAIGNS

13 Page 32

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

FOR THE

26.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

14

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

16

COMMERICAL AREAS COMMERCIAL AREAS SUMMERBALL 2016

impact report 2015 / 16

NTS’ UNION RSITY STUDE ued) MENTS (Contin CIAL STATE THE FINAN st 2016 31 JULY YEAR ENDED

UNIVE READING NOTES TO

UNRESTRICTE

D FUNDS

Forward Brought Balance ment Prior to Restate nts FRS 102 Adjustme Brought Balance Adjusted

Forward Income Expenditure s Assets Transfer n of Fixed 1. Acquisitio nt 2. Loan Repayme tion 3. Deprecia ions 4. New Designat t on Pension 5. Movemen ions 6. Reallocat 7. Gift Aid Carried Forward Balance

---General Union

s---------------d Reserve Pension esignate Capital Reserves -----------------DCapital Project nt Student Equipme Fund s 126,526 Activitie Fund 250,500 Balances 214,072 4) 90,932 (1,136,23 -

Reserves--ry Subsidia

742,584

136

-

-

(10,409) 732,175 4,816,294 0) (4,599,35 (12,228) (29,000) 216,457 (192,817)

32,310 (41,711) 11,879 £934,009

136 646,641 (634,762) (11,879) £136

90,932 549,641 (511,815) 41,711 £170,469

8) -

(1,009,70

250,500 -

214,072 150,422 29,000 (216,457) £177,037

(138,194) -

-

192,817 -

(32,310)

£305,123

18)

£(1,042,0

ed assets All capitalis by the in fixed assets. represented against investments Project Fund) are ture is charged ts the Unions (eg Capital Capital Expendi is made depreciation Fund represendesignated funds Funding of Fixed assets are repaid, a transfer Equipment other are made. funds or The Capital acquisitions transfers from general and appropriate fixed asset acquired have financed nt Fund loans which Capital Equipme To the extent capital fund.

22. this fund.

See note funds to the Scheme. from general of the SUSS n in respect provisio ts the pension Pension Reserve Reserve represen C/F The Pension Balance Expenditure ICTED FUNDS (5,000) Income 27. RESTR B/F 5,000 1,682 (21,161) Balance 21,161 (1,658) 3,340 (3,697) £1,682 Student Media s £(31,516) Balance Activities 3,697 £29,501 Volunteering £3,697 Other election by in democratic to tion constitu are subject under the by s of which is vested PARTY as defined Board, 7 member of the Union OLLING the Union 28. CONTR d by the Trustee The ultimate control entity controls Trustees. d or controlle person is appointe of the Union. As such no single externally The Union contains 4 membership meeting.

Board also the voting ship in General d 8. The Trustee the member Standar capital projects Reporting and other Financial ment works ITMENTS ed to building refurbish AL COMM 29. CAPIT the Union had committ end £250,500).

At the year 3 (2015: totalling £305,12

READIN G UNIVE RSITY

STUDEN TS’ UN ION FINANC IAL STA TEMENT S 31 st JUL Y 2016

Registered Registered

Charity

Company

Number

1158523

Number 0884

0709

18

20

LINK TO OUR ACCOUNTS

3

ROLL CALL 2015/16

OUR

17,000+

MEMBERSHIP IS MADE UP OF...

79.2% Home Students

20.8%

56.2%

Overseas Students

Female Students

43.8% Male Students

33.7%

Postgraduate Students

29.7% BAME Students

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9.9%

Self-defined Disabled Students

65.3%

Undergraduate Students

ABOUT RUSU RUSU is an independent charity that exists to represent, support and provide opportunities for students studying at the University of Reading.

Every student is automatically a member of the union and is entitled to get involved with the charity through volunteering, standing for an elected position, working in the cafes and bars, representing RUSU in a sport or just having a night out in the union.

Student representation is at the heart of what we do and RUSU is led by 5 Student Officers who are elected from the membership each year to represent the views of Reading students to the University, the local community and at a national level.

To make this happen you also elect 10 Part Time Officers to support the liberation and representation of minority groups, 95 JCR Committee members to support students living in halls of residence, 13 Faculty Reps and 397 Course Representatives to ensure that the University is aware of academic issues, 817 Student Activity Committee members to develop extra-curricular activities and 4 Delegates to represent the views of Reading Students at the NUS National Conference.

