Who We Are
The Students’ Union exists to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive, connect, and succeed throughout their university experience. As an independent, student-led charity, we work in partnership with the University to represent student interests, provide support and advice, create opportunities for involvement, and build a strong sense of community across campus.
This year, our work has been guided by a simple ambition: creating belonging. We believe that students who feel connected to their university community are more likely to succeed academically, participate fully in university life, and develop the confidence and skills needed beyond graduation. Our work is underpinned by five core values.
Student Led – We are run by students, for students, empowering members to influence decision-making at every level.
Equality – We celebrate diversity and strive to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students.
Empowering – We support students and staff to achieve their full potential.
Transparency – We operate openly and honestly in how we represent and advocate for students.
Fun – We create opportunities for students to enjoy memorable experiences and make the most of their time at university.
These values shape what we do, from supporting individual students through challenging circumstances to building communities through sport, societies, and student-led activity.
Through living these values, we aim to be more than a service provider; we aim to be a partner in creating a university experience where every student feels they belong.
CEO’s Introduction
In last year’s report I talked about building solid foundations so that the SU could grow member engagement in year one of the new strategy. I am immensely proud that this year’s report demonstrates strong progress against that aim, and against our wider objectives across the year.
At a time when students face financial pressures, academic stress, and personal challenges, the role of the Students’ Union has never been more important. I am incredibly grateful for the efforts of our staff team, Officers, Trustees, student leaders, and volunteers, who have helped thousands of students tackle these challenges head on.
During the year we launched our 2025-2028 Strategy, built around the three priorities of:
• Winning For and With Students
• High Quality Activities for Everyone
• Modernising How We Work
These priorities are underpinned by our core values of being Student Led, promoting Equality, Empowering our members and staff, operating with Transparency, and ensuring that being part of our community remains Fun and memorable.
The impact of this work can be seen throughout this report. Student engagement in our democratic processes reached record levels, participation in sport and societies remained strong, thousands of students attended our events, and demand for advice
and support services continued to grow. These figures tell an important story of growth, but also of students choosing to engage with their Students’ Union and finding value in the opportunities and support it provides.
Together, our strategy and values are providing a clear framework for delivering our vision of a Cardiff Met community where every student can thrive, connect, and succeed.
As we look ahead, we do so with confidence and optimism, whilst recognising that growth must be matched by the right investment in our people, spaces and services. The increasing number of students engaging with our services, activities and democratic structures highlights both the value of our work and the importance of ensuring the Union remains equipped to meet student needs effectively.
This report tells a story of progress, partnership and possibility. Most importantly, it celebrates what students, staff, Officers, Trustees and volunteers can achieve together when we are clear about our purpose and ambitious for the student community we serve.
Will Fuller Students’ Union CEO
President’s Introduction
It has been an incredible privilege to serve as your Students’ Union President this year and represent students across Cardiff Met. When I was elected, I committed to focusing on four key priorities: creating a safer and more inclusive student community, improving access to support and wellbeing services, securing greater investment in opportunities for students, and improving transport links between our campuses.
I am proud that we have delivered meaningful progress across all of these areas. One of our earliest successes was securing improvements to bus services between campuses, including increased frequency and later services, helping students travel more easily between study, work, sport, societies, and social activities.
We have also strengthened support for student wellbeing and engagement, ensuring students have clearer access to advice, support services, wellbeing initiatives, and opportunities to get involved in university life. This year has seen significant growth in engagement across almost every area of the Students’ Union, demonstrating the value students place on these services and opportunities.
Creating a safer and more inclusive community has remained a personal priority throughout my term. I am particularly pleased that we will introduce Sensitivity and Bystander Training next year, helping equip student leaders with the confidence and skills to challenge inappropriate behaviour and support their peers. Following its successful introduction, this training will then be rolled out more widely for future committee members across our clubs and societies.
Securing additional funding, resources, and dedicated spaces for our sports clubs and societies remains an ongoing priority. Whilst there is still work to do, we have made positive progress in our discussions with the University and will continue to advocate for the investment needed to support our growing student communities.
What has inspired me most this year is the level of engagement shown by our students. We have seen record election turnout, our first-ever quorate AGM, growing participation in clubs and societies, and thousands of students engaging with campaigns, events, representation structures, and support services. These achievements demonstrate the strength of student voice at Cardiff Met and the impact that can be achieved when students are empowered to lead change.
