Annual Impact Report 2016
Your step-by-step guide Get the basics right Step 2 Remember to keep developing Step 3 A major change is as good as a rest Step 4 Check you’re heading in the right direction Step 5 Celebrate a job well done Step 6 Check your progress as you go Step 7 Listen to what students tell you Step 8 Put decisions in students’ hands Step 9 Prepare students for their future Step 10 Nurture a diverse environment Step 1
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
Provide advice and support when needed Step 12 Provide the best social life Step 13 There’s always time for retail therapy Step 14 Give everyone access to the best facilities Step 15 Build bilingual brilliance Step 16 Look after the pennies Step 17 Keep setting yourself challenges Step 18 Be the heart of student life Step 19 Assemble the best team Step 11
Get the basics right
Step 1
Get the basics right
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
Student led Cardiff University Students’ Union (CUSU) has a vision of working with every Cardiff student to enhance their university experience. As a student-led, independent part of the University, CUSU represents students and provides a diverse and inclusive range of activities and services that enrich student life. These include advice, training, skills development, volunteering opportunities, employment and other services that promote inclusion, friendship and personal development. CUSU supports over 200 student societies and 60 sports clubs that boast more than 10,000 members. CUSU is also the recognised voice of students at Cardiff University, joining students in campaigning about the issues important to them.
Our vision
CUSU is based on Park Place and at the Heath Park campus, employing over 100 permanent staff and 300 student staff. The trading subsidiary of CUSU, Cardiff Union Services Limited, manages a purpose built facility in the centre of Cardiff and operates cafes, shops, bars and events that help fund CUSU’s charitable activities. The organisation is ranked in the top 100 of the Sunday Times Best Not-for-profit Companies to Work For, as well as holding Gold status through Investors in People and Excellent accreditation under the NUS Quality Students’ Unions quality mark. CUSU aspires to have a positive impact on the wider community in Cardiff and is consistently graded the number one Students’ Union in Wales and in the top five in the UK for student satisfaction.
• Champion student leadership
Working with every Cardiff student to enhance their university experience.
Our values We will: • Provide opportunities and empower • Be excellent at what we do by being totally inclusive
• Facilitate positive change • Listen, communicate and engage
Our purpose The advancement of education of students at Cardiff University for the public benefit by: • Promoting the interests and welfare of students at Cardiff University during their course of study and representing, supporting and advising students; • Being the recognised representative channel between students and Cardiff University and any other external bodies; • Providing social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities and forums for discussions and debate for the personal development of its students.
Remember to keep developing
Step 2
Remember to keep developing
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
significant wins As your Students’ Union President, I am delighted to present to you Cardiff University Students’ Union’s Annual Impact Report. The 2015/16 academic year was a particularly busy and exciting year with many significant wins. The success of the Students’ Union was apparent in the National Student Survey where CUSU were ranked the top University Students’ Union in Wales for the 5th year in a row by final year students, and in the top five within the UK (again!). We have also been awarded ‘Excellent’ status within NUS’ Quality Students’ Union accreditation scheme at the annual NUS Awards, becoming only the second Students’ Union in the UK to achieve ‘Excellent’ status. In terms of the physical changes to the Students’ Union, we opened Y Stiwdio in November 2016 which has a sprung floor, mirrors and acts as another great multi-purpose venue for our members to use. The Ground Floor redevelopment is now open with the usual and new outlets available to students including a rebranded salon (Salon), a Post Office (Inc) and a supermarket. Our Love Cardiff store on the Second Floor opened in September 2015 selling a wide range of Cardiff University memorabilia and we have built a new common room at the Students’ Union at the Heath which has been extremely popular since the opening! During 2015/16 we introduced a new Elected Officer ‘Vice President Postgraduate Students’ which has already had a very positive impact on our members. We have since created a postgraduate strategy, lobbied the University to address the disparity in pay amongst Postgraduate Research (PGR) students and seen an increase in our postgraduate engagement levels. We launched our It’s No Joke campaign, dedicated to educating and preventing students from taking ‘banter’ that step too far, excessive drinking, and to stop peer pressure. This has led to the introduction of Wellbeing Officers in each Sports club, and Drinkaware Club Crew. I am pleased to announce that we have spent the year developing a Welsh Language Policy which is now in the process of being implemented. It is important we embrace our national heritage and strive to be a bilingual organisation. Other campaigns include #CutTheCosts, Save the NHS Bursary, fighting against Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) cuts, we hosted an International Student Walkout day on campus and we promoted #LOVESUs. Additionally, we worked hard to increase student participation in
wider democracy. In this year’s Welsh Assembly elections we organised a student hustings and events including dodgems, all of which contributed to a 7% voter turnout increase in our constituency. In September 2015, we launched ‘Cardiff Volunteering’ to give something back to the community. We now have double the volunteering opportunities than before and we have new projects, such as walking dogs for local shelters, offering support to the homeless community and hosting events at local care homes. Overall, it’s been a very successful year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the students, staff, and especially the Elected Officer team for 2015/16 for their dedication, loyalty and hard work towards enhancing the student experience. I hope you enjoy reading the Annual Impact Report and continue to follow our development as a top Students’ Union.