MISSION/ AMBITION RUSU’s ambition is to deliver what students want in an accountable, inclusive and dynamic way to enhance their university experience, with integrity at our core.

We want to give you our 17,000+ members the best possible university experience. To stay true to our mission we will frequently measure our own impact and share all information with you our members.

impact report 2015 / 16

RUSU provides a range of services to support students, including advice, JCRs, welfare reps and a subsidised nursery. We also support thousands of students each year to get the most out of their spare time through sports, societies, volunteering projects and our entertainments programme.

5

ADVICE The RUSU Advice Service is free, confidential, non-judgemental, independent and non discriminatory.

SAVED STUDENTS

£91,814.45 128 1,224 369 ACADEMIC CASES CLOSED

WE ATTENDED

527 HOUSING CASES CLOSED

CASES SEEN IN 2015/16

APPEALS WITH UOR STUDENTS

721

344 MONEY CASES CLOSED 38 OTHER CASES CLOSED

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STUDENTS SEEN BY OUR

INDEPENDENT ADVICE TEAM The RUSU Advice Service gained the Advice Service Alliance’s Advice Quality Standard (AQS) in 2013. In 2015, we went through the re-accreditation process and were successful.

The AQS Auditor stated “There is an impressive number of Areas of Good Practice, where the RUSU Advice Service has exceeded the requirements of the AQS to a significant extent”.

"I could never thank my Adviser enough for all the help and support she provided me with.

The Adviser helped me through a very stressful period which I will always be grateful for " (Postgraduate Taught Student , 2016)

impact report 2015 / 16

7

ELECTIONS

4,280 STUDENTS

16

25,973 CAST

SCHOOL REPS ELECTED FOR THE FIRST TIME

VOTES

1 NEW PART-TIME OFFICER ROLE

FOR LONDON ROAD CAMPUS

99 STUDENTS RAN FOR ROLES

AS FULL-TIME OFFICERS, STUDENT TRUSTEES, PART-TIME OFFICERS AND UG SCHOOL REPS

ACADEMIC REP ELECTIONS

359

CANDIDATES

STOOD FOR

400

ROLES

IN THE UNDERGRADUATE COURSE REP ELECTIONS

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95%

WOULD RECOMMEND BECOMING AN ACADEMIC REP TO OTHER STUDENTS

OF ACADEMIC REPS

44%

POSTGRADUATE FACULTY & COURSE REPS WITH 125 RUNNING

YOU ELECTED

1,709

STUDENTS TO REPRESENT YOUR INTERESTS

YOU CAST A TOTAL OF

33,972 ONLINE VOTES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

792 STUDENTS RAN

IN AN ONLINE

ELECTION

VOTES CAST IN THE JCR ELECTIONS

11 20

96 ROLES ON 10 DIFFERENT JCR COMMITTEES

CANDIDATES RAN for different positions in the NUS LGBT+ and Women’s Conference elections.

CANDIDATES RAN To represent you at various NUS Confrences in 2016

impact report 2015 / 16

1,359

UNDERGRADUATE VOTERS

338

POSTGRADUATE VOTERS

1,174 STUDENTS

5,293

136 STUDENTS RAN FOR

ELECTED OFFLINE TO LEAD

TOTAL ONLINE ELECTION TURNOUT

SPORTS CLUBS, SOCIETIES & STUDENT MEDIA

7,607

9

ACADEMIC REPRESENTATION "Being a Course Rep has really helped my employability skills, including meetings, negotiating and general business conduct. I now understand how the University structures its modules and courses, how the lectures are created and how feedback and assessments are carried out" Dina Ghanma

(3rd Year Finance Course Rep)

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WINS FROM

STUDENT OFFICER CAMPAIGNS

425

STUDENTS VISITED THE REPTILE ZOO RUSU SAYS RELAX RUSU's de-stress campaign this year bigger than ever included: • Big Fat Quiz of the Year • Animal Petting Farm • Reptile Zoo

130

ATTENDED FOSSIL

FREE FRIDAY FOSSIL FREE FRIDAY Persuaded University to stop investing in fossil fuel companies University now committed to a more environmentally-friendly Investments Policy

70

ACADEMIC REPS TRAINED AS PART OF

LIBERATE MY CURRICULUM A campaign to empower students to have more input into their curriculum.