This report showcases the incredible work of our student leaders, representatives, volunteers, elected officers, and staff, and the positive difference they have made throughout the year. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and excited to see the next Officer Team build on this next year. Thank you to everyone who has engaged, challenged, supported, and helped shape our Students’ Union this year.
Souparnika Namboothiri Student President
Supporting Students
Student Representation, Governance & Voice
The Students’ Union continued to strengthen opportunities for students to influence decisionmaking, shape priorities, and contribute to the future direction of both the Union and the University. Through our representative structures, democratic processes, consultation activities, and governance mechanisms, students engaged in greater numbers than ever before.
A total of 488 Student Representatives were active across the University during the year, ensuring that student perspectives were represented at course, school, and institutional levels. Representatives worked closely with academic and professional services colleagues to identify issues, influence change, and improve the student experience.
Student feedback remained central to the Union’s work throughout the year. During SU Speak Week, 1,080 students shared their views, experiences, and priorities, forming a significant part of the 1600+ pieces of feedback received throughout the year, helping to shape the Union’s campaigns, influencing work, and strategic focus. The scale of participation demonstrates students’ willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue about their university experience and reinforces
the importance of maintaining accessible and responsive feedback mechanisms.
Student engagement in the governance of the Students’ Union reached a significant milestone during the year. The Annual General Meeting attracted 287 students, resulting in the Union’s first-ever quorate AGM. This achievement reflects growing student engagement in the governance and accountability of the organisation and demonstrates an increasing willingness amongst students to actively participate in shaping the future direction of their Union.
The SU Forum continued to provide a platform for student-led change, with 11 student ideas successfully adopted as Students’ Union policy during the year. These policies now form part of the Union’s ongoing advocacy and campaigning work.
The year also marked an important milestone in national student representation, with students voting in favour of the National Union of Students referenda. Following this outcome, the Students’ Union Trustee Board has commenced work to consider implementation and future affiliation arrangements.
“The role has been a good learning experience so far and has helped me better understand how student feedback is collected and used. As a first-year representa-tive, it’s sometimes difficult to gather opinions when students are still finding their feet, but the position has encouraged me to be more proactive in communicating with both students and staff. Overall, it’s been a worthwhile role that’s helped me build confidence and take more responsibility within the course.”
– Course Rep Feedback, on being a Course Rep
Elections & Democratic Engagement
Student engagement in democratic processes reached unprecedented levels during the year, demonstrating a growing culture of participation and confidence in the Students’ Union’s democratic structures.
The Spring Elections delivered record engagement, with 2,673 students participating, representing 23% of the student membership and exceeding the most recent sector benchmark of 17.4% turnout. Across all positions, students elected Suzann George as Education and Welfare President and Muskaan Ali as Activities and Communities President, both of whom will take office on 1 July.
The Summer Elections also saw strong participation despite taking place outside the main academic term. A total of 841 students voted, representing 8% of members, with 1,548 votes cast across all positions. Following the election, Ashar Khan was elected as the Students’ Union’s first Experience and Inclusion President, joining the Officer Team ahead of the new academic year.
The creation of this new Full-Time Officer role followed a student mandate secured through the Annual General Meeting and was made possible through additional support from the University. The introduction of the position represents an important step in strengthening student leadership and ensuring that the diversity of the student experience continues to be reflected within the Union’s elected representation structures.
Across both election periods, students cast more than 6,000 votes, making 2025-26 the
most democratically engaged year in the Students’ Union’s history. Together with record participation in SU Speak Week, the firstever quorate Annual General Meeting, and continued growth in student representation, these results demonstrate a strengthening culture of student voice and an increasing willingness amongst students to shape the future of their Students’ Union.
Alongside gathering student feedback and supporting representative structures, the Students’ Union continued to ensure that students had a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their university experience.
During the year, concerns were raised regarding changes to the branding and logo used within student sport. Students felt that changes had been introduced incrementally without sufficient consultation and that there should be a clear opportunity for the sporting community to determine how they wished to be represented. In response, the Students’ Union facilitated a Sport Logo Referendum, ensuring that students were able to directly influence the outcome.
The referendum generated exceptional engagement, particularly given that it took place towards the end of the academic year. A total of 860 students participated, representing approximately 8% of the student body, exceeding the national average of 5% engagement in student referenda, with more than half of participants coming from the sporting community. Students voted overwhelmingly to retain the existing logo, with 753 votes cast in favour of keeping the current branding. The referendum provided a clear mandate and
demonstrated the importance students place on being consulted about decisions that affect their identity and community.