Sophie Timbers
Students’ Union President
A major change is as good as a rest
Step 3
A major change is a good as a rest
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
building developments It gives me great pleasure to introduce the Union’s Annual Impact Report and look back on the organisation’s achievements over the past year. Yet again, we are in the final stages of completing major changes to the Union building and we are confident that our students are going to love the changes we’ve made. Building developments have dominated our agenda for the past few years and I’m certain that they have played a big part in contributing to our other successes. None of this would have been possible without generous support from the University, who deserve to share in our success.
As with our previous recent Annual Reports we’re delighted to report new highs in student satisfaction and engagement in Union activities again this year. We are confident that these highs reflect the positive impact the Union has within the Cardiff student experience. However, we recognise that we have improvements to make, particularly with students based at the Heath Campus. Financially, we had a disappointing year due to a number of one-off adjustments and we have planned to address this in the coming year. Despite this, our commercial performance was strong and we continued to diversify our income streams, so that we’re less dependent on alcohol sales to fund our activities. The Union is proud to be recognised as an excellent Students’ Union, and during the year we retained our accreditation as an Excellent Employer and maintained our place within the Sunday Times top 100 not-for-profit companies to work for. In addition, the Union became only the second Students’ Union in the UK to receive the ‘excellent’ standard within NUS’ Quality Students’ Unions scheme. Over the next few months the Union will be developing its new strategy for 2017 onwards, and we’ll be working with the University to develop the Centre for Student Life project. I’m looking forward to seeing what opportunities these developments will bring to our students. Thank you for your interest in the Union and I hope you enjoy reading about what we do and the students we work with.
daniel palmer
Chief Executive
Check you’re heading in the right direction
Step 4
Check you’re heading in the right direction
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
growth in student activities Participation in the Union’s activities and services are measured annually, and we use the information to drive improvements and ensure that student participation reflects the diversity of our students. student engagement
Varsity 3810 Advice Centre 2515 Academic Rep 1069 Voter 6912 Annual Members Meeting 564 SVC 222 Associations 447 Volunteering (CV) Athletic Union 5204 808 Cardiff Student Letting 1260 Venues Driver 189 9392 Election Candidate 118 Give it a Go 5471 Student Run Service 281 Guild of Societies 7978 Student Media 458 Student Senate 29 IT Shop 739 Skills Development Service 2218 Jobshop 3076
Our results for 2015/16 show that we are continuing to see growth in student activities, with dramatic increases in students participating in new activities, trips and tours. In addition, we continue to see increases in activities with close links to employability, such as Jobshop, volunteering and skills development. These are areas where we recognise that students want us to provide more support. Over the past five years we’ve seen the number of students using our advice centre double to over 2,500 students – approximately 10% of all Cardiff University students. The majority of our work is in supporting and advising students going through formal procedures with the University and in dealing with student housing concerns. Overall, our total number of student engagements rose by 12% in the year to over 52,000, and is driven by our students using increasing numbers of Union activities and services. Curiously, we saw a sharp drop in the users of the Union’s venues during the year, despite increased visits and income. Although plausible, we think the drop may have been caused by inconsistent scanning of student ID cards during the year.
