2. WELCOME TO
BRIGHTON
STUDENTS’ UNION
ANNUAL REPORT
FOR 2012/13.
This was a great year for the Students’ Union –
achievements included developing 1500 student leaders
in roles across the organisation, a 40% leap in the number
of societies students can join, helping 500 students with
academic issues and the redevelopment of social spaces
across the campuses.
This report is an opportunity to tell you a bit more about
the Union and our impact on students’ lives. As your
student leadership team, it’s been an honour to represent
the 22,000 student voices at the University of Brighton,
building on the successes of last year and taking the
Union forward in 2013/14.
Let’s use the achievements in this report as inspiration for
an even better 2014!
Candice Armah, Fliss Newton, Holly Kavanagh, Maggie
Garabedyan & Paul Cooke
Student Leadership Team 2013/14
Every student at the University of Brighton
is automatically a member of Brighton
Students’ Union. That means we have a
membership of 22,000 students.
Five officers are elected each year by
students to lead the Students’ Union,
represent student opinion and lobby the
University for change.
Together the officers comprise the Student
Leadership Team. The President oversees the
workoftheteamasawholeandthefourofficers
each have a specific area of responsibility.
The team is part of a Board of Trustees, which
also includes student and external members.
The Leadership Team is in office for 12
months and officers can run for a second
term in elections held in February/ March
of each academic year.
The students who lead your Students’
Union are supported by a permanent staff
team, accountable to the Chief Executive,
who is responsible for the day to day
running of the organisation.
The Students’ Union is an independent
organisation, separate from the University.
Fliss Newton, Holly Kavanagh, Candice Armah, Maggie Garabedyan, & Paul Cooke
Student Leadership Team 2013/14
brightonsu.com/bsc
facebook.com/brightonstudentsunion
twitter.com/SUBrighton
Registered charity
number: 1137566
Brighton Students’ Union is a charity dedicated to
ensuring that students’ time at University is the
amazing, life changing experience it should be.
STUDENTWELLBEING
Undertaking a range of activities to promote
the health and happiness of students.
DISCUSSIONSANDDEBATE
Creating opportunities to discuss and
debate the issues that matter to students
and then taking action on the feedback.
STUDENTSUPPORT
Providing representation and support for all
students at the University of Brighton.
STUDENTADVICE
Providing first class independent
support and guidance where it’s needed,
specialising in academic advice.
SOCIALANDRECREATIONAL
Helping students get more from their
time at University through social, cultural,
sporting and recreational activities.
REPRESENTATION
Campaigning for and representing the
views of students across all the sites, to the
University and other important bodies.
How The Students’ Union Works
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
How The Students’ Union Works
Brighton students’ union
3. 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.
Through empowering, serving and connecting students, the Union will
achieve:
- Growing demand for student involvement with the Union
- A top third performance as a Students’ Union
- Clear and accessible paths for student participation
- Union premises meeting students’ needs
- Places for ideas, enterprise and action
The Union’s academic support service helped
over 500 students with appeals, academic
misconduct cases and complaints, achieving
successful outcomes in over 70% of all cases.
The number of students we help increases
each year and in 2013 we saw 30% more
students than the previous year.
Students are at the very heart of Brighton
Students’ Union. We empower our members
to achieve and each year thousands of
students get involved with the organisation
in a range of different ways.
THE NEXT FEW PAGES REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES
THE STUDENTS’ UNION UNDERTOOK IN 2012/13
TO WORK TOWARDS OUR THREE YEAR GOALS.
Our highly successful student
cooperative, BScoop was established
on the Eastbourne campus. Working
with a range of student volunteers
and student groups, BScoop helped
develop the new Union facilities and
transformed the student experience
on campus.
Our ‘I <3 My Education’ campaign travelled to every
campus speaking to students about their University
life and 1450 students gave us their views on what the
University should keep, stop and start doing. This research
forms an important source of student opinion, used
across the University to assist with decision making.
The Union recruited
and supported over 960
course representatives
across all parts of the
University. Through
training, communications,
active engagement and
volunteering support, the
representatives identified
and served the needs of the
22,000 students on courses
at the University.
The number of active
societies increased by
40% from the previous
year, to almost 100
student led groups.
40%
We ran our first ever Volunteer
Awards to recognise student
volunteer and society
contributions. These proved
a great success and built a
platform for future growth in
volunteering opportunities via
the organisation.
The Students’ Union established
new membership arrangements
for Sussex Downs College
and City College through the
recruitment of a Partner Colleges
Co-ordinator post, providing
dedicated support to students.
Over 1500 student leaders
actively participated in roles of
responsibility via the Students’
Union including course
representatives, club and society
organisers, elected officers,
volunteering project members
andcampusdevelopmentteams.