The Students’ Union also successfully challenged the proposed introduction of a £20 graduation attendance fee, which had emerged without wider student awareness or consultation. Working with student representatives and University colleagues, the Union raised concerns regarding the potential impact on students and graduates, resulting in the proposal being withdrawn. Discussions are now ongoing with the University regarding future graduation arrangements, ensuring that student views remain central to decision-making in this area.
These outcomes demonstrate the importance of an independent Students’ Union that can both amplify student concerns and work constructively with the University to achieve positive outcomes. They also reflect our commitment to ensuring that students are not only listened to, but are actively involved in shaping decisions that affect their experience.
“Time to paws was so so fun and calming.”
– SU Survey, on Campaigns
Advice & Student Support
The Students’ Union Advice Service continued to provide independent, confidential, and student-centred support to students navigating challenges throughout their academic journey.
Demand for the service increased significantly during the year, with 482 individual cases supported. General enquiries accounted for the largest proportion of support provided (283 cases), followed by appeals (100) and complaints (51), demonstrating the breadth of issues students seek support with.
Alongside casework, advisers spent over 70,000 minutes directly supporting students and distributed more than 5100 advice resources through two dedicated Advice and Guidance Weeks. Working in partnership with organisations including CAVDAS, South Wales Police, CAWS, Victim Support, Cariad Pet Therapy, and University Student Services, these initiatives provided students with accessible information, practical support, and opportunities to engage with specialist services.
Student wellbeing remained a key focus throughout the year. During SHAG Week alone, over 1,100 sexual health resources were distributed, while more than 24,500 sexual health materials were made available throughout the year. At Varsity, the Students’ Union’s Drug and Alcohol Harm Reduction initiative distributed 2,000 bottles of water and 1,600 protein bars, helping to promote student safety and wellbeing during one of the largest student events of the year.
“The SU Advice service provided me excellent guidance when I was going through a difficult time. I would want to see that service grow!”
– SUSpeakWeek feedback, on Advice
Union Governance & Partnership
The Students’ Union continued to strengthen its governance and partnership arrangements throughout the year.
A key priority has been the refresh of the Relationship Agreement between the Students’ Union and the University. This work seeks to establish a clear and contemporary framework for collaboration, encompassing student voice and representation structures, sports and societies provision, and a renewed Memorandum
“Hi Team, Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. It was a good experi-ence for me to be the part of meetings. I learned from it and will always appreciate it. Thank you.”
– Course Rep feedback, on SU Processes
of Understanding that reflects the shared commitment of both organisations to delivering an outstanding student experience.
As part of this work, both organisations are reviewing how student voice structures, sports and societies provision, and partnership arrangements can best support the University’s ambitions around student experience, engagement, and belonging.
The refreshed agreement will provide a stronger foundation for collaborative working, strengthen accountability, clarify responsibilities, and ensure that students remain at the centre of decision-making.
Alongside this work, the Union has begun preparations for implementing the outcome of the NUS referenda, ensuring that future developments continue to be guided by student priorities and democratic decision-making.
Creating Community
SU Activities
Creating opportunities for students to connect with others remains one of the most important ways the Students’ Union fosters belonging.
Students held a record 3,165 unique memberships across sports clubs and societies during the year, equivalent to approximately 27.5% of the University’s student population. Whilst some students participate in more than one group, the scale of engagement remains exceptional and demonstrates the central role student-led activity plays within the University community.
Engagement across both sport and societies also reached record levels during the year. A total of 1,709 students participated in sports clubs, representing an 8% increase on the previous year, while society membership grew to 1,456 students, a significant 26% increase year-onyear. Together, these figures represent one of the strongest indicators of student engagement and belonging across the institution.
The significance of these increases across memberships extends far beyond participation statistics alone. Sports clubs and societies provide students with opportunities to build friendships, develop leadership skills, gain confidence, pursue new interests, and establish meaningful connections with their peers. For many students, involvement in a club or society becomes a defining part of their university experience, providing both a social network and a sense of identity within the wider University community. As institutions across the sector continue to focus on student wellbeing, engagement, retention, and success, the strength of participation within our activities programme demonstrates the important contribution student-led communities make to these wider outcomes.
