HOW TO SET UP A NEW
STUDENT GROUP AT
READING UNIVERSITY
STUDENTS’ UNION
2014-15
New Student Group Application Form
Affiliate Your Student Group
Affiliating your group with Reading University Students’ Union brings a whole world of benefits and
opportunities. It is impossible to list all the advantages, but here are some that are guaranteed;
Access to SU/University room and facility bookings :: Access to SU Minibuses :: Apply for funds :: Use of SU
equipment :: Banking services :: Potential Storage :: Training in all relevant areas :: Photocopying and Printing ::
Mail Box :: Support and expert advice from whenever you need from dedicated staff & officers.
What you need
In addition to submitting this document, you must provide RUSU with 50 names, student numbers, and
university emails of students who support your proposal for a Club or Society. Every society must have a
minimum of 15 active student members to run.
Essential Information
RUSU Clubs and Societies are democratic student led groups. Each Club and Society is required to hold an AGM
and election each year. Each new president, treasurer, and secretary is required to attend committee training,
which takes place after the Easter break.
Data Protection: this information will only be used for the safe and effective management of societies. RUSU
agrees not to pass any of your information on to third parties without your express permission. This
information will be stored in electronic format and held by Reading University Students’ Union and its
representatives.
About your proposed student group:
Group Name:
Membership Cost: £
Brief summary of your proposed activity:
1
Aims & Objectives: These are extremely general values that define your society.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Position: President
Full Name:
Student ID:
Phone:
Uni email:
Other email:
Position: Treasurer
Full Name:
Student ID:
Phone:
Uni email:
Other email:
Position: Secretary
Full Name:
Student ID:
Phone:
Uni email:
Other email:
Position:
Full Name:
Student ID:
Phone:
Uni email:
Other email:
2
Before RUSU set up any club / society there are some things that need to be achieved. One of the most
important things is that we need to see you are already active. By holding informal events, meetings, training
and socials we can see that there is a need for your club / society. We need to make sure clubs and societies
are sustainable. Please attach photos, Facebook links, posters and so on as evidence of events you have run or
meetings you have already held.
Summary of activity already held:
RUSU have a responsibility to support those Clubs and Societies already affiliated with us. Any new
Clubs or Societies must be distinct from those we already have. How is your proposed Club or
Society unique? :
Clubs and Societies affiliated to RUSU have certain roles and responsibilities:
1.
It’s compulsory for all student groups to elect: a President, Treasurer and Secretary and one other
position (e.g. Vice President, Social Secretary)
2. To keep accurate records of your finances with RUSU and must only hold a bank account through
RUSU (no external bank accounts are permitted).
3. That activities undertaken by your group must be safe and secure and, wherever possible, must be
accessible to all students
4. For both your committee and its members to maintain the reputation of the Union and the University
5. Your group must NOT carry out initiations as a means for members to gain credibility, status or even
entry within the Club or Society.
6. All groups must adhere to all RUSU policies and procedures and may not restrict membership or
activities from any RUSU student member except when complying with UK law.
7. All groups must sign the RUSU Student Activities Constitution and Behaviour policy annually.
8. Student Group applications may be subject to prior approval by the Trustee Board; such approval may
be withheld by the Board without recourse to appeal if in the opinion of the Board, the affiliation may
be prejudicial to the interests of RUSU.
9. To maintain regular communication with the Student Activities Office.
10. To hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elect a new committee each year
11. To have at least 15 student members registered with RUSU by the end of your first year. You must
ensure that all your members have paid (if your student group requires fees) and are registered on
the RUSU database.
3
Please explain how you intend to meet these roles and responsibilities:
RUSU endeavours to increasingly work with minority groups. Please describe how your proposed
Club or Society would try to engage with minority groups:
What support do you require from RUSU in order to function? e.g. hiring of facilities, transport,
funding etc :
4
Due to the number of Clubs and Societies, RUSU cannot guarantee you a space at the Welcome
Week Fayre. How would you look to get members if you were not given a stall at the Fayre?
Will your society be affiliated with any other organisation other than RUSU? If so please provide
details of other affiliated organisation, and provide a main contact for the organisation:
Every society at RUSU fits into one of our activity groups – Academic & Career, Culture & Faith,
Politics & Causes, Hobbies & Interests, Arts and Dance, Sport & Leisure. Society representatives
from each society meet with their activity group twice a term. Which group would you fit into?
5
I support to creation and set up of
Please sign using your full name, student number, and email address.
Full Name
Student Number
Student Email
6
Please send your fully completed application to [email protected]
Your application will then be circulated to the relevant members of the Student Activities Team
(depending on what type of group you are setting up). Once your application has been improved we
will invite you into Student Activities for a set-up meeting. In this meeting we shall explain our
processes and procedures, as well as supplying you with The Student Group Handbook.
This section is for the purposes of RUSU administration and is to be completed by a member of the RUSU
staff team.
Date received:___________________
Approved/Declined:___________________
Approved/declined by:___________________
Date Approved/Declined:___________________
Activity group allocation:

Academic & Career

Hobbies & Interests

Arts &Dance

Politics & Causes

Culture & Faith

Sport & Leisure

Other student grouping
Staff Notes and Feedback
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