Impact Report >

Impact Report

The Student’s Union is a democratically run organisation that represents our members; students at the University of Sussex and the Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

We have over 11,000 members, who shape and benefit from all aspects of the Union.

► Our impact

The past year has been one of the best in the Union’s history. We have had some great successes; we’ve won awards, being recognised as a leading organisation, raised our profile through a new website and brand, lobbied parliament on issues such as student visas, the Browne Review and tuition fees.

As a membership organisation it is vital our members value the work we do and are involved in how we do it. 1 in 5 students voted in the recent full-time officer elections and 73% of respondents to our annual questionnaire agreed that the Union is contributing positively to their time at University.

Our diverse members

Our staff and officers refurbished the family’s room to provide a safe and suitable space for students with children to meet and socialise. Since then we have arranged family friendly events and have carried out research into how student parents can be best supported.

We have also been looking at how we can better cater for postgraduate, international and part-time students.

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Sports clubs & societies

We support over 140 societies with around 1,500 members from African, Caribbean and Asian to the Ukulele Society. We also have 29 sports clubs with 800 members who played 328 fixtures this year and had around 1,150 hours of training.

Providing development opportunities, healthy activity and a chance to make new friends, sports and societies enhance the student experience through peer-led activity

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Events

We have had over 9,000 attendees at our events this year including: Diwali, Holi, Freshers’ Week and Chinese New Year

We have helped students run events such as film screenings, fundraising and guest speakers and our Box Office sells tickets for events on campus and the South East.

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Advice

So far this year our Advice and Representation Centre has dealt with more than 1,300 enquires from more than 750 students. We have secured over £110,000 for students in grants, bursaries, benefits, tax credits and compensation

We also provided a free tenancy checking service and held housing talks attended by more than 400 students. Helping students make informed decisions reduces the likelihood they’ll face problems in future.

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Employing students

We employ around 145 students with flexible shift management to work around their studies and last year we paid £644,230.91 to students in wages

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Volunteers

Within the Students’ Union, over 700 students run sports clubs and societies, sit on Union and University committees, provide computer repair services, assist students and visitors at our receptions, run student media, and organise and run events. These students contribute around 50,000 hours per year.

The Student Rep scheme has expanded this year with 60% more nominees and 67% more votes in the student rep elections than last year. Student reps have been providing feedback on courses at departmental, school and university levels.

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Part of the local community

179 students have volunteered in the local community so far this year, contributing over an estimated 5,000 hours of time.

Our Link Up scheme helps groups such as the circus society to share their talents with the local community

In January, 170 students organised, filmed and performed in the student showcase Sussex Live, encouraging the local community to join societies at the Union.

Green Week was the highlight of this year’s environmental campaigning on campus and in Brighton. This year we celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight and won the Green Impact Gold Award.

The Union has employed 15 long-term unemployed young people through the Future Jobs Fund. As a member of the Education Business Partnership, this year we have also provided over 200 hours of work experience for Brighton and Hove school children

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