The breadth and diversity of opportunities available to students also continued to expand throughout the year, increasing on last year by 22.22%. A total of 12 new societies and 2 new sports clubs were established via the SU Forum, led by student demand over the course of the academic year, taking the number of societies to 36, and clubs to 30. These included hobbyist activities, academic and course-based groups, and culture and belonging-focused communities, ensuring that an even wider range of interests, backgrounds, and aspirations were represented within the Students’ Union’s activities offer, and reflecting sustained appetite from students to create, join, and shape communities around shared identities.
This continued growth reflects the Students’ Union’s commitment to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to find a community in which they can thrive. Whether through sport, shared interests, academic networks, cultural communities, or identitybased groups, these opportunities help students develop a stronger sense of belonging and contribute to a more connected, inclusive, and vibrant student experience.
“They’re all very inclusive and have a good variety of all abilities, the programmes especially performance athletes programmes are the reason I came to Cardiff Met!”
– SU Survey, on Activities
Developing Student Leaders
Alongside growing participation, the Students’ Union continued to invest in the development of the student leaders who make clubs and societies possible.
During the year, the Union delivered a comprehensive programme of committee training for sports clubs and societies for the first time. Training was provided at the beginning of the academic year, supported by additional sessions throughout the year to ensure that newly elected committee members and those unable to attend initial training were still able to access development opportunities. The programme covered key areas of committee responsibility, governance, finance, inclusion, event delivery, and leadership, helping student volunteers develop the knowledge and confidence required to lead successful and sustainable groups.
This investment reflects the significant contribution made by student leaders across the Students’ Union. Club and society committees play a vital role in creating opportunities for participation, fostering community, and delivering activities that enhance the student experience. By strengthening support for these volunteers, the Union is helping to ensure that studentled groups remain resilient, inclusive, and capable of continuing to grow.
The year also saw the introduction of a new Society Tiering Structure, piloted to encourage engagement, good practice, and organisational development across student groups. The framework recognised societies
that demonstrated strong performance across a range of measures, including governance, engagement, activity delivery, and participation.
The pilot received an extremely positive response, with 16 societies participating during its first year. Of those societies, five achieved Bronze status, five achieved Silver status, five achieved Gold status, and one society achieved Platinum status, successfully meeting every criterion within the framework. The achievement of a Platinum award during the first year of operation is particularly noteworthy and demonstrates the ambition, commitment, and organisational strength that exists within the student community.
The success of the pilot has provided valuable evidence of the appetite amongst student groups for structured development opportunities, recognition, and continuous improvement. As a result, the framework will be expanded during 2026-27 and rolled out across both sports clubs and societies, creating a consistent approach to recognising excellence, encouraging engagement, and supporting the ongoing development of student-led groups.
Recognising and celebrating student achievement remained a key priority throughout the year. At the annual Awards celebrations, the Students’ Union presented 16 awards recognising excellence across sports clubs and 9 awards celebrating achievement within societies, acknowledging the outstanding contribution made by student leaders, volunteers, committees, coaches, participants, and communities.
In addition to these awards, certificates and recognition were presented through the Society Tiering Framework, ensuring that success was celebrated at every level and reinforcing a culture of aspiration, development, and achievement across the student activities programme.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate the Students’ Union’s commitment not only to increasing participation, but also to investing in the quality, sustainability, and impact of student-led communities. By supporting student leaders, recognising success, and creating clear pathways for development, the Union continues to strengthen the communities that play such a vital role in fostering belonging, confidence, leadership, and student success.
“[The Activities Team] are very top tier and the student union have really lovely members.”
– SU Survey, on Activities
Student Events
The Students’ Union’s Freshers’ and Refreshers’ programmes continued to play a vital role in helping students establish connections, discover opportunities, and become active members of the University community.
The Freshers’ Fayre remains one of the most significant initial opportunities for students to discover communities that align with their interests, identities, and aspirations. For many students, these initial interactions become the foundation for wider participation throughout their time at university, whether through sport, societies, volunteering, representation, or leadership opportunities.
The Union successfully delivered Freshers’ Fayre in September, welcoming 4,073 students, representing the largest recorded attendance in the event’s history. Importantly, this was the first year in which attendance was fully tracked through entry data, providing the Students’ Union with a robust baseline for future benchmarking and a clearer understanding of student engagement levels. The scale of attendance demonstrates the continued importance of Freshers’ activities as a gateway into university life, helping students connect with clubs, societies, services, and one another from the very beginning of their student journey.