Brighton enjoyed one of its greatest medal
hauls at the national British Universities and
Colleges Sport (BUCS) events. We won four
Gold, two Silver and a Bronze medal at boxing
and judo national championship events.
The Students’ Union carried out a range of
activities that reinvigorated the Hastings
campus, such as the two week Freshtival
programme, Hastings Freshers’ Fair,
campaigning for better Wi-Fi, the Broadcast
Media students’ placement programme and
a huge growth in student led societies.
Over 500 events were organised, promoted
and supported in partnership with students
throughout the year. These included everything
fromweeklyclubnightstotheatreproductions.
Activity was undertaken to support the health
and wellbeing of our students, including over
1500 screenings and roadshows engaging
with over 5,000 students.
A total of 4401 students took part in Parklife
sports activities, equating to 20% of the
student population. Participation in the
programme increased by 12% on 2011/12.
BSCOOP The retail and catering outlets operated
by the Students’ Union served 20%
more customer transactions in the year
compared with the previous period.
Our highly regarded Excellence
Awards received over 1000
nominations from
students for the 63
course representative and
University staff awards. The
awards ceremony was
attended by over 200 staff, students
and members of the community.
More than 12,000 hours of paid
employment was provided
to students across all main
campuses, covering work in the
Union’s receptions, shops, cafes, accounts,
administration, events and projects.
Our three year strategy sees us working towards the following aims, so student life is as
good as it can possibly be for University of Brighton students.
REDEVELOPED
UNIONSPACES
After negotiating a capital grant of £250,000
from the University, the Union was able
to redevelop many of our spaces. The
refurbishment of buildings in Eastbourne,
Falmer and Moulsecoomb has greatly
enhanced student engagement and the use
of these areas.
BUILDING
COMMUNICATIONS
WITHOURMEMBERS
The organisation focused on further
building communications with our
members through increased social
media activity, networking opportunities,
leadership and feedback groups, student
cooperatives and the use of improved
Union facilities.
The Students’ Union has a membership of
22,000 students across all campuses and
areas of study at the University. We provide
a growing range of opportunities to connect
our diverse students with each other
through new experiences.
AWARDFROM
DEVELOPMENT
CHARITY,CHILDREACH
INTERNATIONAL
Our student led Raising and Giving (RaG)
society increased its activities across
the campuses, winning recognition with
an award from development charity,
Childreach International.
1627VIEWS
The Union developed a range of innovative
new ways to support students’ transition
to University life. For example, there were
1627 views of our “What do you wish you’d
known” videos, which featured tips and
advice for first year students from others at
the University.
INCREASED
REVENUESTREAMS
We increased our revenue streams through
different channels including securing
sponsorships, negotiating an increased
core grant, development of our cafés and
shops and winning successful small project
bids. This additional income increased the
support and services that could be provided
to our student members.
NEWCAMPUS
DEVELOPMENTTEAMS
To ensure students shaped Union activity on
their particular campuses, we introduced
our new Campus Development Teams.
NEW INITIATIVES 2012/13
SERVING STUDENTS
How The Students’ Union Works
OUR AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
NEW INITIATIVES 2012/13
EMPOWERING STUDENTS
NEW INITIATIVES 2012/13
CONNECTING STUDENTS
4. SU GRANTS
SU SHOPS
SU CAFES & CATERING
SU MARKETING & MEDIA
SU EVENTS
£876,608
£347,127
£305,077
£213,405
£204,986
£135,205
£59,070
£1,026,371
£681,067
£231,898
£128,198
£84,317
SU SHOPS
SUPPORT & POLICY
SU CAFES & CATERING
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES
CAMPUS & PARTNERSHIPS
SU EVENTS
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES
We Raised £2,151,851
£
£
We Spent £2,141,478
University of Brighton students direct and
shape all that the Students’ Union does as
an organisation. Through a growing range
of student cooperatives, active societies,
student committees and student led
projects, we are engaging more students in
more ways than ever before.
Candice Armah
President & Chair of the Board of Trustees
Our Trustee Board works to ensure that the Students’ Union functions as a robust, healthy
and legally compliant organisation.
This leaves Union Council free to concentrate on campaigning and representing students.
TRUSTEE
BOARD
Four External Trustees
The Student Leadership Team
Chair of Union Council
Four Student Trustees
Brighton Students’ Union is a democratic
organisation that is completely led by students.
Union Council sets the policy direction of the
Students’ Union, driving what we do for our
student membership. The Council is made up of
students, elected each year by our members.
EACH OF THE FIVE CAMPUSES
PARTNERSHIP COLLEGES
EQUALITIES GROUPS
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES
STUDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM
ACADEMIC COURSES
Union Council membership comprises representatives from:
NEW INITIATIVES 2012/13
Investing in the student experience
How The Students’ Union Works
A STUDENT LED ORGANISATION