Educate students about consent in order to help create educational and social environments which are happier, safer and more inclusive.

impact report 2015 / 16

11

LIBERATION & REPRESENTATION

PART-TIME OFFICER CAMPAIGNS PTO’s represent and liberate the rights of students who are under represented or discriminated against.

EDITH MORLEY THE EDITH MORLEY BUILDING University to rename building in honour of Edith Morley, the UK’s first female professor who also worked at UoR – HumSS to be renamed the Edith Morley Building.

LGBT+

HISTORY MONTH Highly commended in NUS LGBT+ Campaign Awards having previously won the best campaign award in 2014/15.

CHANGE IT! IDEAS

40

Ideas were submitted by students in 2015/16.

13

Ideas were voted on by students in 2015/16.

1

WORLD WEEK

Has won the integration event of the year for the last three years.

This year they ran a language and arts festival for the first time with a particular focus on bilingualism and cross-cultural literacy.

2 ,519 Votes were cast in 2015/16.

WINS FROM CHANGE IT! IDEAS • Tuition fees frozen for the duration of studies, for all new international students starting in 2016 and beyond.

• Introduced a system which publishes available study space in the Library as part of the Library refurbishment.

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• Secured cheaper local bus fares for students under 21.

• University created ‘Room Finder’ which came into use from October 2016.

• New Students Not Suspects policy was created.

• Created University Accommodation Committee to look at rent setting, availability of affordable rooms.

• Stopped hall prices rising above inflation for 2016/17 residents.

The Professional and Administrative Services (PAS) review was a piece of work carried out by the University in the name of ‘Efficiency and Effectiveness’, which resulted in large cuts to administrative and support staff and the relocation of students’ School Offices.

impact report 2015 / 16

200 1,670

JOINED THE DEMOS OVER

PROFESSIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES (PAS)

OVER

STUDENT LED CAMPAIGN

STUDENTS SHAPED THE CAMPAIGN

13

OVER

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

6,000 25 NEW SOCIETIES

RAISED

RAG

VOLUNTEERED

STUDENTS

500+

STUDENTS INVOLVED OVER

13

£44,000

FOR CHARITIES

LEAGUE PROMOTIONS IN 10 DIFFERENT SPORTS 10% INCREASE

2,265 STUDENTS JOINED A SPORTS CLUB

TOP 3 MOST IMPROVED UNI IN BUCS THE NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION SPORTS IN THE UK 14 | impact report 2015 / 16

VOLUNTEERING

25 NEW SOCIETIES CREATED IN 2015/1

RAG RAISED £44,000 IN 15/16

SPORTS RUSU IN THE BUCS PREMIER LEAGUE

The men’s hockey team got back-to-back promotions into the BUCS Southern premiership (2014/15 & 2015/16)

impact report 2015 / 16

15

UNIVERSITY OF MONSTERS The University of Monsters programme introduces Reading school pupils in Year 5/6 to the world of Higher Education: initially with sessions in school, later with three visits to the Reading University campus to explore three aspects of Higher Education: · What is University? · Studying at University · Life at University

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There is good evidence that providing an awareness of University from an early age can help to raise aspirations and increase the likelihood of pupils thinking of University as a realistic option.

Development and delivery of the programme is by Reading University Students' Union (RUSU).

As a body that focuses on providing an excellent student experience, RUSU is well placed to showcase the University experience, and with student volunteers at the very heart of the project, the pupils can really relate to their hosts and get honest and relevant insights from a wide range of students from a diverse range of yeargroups, courses, social backgrounds, and nationalities.

STUDENT VOLUNTEERS NAME: Harriet Pope SUBJECT: Primary Education with Mathematics Year: 3 out of 3 HOURS VOLUNTEERING WITH UNIVERSITY OF MONSTERS: Around 33

impact report 2015 / 16

WHY DID YOU JOIN: I joined the project because I have an interest in children's education.

I really enjoy seeing children strive to meet their personal goals and to see them aspire to future achievements such as university.