The Union also delivered a successful Refreshers’ Fayre, with 933 tickets sold despite significant challenges on the day, including adverse weather conditions, traffic disruption around campus, and temperatures of 3°C. The strong turnout demonstrated students’ continued appetite to engage with clubs, societies, and Students’ Union activities beyond their initial arrival at university.
Together, Freshers’ and Refreshers’ activities represent key moments in the student experience, supporting transition, encouraging participation, and helping students develop a lasting sense of belonging within the University community.
Varsity once again proved to be one of the defining moments of the student experience and one of the strongest demonstrations of student community throughout the year.
Demand for the event reached unprecedented levels, with 1,000 tickets selling out within 40 minutes, reflecting the enthusiasm students have for representing and supporting their University. The event brought together students from across academic disciplines, sports clubs, societies, and backgrounds, united by a shared sense of pride and identity.
The introduction of enhanced transport arrangements significantly improved the student experience, helping to streamline travel and ensuring students could focus on participating in and enjoying the event. Alongside the sporting competition itself, Varsity also provided opportunities for the Students’ Union to promote student wellbeing and safety through targeted harm reduction initiatives, distributing 2,000 bottles of water and 1,600 protein bars throughout the day.
Beyond the competition, Varsity represents something much larger; an opportunity for students to celebrate their achievements, strengthen friendships, and develop a collective identity as members of the University community. The scale of engagement and positive feedback received demonstrates the important role
flagship events continue to play in supporting student belonging and creating memorable experiences that define university life.
Another important part of fostering belonging is also recognising the achievements, dedication, and contribution of our student leaders, volunteers, clubs, and societies.
The annual Sports Awards once again provided an opportunity to celebrate sporting success across the University, attracting nearly 400 students, making it one of the largest celebration events in the Students’ Union calendar. The event generated almost £12,000 in gross ticket income, alongside additional support from Cardiff Met, demonstrating strong engagement from students and the wider University community.
The Society Awards were held for only the second time in the Students’ Union’s history and continue to grow as an important part of recognising the contribution of studentled communities. The event welcomed 61 attendees, generating £762.50 in ticket income, and provided an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of society committees, volunteers, and members who have contributed to creating vibrant and inclusive communities throughout the year.
Collectively, these activities continue to demonstrate the significant role that sport, societies, and student-led experiences play in supporting wellbeing, community building, and personal development. They also directly support our strategic priority of delivering High Quality Activities for Everyone.
“Shwmae! Diolch yn fawr iawn for a fab SU Awards Night last night. Myself and all the Ramblers really enjoyed and had a great evening. Have a great summer! Looking forward to September.”
– Post-Awards Feedback
Commercial & Central Services
The Students’ Union’s commercial and central services continued to play a vital role in supporting students and strengthening the organisation’s long-term sustainability. Through the provision of student employment opportunities, accessible retail and hospitality services, and ongoing investment in operational improvement, these services contribute significantly to both the student experience and the Union’s ability to deliver its charitable objectives.
Throughout the year, the Union provided 5,779 hours of paid employment and paid £79,835 directly to student staff. These opportunities not only provide valuable financial support to students during their studies, but also enable them to develop workplace skills, gain professional experience, and enhance their employability upon graduation. Student staff remain integral to the delivery of Union services and activities, whilst simultaneously benefiting from meaningful employment opportunities within a supportive environment.
The Union’s commercial operations continued to perform strongly throughout the year. The SU Shop exceeded budget expectations, generating £231,972 in sales. The Shop remains an important resource for students, providing affordable and convenient access to essential items, University merchandise, and everyday products whilst generating income that can be reinvested directly into student services and activities.
The rebranded SU Bar and Kitchen also continued to strengthen its position within
the campus community, generating £175,804 in sales throughout the year. In addition to serving as a social space for students, the venue has increasingly attracted University and external bookings, creating new opportunities for income generation and partnership working. As activity on campus reduces over the summer period, the Students’ Union will continue to pursue external event bookings and venue hire opportunities, helping to maximise income generation during quieter periods and supporting the financial sustainability of the organisation.
The popularity of Students’ Union merchandise continued to grow, with almost 1,000 branded fleeces sold during the year. Whilst merchandise sales contribute positively to commercial performance, they also represent something more significant: a growing sense of pride, identity, and belonging amongst students. The visibility of Students’ Union branding across campus reflects the increasing prominence of student-led activity and students’ connection to their Union and wider University community.