saTisfacTiOn The Union prioritises student satisfaction and has set improvement targets within its current strategy, including reaching 90% satisfaction in all surveys and making improvements with groups who have historically given lower satisfaction scores. We also work with the University in developing student satisfaction and feedback mechanisms, such as the annual Speak Week and the Welcome to Cardiff and Study at Cardiff surveys, to help drive student-focused improvements across the University. The Union’s vision is to ‘work with every Cardiff student to enhance their University experience’ and has been used to guide the Union’s current strategy. Our vision has led us to develop more activities for isolated students and those that don’t traditionally get involved in group activities, such as ‘Give it a Go’. A highlight of our recent student satisfaction success is that the gains have been created by a more even spread of satisfaction across our student demographic.
Step 4
Check you’re heading in the right direction
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
satisfaction in the students’ Union
year to year comparisons by demographic size
91%
Part time Black Rest of EU
89% 87% 85%
All
Full time First degree UK
Other ethnicity
83%
Non-NHS
Disability
81% 79%
Young
A specific learning difficulty
77%
White
International
75% 2010/11
2011/12
2012/13 THE SES
NSS
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
Welcome to Cardiff (undergrads)
Asian
NHS
Cardiff 2016
Mature Cardiff 2015
Male
Female
Cardiff 2014
Instagram followers
Facebook page likes Twitter followers
Snap views per post
Celebrate a job well done
Step 5
Celebrate a job well done
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
transform the space ground floor
Y Stiwdio
The Ground Floor redevelopment project commenced to transform the space and attract new services and retailers.
Y Stiwdio opened in November 2015 providing specially designed performance space for our clubs and societies.
cathays
Heath Park campus
The Students’ Union became a key partner in the Cathays Regeneration Project to improve the recreational spaces in residential areas.
The Students’ Union at the Heath Park campus was renovated, along with increased space for staff and students which contributes to our long term view to expand our presence on campus further.
love cardiff The brand new Love Cardiff clothing store opened in the main Reception area of the building, selling a wide range of Cardiff University memorabilia.
Check your progress as you go
Step 6
Check your progress as you go
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
We achieved a lot, go us! 1. To produce a progress report against the Union’s strategy 2014-17 by and for all departments to have a plan in support of the strategy, including specific Heath Park targets Partially achieved 2. T o re-establish significant increases in participation in the Union’s annual elections, evidenced by a minimum voter turnout in excess of 8,000 votes, a maintained average of 6.5 sabbatical candidates for each post and for all posts to be contested Partially achieved 3. T o increase the Union’s NSS score at the Heath Park campus to 83%, with an overall score of at least 88% and to achieve a minimum of 4th place amongst HE Students’ Unions Not achieved 4. To achieve 75% of student & career staff saying that the Union is a great place to work, achieve a greater overall score within Best Companies and maintain a place within the Sunday Times top 100 not-for-profit companies to work for Partially achieved 5. To ensure an ongoing dialogue and mutually agreeable outcome with the University regarding the physical design and service design of the Centre for Student Life building, evidenced by the Board of Trustees’ full endorsement of the Centre for Student Life business case Achieved
(wait until you see the second page!)
