Hi,

 

Thank you for submitting this YMC and your interest in our accounts. This is a big one to answer, so thank you for your patience in us getting back to you.

 

Grant Funding and Clubs/Socs (questions 1, 3 and 6)

Firstly the link from the SUSU Facts and Figures page is now working again, so amounts funded to societies can be seen from there.. 

 

Since 2020 and the disbanding of Zone Committees (referenced in our rules which are currently being updated), decisions on grant funding for clubs and societies sits with the elected VP Activities and VP Sports, with input from the Sports and Performing Arts (PA) committees and oversight from our Head of Activities. In 24/25 we are improving this to ensure that Executive Committees of students for sports and activities have input into grant decisions. Union Groups (MedSoc, Union Films and RAG) sit outside of this pot of funding. 

 

Individual clubs and societies apply for grants, and funding is allocated based on the Grant Guidance provided. This guidance is under review for 24/25. Most clubs and societies are funded independently of each other, meaning that one society receives isn’t dependent on what any others receive, it is only dependent on the overall budget for grant rounds. Funding for specific costs such as transport, coaching or conducting varies by society and club and over the year so there is no full breakdown of these total costs. 

 

Our Activities team works with the University’s Widening Participation team to identify students who are eligible for the EDI bursary, and these students are independently emailed with a link to sign up. Take up happens in October, and then offered again in January, though usually with lower take up in January. Over the 23/24 academic year there were just under 50 memberships funded through the EDI bursary.

 

SUSU Budget and Funding (questions 2 and 4) 

The budget is created from submissions by the managers of all departments within SUSU and approved by our Trustee Board. 

 

The accounts seen on the SUSU Facts and Figures page are our statutory accounts, this means they are formatted and calculated in a prescribed way to comply with company and charity law, however they do not fully reflect the day to day running of SUSU. For instance, the retail numbers on this page includes wider staffing and indirect costs across SUSU such as finance, HR and facilities, as well as all the direct costs such as stock that is bought in to run the retail spaces.

 

Funds go to specific departments within SUSU, both for staffing costs and for campaigns, events and activities that departments run. For instance SUSU’s main legal and charitable objective of providing independent student representation is achieved through funding the Representation staff team, funding and running the elections over the year, and supporting and celebrating student reps across the year, however all SUSU’s objectives are achieved in the same way by supporting the staff that support students and by directly funding events. 

 

Other (questions 5 and 7)

Some students feel more represented in SUSU’s decision making than others, and we are continually looking to increase students being able to influence SUSU’s decisions and priorities. The pool of course reps and clubs and socs committees are generally representative of students, though often slightly more engaged than other students. 

 

There are times when SUSU lobbies the University for what students want and we compromise on solutions, but that is the normal relationship between any Students’ Union and University. Overall our relationship with the University is strong, and we work together to provide a positive experience for students.

 

This was a lot of questions, if you have any more or feel you want to discuss these responses in more detail I’d strongly recommend you come in to speak to one of us, or email me at vpeddem@soton.ac.uk.