Alongside commercial performance, the Union continued to invest in the modernisation of its internal operations. The successful implementation of the Breathe HR system has improved the experience of staff by streamlining leave management, enhancing accessibility to personnel information, and increasing organisational efficiency. This investment forms part of the Union’s wider commitment to modernising its systems and ensuring that resources are used effectively to support both staff and students.
The increasing demand placed upon the Union’s Design, Digital and Communications function has also highlighted the growing scale and complexity of student engagement activity. In recognition of this, the Union will recruit an additional Design, Digital and Communications Coordinator during 2026-27. This investment will strengthen the organisation’s capacity to communicate with students, support student groups and campaigns, amplify student voices, and ensure that opportunities and services reach as many students as possible.
Income generated through commercial activity remains fundamental to the Students’ Union’s ability to deliver impact for students. Every pound generated through the Shop, Bar and Kitchen, merchandise sales, and external business activity contributes towards the long-term sustainability of the organisation and supports continued investment in student representation, advice services, activities, wellbeing initiatives, and community-building opportunities. As the Union continues to grow and evolve, maintaining strong and sustainable commercial services will remain a key enabler of its mission to create a more connected, supportive, and engaging student experience.
“The friendly and supportive SU Staff!”
– Speak Week Feedback, What Would You Keep The Same
Measuring Our Impact
This year has also marked an important step forward in how the Students’ Union understands, records, and demonstrates its impact.
Whilst the achievements outlined throughout this report provide a compelling picture of student engagement and organisational performance, 2025-26 represents the first year in which the Union has taken a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to capturing data across its services, activities, democratic structures, and commercial operations.
The development of more robust reporting mechanisms has enabled the Union to better understand the scale and reach of its work, providing greater transparency and accountability to students, trustees, and the University. It also supports more informed decision-making, helping to identify areas of success, emerging trends, and opportunities for improvement.
As a result, many of the figures presented within this report should be viewed as the establishment of a new organisational baseline. Whilst some yearon-year comparisons are available, particularly within sports and societies membership and election participation, the full value of this
enhanced approach to data collection will be realised over time as consistent measures are tracked and analysed across multiple years.
Looking ahead, the Students’ Union is committed to further strengthening its approach to impact measurement. By embedding data-informed decision-making across the organisation, we will be better positioned to demonstrate outcomes, identify growth opportunities, and evidence the contribution the Students’ Union makes to student success, wellbeing, engagement, and belonging.
This work will ensure that future reports are able to provide an even richer picture of the difference the Students’ Union makes to the lives of students and the wider University community.
“It has served as a valuable bridge between students and staff, giving me insight into what happens behind the scenes and deepening my understanding of the education system.”
– Course Rep, on the SU Structure
Looking Ahead: Building Belonging
The launch of our 2025-2028 Strategy marked an exciting new chapter for the Students’ Union. Our strategy is built around three priorities:
• Winning For and With Students – Ensuring every student has a powerful voice and trusted support through student-led initiatives, effective representation, and transparent advocacy.
• High Quality Activities for Everyone – Providing exciting, inclusive, and modern sports, societies, and activities that celebrate diversity, promote equality, and create opportunities for connection and belonging.
• Modernising How We Work – Streamlining operations, integrating services, and continuously improving the way we support students through transparency, efficiency, and empowerment.
“I appreciate the access to services that promote wellbeing, inclusion, and student success” – SU Survey
The continued growth demonstrated throughout this report is encouraging. More students are participating in sport and societies, more students are voting in elections, more students are seeking support through advice services, and more students are engaging with opportunities to influence change. Collectively, this demonstrates that the Students’ Union is succeeding in creating opportunities for students to connect, contribute, and belong.
However, continued growth also presents challenges. As participation and demand increase, consideration must be given to the capacity required to sustain this level of engagement. The Union’s staffing, physical space, and operational infrastructure must evolve alongside student demand to ensure that services remain accessible, responsive, and impactful.
The planned recruitment of an additional Design, Digital and Communications Coordinator and a Transnational Education Voice Coordinator represents an important investment in supporting this growth. However, a broader conversation about future staffing and space requirements will be necessary if the Students’ Union is to continue delivering high-quality services and opportunities to an increasingly engaged student population.
By investing in this capacity and continuing to strengthen our partnership with the University, we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to find their community, have their voice heard, and experience a genuine sense of belonging throughout their time at university.