6. T o increase the Union’s overall engagement with individual members to at least 22,500 students, to increase the percentage of students using more than one Union service and to develop an equality and diversity assessment of the Union’s engagement Not achieved 7. T o commission a report on the impact of Students’ Union engagement on academic performance and post-university career prospects by 31st January 2016 Not achieved 8. T o send personalised welcome videos and ‘care packages’ to selected cohorts of placement students based at the Heath Park campus Achieved 9. To be accredited with Best Bar None status, to achieve gold in the Green Impact awards and become ESOS compliant and to reduce energy consumption and increase the percentage of recycled waste, both of 5% year on year Not achieved 10. To ensure that at least 80% of career staff participate in programmes identified within the Central Training Plan with at least 10% of staff taking part in the management training program Achieved
This year we successfully let the Retail spaces
Step 6
Check your progress as you go
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
yup, kind of a big deal 11. To set cost centered budgets for CUSU and CUSL and achieve the overall budgeted surplus and cash position for the group of companies for 2015/2016 Not achieved 12. To achieve the overall budgeted income position for CUSL, including a 20% increase in catering, events and conferencing turnover Achieved 13. T o successfully complete the redevelopment of the first floor of the building and open Y Stiwdio and the Love Cardiff store Achieved 14. To establish a ‘cost-busters’ team from staff across the Union to root out waste and drive efficiencies and to achieve 1% better value in at least three departments Achieved 15. To successfully let the refurbished retail spaces on the ground floor of the building and achieve the stated income targets Achieved
16. T o develop or purchase a customer relationship management system for student usage of the Union’s activities and services and to have the ability to segment usage and tailor communications to members Partially achieved 17. To ensure that an internal audit schedule of finance and governance arrangements is established and that at least two reviews are completed and presented to the Finance & Audit Committee Achieved 18. To complete the NUS Quality Mark and achieve a rating of at least ‘very good’ Achieved 19. The successfully integrate the administration, governance and support for Cardiff Volunteering, evidenced by inclusion of CV LTD within the Union’s group of companies Achieved 20. To complete all of the actions required to meet NUS’ Welsh Language Charter and to create an updated Welsh Language policy Achieved
Listen to what students tell you
Step 7
Listen to what students tell you
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
representing Cardiff students The Union has a long and proud history of representing Cardiff students and shaping the learner experience at Cardiff University. Every year the student leadership of the Union is elected by students with College and School Representatives (Reps) being elected by students from those areas.
represenTaTiOn Student Academic Reps play a vital role in the partnership between students and the University and ensure that the student voice is taken seriously at every level. Reps attend student-staff panels within their School to bring feedback from their cohort and suggest improvements to the academic experience. 2015/2016 was another year of success for Student Voice. We held 32 sessions where 334 attendees took part in training. In total 83 induction talks were conducted across 24 Schools, which is an increase from 58 talks in 22 Schools in the previous year.
speak week In February 2016 we organised Speak Week in conjunction with the University. A week offering students the chance to give feedback on their university experience through feedback points across both campuses. Students filled out 2,200 Speak Week cards - an increase of 175% on the last year. From those 2,200 cards we received over 5,013 individual comments about the University and Students’ Union. During Speak Week we also hosted the annual Student Academic Rep conference, with attendance increasing by 350%. The Conference included sessions on best practice, the National Student Survey, employability and overcoming apathy.
Completed feedback cards
Increase on 2015
Individual Speak Week comments
Put decisions in students’ hands
Step 8
Put decisions in students’ hands
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
influence the direction All students are given the opportunity to participate in the Union’s democracy and influence the direction and policy of the organisation. This is done in a number of ways, but includes electing the Sabbatical Trustees in March every year, and through participation in policy making bodies like the Student Members’ Annual General Meeting and the Student Senate. There were 50 candidates who ran in the March 2016 elections, and there were 6, 555 individual voters – an increase on last year’s voter numbers.
Student Senate 2015/16 proved to be a strong year for Student Senate with strong representation from the Heath Park Campus. Motions that were passed include the expansion of the mentor scheme and the extension of the Lecture Reading across the University. Throughout the year there was plenty of healthy debate around a number of wide ranging motions, including support for student sex workers and water fountains around campus!
Prepare students for their future
Step 9
Prepare students for their future
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
more employable By the end of the academic year, the programme had engaged with 854 students who between them accumulated 16,404 volunteering hours. 27 one-off volunteering projects were provided via our Give it a Go programme and Student Volunteering Week. Cardiff Volunteering also became the central hub for coordinating the Gwirvol Millennium Volunteers scheme across the University.