17

RAISED

COMMERCIAL AREAS

£423,696

BARS INCOME

WHICH IS PUT BACK INTO SUPPORTING OUR MEMBERSHIP

14%

110,000 STUDENTS 16 CEMENT TRUCKS OF BEER AND CIDER SOLD IN 2015/16

NEARLY

ATTENDED FLIRT! WEDNESDAY UNION

£300,000

WAS PAID TO STUDENTS WORKING FOR RUSU

361,750

CUSTOMERS SERVED IN CAMPUS CENTRAL 18 | impact report 2015 / 16

£140,000 SPENT ON ARTISTS & PERFORMERS

63,219

MEAL DEALS SOLD

9,674

GALAXY BARS SOLD

25,454 12,401

INCREASE IN STARBUCKS SALES EQUIVALENT TO 20,000 CUPS OF COFFEE

BOTTLES OF COKE SOLD

FAIRTRADE BANANAS SOLD

LITTLE LEARNERS NURSERY

53% CHILDREN OF STAFF 47% CHILDREN OF STUDENTS 22 DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES

impact report 2015 / 16

35%

120

CHILDREN REGISTERED WITH RUSU'S NURSERY

19

SUMMERBALL 2016

4,500 STUDENTS

10 HOURS

23,968

DRINKS SOLD IN

10 HRS

8 ACTS/DJ'S

ATTENDED

IN AID OF READING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION

WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO

RAISED

£62,000 1 HOG ROAST

£26,604

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WHICH IS PUT BACK INTO SUPPORTING OUR MEMBERSHIP

impact report 2015 / 16

21

INCOME A large proportion of our income comes from a block grant from the UoR, the rest we raise through our commercial services and student activities.

OTHER INCOME £1,798 | 0.03% | 83% INTEREST RECEIVABLE £7,971 | 0.17% | 193% GRANT INCOME £1,126,158 | 18.6% | 18% Money provided from the UoR. MARKETING, SPONSORSHIP & FRANCHISED SPACE £291,364 | 4.8% | 16.9% This is money raised from Freshers' Fayre and the sale of NUS extra Cards.

This also includes rental income from RUSU's franchisees.

NURSERY | LITTLE LEARNERS' £646,641 | 10.7% | 8.5% Income from fees paid to Little Learners Nursery.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

SOCIAL VENUES & EVENTS

STUDENT SHOPS

£613,075 | 10.1% | 9.4% Income from membership fees, the sale of Sports Federation Insurance and club photographs.

£1,926,148 | 32% | 17.1% Income from Mojo's Bar and Kitchen, Café Mondial, 3sixty nightclub and events including the Summer Ball.

£1,428,922 | 23.6% | 6.3% Income from Campus Central and the Online Shop.

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EXPENDITURE As a charitable organisation our profits are re-invested into the student experience.

TOTAL INCOME £6,042,077 | 100% | 9.9% TOTAL EXPENDITURE £5,777,443 | 100% | 12.2%

SOCIAL VENUES & EVENTS £1,641,165 | 28.4% | 16% Costs of running Events, Bars and the Summer Ball.

DEMOCRACY & REPRESENTATION £294,718 | 5.1% | 48.5% Elections, Student Reps, Campaigns, Talk To Me, Student Officer pay, Change it!

STUDENT ACTIVITIES £1,098,625 | 19% | 16.9% Sports Clubs, Societies & Student Media.

NURSERY | LITTLE LEARNERS' £634,762 | 11.0% | 7.2% Money spent on caring for children.

ADVICE SERVICES

STUDENT SHOPS

£273,400 | 4.7% | 58.6% Free, professional advice including: Finance, Accommodation and Academic issues.

£1,485,296 | 25.7% | 12.3% Expenditure from Campus Central and the Online Shop.

impact report 2015 / 16

MARKETING, SPONSORSHIP & FRANCHISED SPACE £349,477 | 6% | 93.9% Promoting facilities and events to students.

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DIVERSITY OFFICER: SED JOSHI 0118 378 4136 0781 217 7703 diversityofficer@rusu.co.uk RUSU_Diversity

WELFARE OFFICER: PIP OPPENHEIMER 0118 378 4106 0798 934 1897 welfareofficer@rusu.co.uk RUSU_Welfare

PRESIDENT: BEN COOPER 0118 378 4133 0797 350 3401 president@rusu.co.uk RUSU_President

EDUCATION OFFICER: NIALL HAMILTON 0118 378 4130 0798 069 7089 educationofficer@rusu.co.uk RUSU_Education

ACTIVITIES OFFICER - MOLLY PHILPOTT 0118 378 4134 0798 069 7088 activitiesofficer@rusu.co.uk RUSU_Activities