As well as supporting our students as they tackle their academic studies, we are here to help develop them and build for their future after University. Making our members more employable as graduates is important to us. How do we do that? We provide courses to develop their skills, we offer volunteering opportunities within the local community and we provide them with part-time, flexible work to give them experience and help them fund student life. The result? A positive impact on the University, the wider community and our students’ future lives.
wOrk experience and cash in yOur pOckeT
develOping The righT skills We were the first Students’ Union in the UK to create a student development programme. The programme offers accreditation in areas such as leadership, personal effectiveness and communication. Students can gain certification for completing five units in these courses. During 2015/16, 113 students attained Communication, 152 Personal Effectiveness and 169 Leadership. 2,561 individual students took part in skills development sessions throughout the year and a total of 8,625 contacts were made as a result of repeat attendances and working closely with individual schools. In addition, 144 students became Emergency First Aiders, 24 gained Level 2 Health and Safety, 13 successfully completed Level 1 British Sign Language and 13 were awarded the Pacific Institute Steps to Excellence for Personal Success.
giving sOmeThing back The Students’ Union supports an extensive programme of community volunteering projects in Cardiff and the wider South Wales community. In 2015, Cardiff Volunteering was established as the Union’s in-house charity providing bespoke volunteering opportunities to Cardiff University students. During its first year, Cardiff Volunteering created and delivered 38 core volunteering projects under the themes of Children, Young People Social, Young People Education, Welfare, Environment and Wider Community, and Sports and Recreation.
more employable Provide the building blocks for a great future
The Union works in partnership with the University in running the Jobshop, an employment agency for Cardiff students. Jobshop places students in part-time and temporary work both within the University and in the wider community. In mid-2015 the Jobshop moved from its home on the Ground Floor of the Union building, to the Fourth Floor, as a part of the project to redevelop the Ground and First Floors of the Union building. A desire within the University and Students’ Union to use proportionately more students in employed roles resulted in a huge increase in the number of students being placed through Jobshop. In 2015/16, 3,627 students registered with the service. Jobshop provided students with a massive 122,480 hours of work throughout the year and paid into students’ bank accounts.
Jobshop paid A LOT of money into students’ bank accounts
Nurture a diverse environment
Step 10
Nurture a diverse environment
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
Provide opportunities for all Establish an open playing field It’s been a year of success for our Athletic Union (AU). The Students’ Union facilitates the running of 65 sports clubs, overseeing the activity, and providing support to the annuallyelected student volunteers who run these clubs. In 2015-16 we saw a 5% increase in members, continuing a recent trend of higher participation in sport. Building on the accomplishment of 2014-15, our AU teams completed the year with the highest ever BUCS ranking of 11th in the UK, and the highest placed Welsh University. Five students represented Great Britain Universities in athletics, rowing and pistol shooting as part of the World University Championships in Athletics, as well as Water Polo Men’s and Ladies’ teams finishing as BUCS Premier League Winners. Many of our teams also compete and excel in alternative leagues, with Men’s Futsal becoming the first team to win both the Football Association of Wales Futsal National League and Cup Double, resulting in them representing Wales in the UEFA Futsal Cup in Moldova. Elsewhere, the Ladies’ Hockey club represented Wales in the Eurohockey tournament in Gibraltar and won their division.
find people with similar interests The Guild of Societies is a diverse collection of groups, broadly broken into political, recreational, cultural, and course based groups. As a result of feedback from our student groups, Y Stiwdio was opened in December 2015, our brand new, multi-purpose activities space. This venue quickly became one of our most popular spaces, with varied uses including the addition of PoleSport poles, boxing bag hooks and martial arts mats. We have also hosted comedy gigs, plays and an opera within the venue. The Students’ Union supported and empowered our Societies to have a huge impact on campus and beyond. For example, Student Action for Refugees (STAR) now run weekly drop-in sessions regularly attended by over 150 local refugees and their Refugee Rhythms event, which created a social and cultural opportunity for local refugees, was attended by over 800 people. After the news that Vithiya Alphons, a founding committee member of
Tamil Society, had been diagnosed with leukaemia, Tamil Society teamed up with Cardiff Marrow and Asian Society to find Vithiya a donor and increase the number of BME donors on the register. In just one week, over 5600 people signed up to the donor register, giving new hope to BME people in need of bone marrow transplants. Go Global returned to the Great Hall stage in March 2016, celebrating the many cultures represented by the Guild of Societies with 13 performances from 11 Societies. Cardiff Fringe Festival is now a permanent fixture of the Societies calendar, with 17 different events organised by students this year, including a Musical, an Opera and an Islamic Art Exhibition. The Comedy Society also hosted the local heats for the Chortle Student Comedy Awards, a national competition recognising the best student comedians, demonstrating that Cardiff Fringe is beginning to develop recognition nationwide.
Step 10
Nurture a diverse environment
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
be alternative prOvide greaT OppOrTuniTies in a user-friendly way Give it a Go offers an alternative, non-membership based method of engaging in many of the Union’s activities and services. Entering its second year of existence, the Give it a Go programme extensively expanded it’s offering to students, engaging with a record number throughout the year. By the end of the 2015-16 academic year, Give it a Go sessions, trips and events had been attended by 5,848 individual students, a huge increase of 220% on its first year. The programme Coordinator is supported by a dedicated team of student volunteers, who clocked a mammoth 3,295 volunteering hours in 2015-16.
develOp a space fOr creaTiviTy The Union supports a range of student led media outlets – Gair Rhydd, Quench, Xpress Radio and CUTV. These media groups are run like societies and produce media content for all Cardiff students. Xpress Radio won three awards at the Student Radio Awards held in November 2015, picking up a gold and two silver awards. These included Best Live Event or Outside Broadcast, Best Specialist Show and the Kevin Greening Awards for Creativity. Gair Rhydd newspaper won an award for Best Sports Coverage in the Student Publication Association National Awards 2016.
Give it a Go volunteering hours
Provide advice and support when needed
Step 11
Provide advice and support when needed
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
a problem shared The Students’ Union runs a dedicated student advice service on the Third Floor of the Union building, and from the Heath Campus. Our team of Student Advisers will either directly support students or refer them on to specialist help.
Student Advice regularly works in partnership with the University in campaigning on important areas of student welfare. This year, that meant working closely with Student Support in the delivery of a successful National Student Money Week.
Student Advice staff advise students on a range of issues including academic, consumer, housing, employment, student finance, money matters and personal matters.
Student Advice has informed and influenced policy and practice issues, including the review of the Student Behaviour Procedure and many other University policies.
The service saw 1,281 students with academic issues including 67 related to unfair practice (exam conduct, plagiarism) and dealt with more than double the usual number of fitness to practise cases. Many of these cases are intensive and require significant support from Student Advice staff over a prolonged period of time. In 2015/16, 1,016 students raised issues related to housing including disrepair, deposits, housing contract checks, wanting to find accommodation and other landlord and tenant issues. Student Advice has assisted students recover compensation in disrepair cases and the return of tenancy deposits.
Students who sought help
individuals
cases and enquiries
Provide the best social life
Step 12
Provide the best social life
Let us entertain you Within our Park Place building we have a three room night club space, a pub, a large live music venue and a smaller, intimate party space. Our Venues team work around the clock to provide plenty of opportunities for our student members to have fun. In 2015-16, we hosted 58 live gigs, attended by 63,686 music fans. On top of this, 68 club nights filled the dance floor, seeing 120,150 students come through our doors. The Times Higher Education Survey 2016 ranked Cardiff as number one for social life, alongside Universities in Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle. Every year we increase and diversify the range of ways students can make the most of their social time. This means we are constantly looking at new ways to help students socialise, meet new friends and enjoy their time living in Cardiff.
Eat, drink and be merry We know that it’s hard to concentrate with an empty stomach, so we take our mission to keep our students well fed at an affordable price seriously. In 2015-16, 6,400 club sandwiches were served up to hungry student customers in The Taf, our very own Students’ Union pub. Also consumed were 7,900 burgers and 1,400 lasagnes. Alongside the tasty meals, we also served 66,000 pints of cold lager.
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
There’s always time for retail therapy
Step 13
There’s always time for retail therapy
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
one stop shopping Our popular IT Shop found itself on the move during 2015-16. As part of the redevelopment project, the IT Shop moved from the Ground Floor to a temporary home in our new Y Stiwdio venue in May 2016. This took place in preparation for a final move into a brand new retail unit when the Ground Floor opened in September 2016, along with a full rebrand and renaming of the store to Inc. Despite this upheaval, the plucky IT Shop team still managed to perform 1,100 repairs and completed 17,354 transactions.
Home sweet home Cardiff Student Letting, the Students’ Union’s very own letting agency, has been working hard to house our students since 2006. For over a decade, they have consistently saved students money through not charging agency fees. In 2015-16 they housed 1,222 students, and saved them £122,000 (based on an average agency fee of £100 per person). They also travel on average around 500 miles a month, transporting students to and from viewings.
Dedicated followers of fashion Our brand new clothing and merchandise store, Love Cardiff, opened in September 2015 in the main Reception area of the building. This brought our great branded clothing and gifts into a high profile position within the building and allowed us to tailor our ranges to what students want. Love Cardiff sells merchandise featuring both Welsh and English language. The year culminated with successful sales of graduation specific merchandise at a pop-up stall in City Hall.
Staying on the cutting edge 2015-16 was also a year of change for our popular salon, Cutting Edge. Based on the Ground Floor, Cutting Edge closed in May to make way for the new redevelopment. This gave salon staff the opportunity to take on additional training to expand their skills set. Beauty treatments such as spray tans and manicures were added to the offering, following student feedback. The end of the academic year saw Cutting Edge undergo a complete rebrand, transforming it into the new improved ‘Salon’, and moving into a brand new retail unit.
Give everyone access to the best facilities
Step 14
Give everyone access to the best facilities
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
engage with more students It was a year of change for the Students’ Union at the Heath. Based in the IV Lounge at the Neuadd Meirionnydd building, a complete refurbishment took place to improve the space and to give it the same look and feel as our Park Place building. The redevelopment of an office and meeting room also helped to engage with more students than ever before. The meeting room is now in regular use by societies and other student groups. It also provides space for training sessions such as Student Rep inductions and transport tests. The meeting room is used weekly by our Student Advice team to provide their invaluable support service to students based at the Heath Campus. For the first time in 2016, a Freshers’ Fair was held for the students who join the Nursing course each year in March. 96 students were welcomed to the Students’ Union and introduced to the services we provide. This happened as a direct response to student feedback from similar groups in previous years. The placement packs project was launched to engage healthcare students attending their first placement. Student feedback showed that these groups can feel isolated while away from campus, with some attending their initial placement in the first semester of the year. The placement packs seek to help these students feel connected and to provide useful information that will help them throughout their placements.
Build bilingual brilliance
Step 15
Build bilingual brilliance
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
foundations of what we do TwO languages are beTTer Than One
embracing Our culTure
It wasn’t just the building that has seen major development. 2015-16 was a year that established the great commitment that the Students’ Union has to embedding the Welsh language into the foundations of what we do. A Welsh Language Steering Group was established, bringing together Students’ Union staff, University Staff, Elected Officers and students. One of the headline achievements of this Group was the formulation of a new Welsh Language Policy for the Students’ Union. This policy was approved by the board of trustees in June 2016, along with a detailed delivery plan to support the policy.
As an organisation based in the capital city of Wales, we are extremely proud of our Welsh culture and heritage. In 2015-16, we relished the opportunity to showcase this through celebrating Shwmae Sumae day in October, and Welsh language coffee mornings to engage with existing Welsh speakers and to inspire non-Welsh speakers to find out more about the language and culture.
A Welsh Language Coordinator was recruited to the Marketing and Communications team in November 2015 to champion the Welsh language and culture, as well as providing translation support to the organisation and creating Welsh language targeted marketing campaigns.
For the second year running, the Students’ Union also attended the annual Eisteddfod in partnership with the University, allowing staff to directly engage with Welsh speaking prospective students.
Supporting the advancement of the
our Plan 2014-17
Look after the pennies
Step 16
Look after the pennies
income and expenditure Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year Ending 31st July 2016 Consolidated and Parent Charity Statement of Financial Activities (including income and expenditure account). In August 2015 the Union’s activities were consolidated into a group of companies, with Cardiff University Students’ Union (CUSU) being the parent company to Cardiff Union Services Limited (CUSL) and Cardiff Volunteering (CV). As a result, this year’s accounts are the first to be presented in a consolidated format and show the impact of bringing CUSL’s liabilities into the Group. The notes to the accounts provide a comparable analysis for measuring ongoing activities and can be seen at cardiffstudents.com/about-cusu/ governance/financial-statements. Overall, 2015/16 was a poor year financially, driven by significant one-off costs and overspending in Central and Membership Services areas. Within CUSL this resulted is an operating loss of £20,174 (2015: profit of £115,701) and within CUSU a loss of £848 (2015: loss of £39,801). To address these deficits the Union initiated an efficiency scheme – Operation 200 – with the aim of creating year-on-year efficiencies of no less than £200,000 over the next three years. The Trustees are confident that these efficiencies will be achieved without any significant impact on the services provided to students.
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
Consolidated Parent Charity 2016 2016 2015 Unrestricted Unrestricted Unrestricted Total Funds Total Funds Total Funds
Income and Endowments from Donations and legacies - Block grant Donations and legacies - Donations in kind Other Trading Income Charitable activities Investments Total
2,666,000 1,206,000 1,160,000 – – 927,064 3,663,405 – – 1,600,597 1,591,850 1,414,012 878 – – 7,930,880 2,797,850 3,501,076
Expenditure on Raising funds Charitable activities Other resources explained Total Net Income/ (expenditure) and Net movement in funds
5,611,021 2,806,569 2,294,577 10,712,167 (2,781,287)
– – 2,798,698 3,540,877 – – 2,798,698 3,540,877 (848) (39,801)
1,194 (2,780,093)
1,194 346
Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward
40,995 1,194
Step 16
Look after the pennies
balance sheet Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year Ending 31st July 2016 Consolidated and Parent Charity Balance Sheet as at 31st July 2016. The Union’s balance sheet has also been presented in a consolidated format for the first time and recognises the assets and liabilities of the three companies. A series of oneoff adjustments resulted in a significant write off of assets within CUSL during the year, including £306,746 relating to VAT, £46,887 relating to staff severance payments and £26,495 from the disposal of the Union’s shares in Glamorgan Student Lettings. These adjustments led to a position of Net Current Liabilities at Year End, which the Trustees expect the Group to recover from in 2017. The biggest liability for the Group relates to CUSL’s future liabilities within the SUSS pension scheme, totally £2.7M over the next 17 years, which is recognised by applying SORP FRS 102. The Union’s liability arises from its share of the deficit within the scheme, which was closed to future accrual in 2011. In 2016 the Union’s deficit contributions were £183,911 and similar contributions are expected in future years.
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
Consolidated Parent Charity 2016 2016 2015 Unrestricted Unrestricted Unrestricted Total Funds Total Funds Total Funds
Fixed Assets Tangible fixed assets Investment fixed assets Total fixed assets
369,448 73,563 443,011
23,991 2,000 25,991
– 2,000 2,000
Current Assets Stocks Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Total current assets
75,114 549,741 267,742 892,597
– – 275,091 272,020 12,531 107,596 287,622 379,616
Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due (1,452,330) within one year Net current assets (559,733) Total assets less current liabilities (116,722) Net pension liability (2,663,371) Net assets (2,780,093)
(313,267)
(380,422)
(25,645) 346 – 346
(806) 1,194 – 1,194
The funds of the charity
Unrestricted general funds Total charity funds
1,194 1,194
(2,780,093) (2,780,093)
346 346
Keep setting yourself challenges
Step 17
Keep setting yourself challenges
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
maintain strong, sustainable and satisfied relationships with stakeholders whilst ensuring that they are engaged in setting strategic and operational plans
continually improve what the union does whilst equipping staff, officers and volunteers with the skills and knowledge they need to achieve the union’s vision
1. To work with Trustees, staff, students and the University to develop a new strategy for the Union
1. To increase the Union’s overall engagement with individual members to at least 25,000 students, to increase the percentage of students using more than one Union service and to increase engagement with post graduate students
2. To increase participation in the Union’s annual elections, evidenced by a minimum voter turnout in excess of 7,000 votes and an average of seven sabbatical candidates for each post 3. To achieve a rating of over 90% satisfaction within the Welcome to Cardiff Survey and the THE Student Experience Survey, whilst ensuring that questions about Students’ Union satisfaction are included within the Study at Cardiff Survey and / or the NSS optional bank of questions 4. To further integrate student staff with career staff with at least 60% of all student staff recommending the Union as a great place to work 5. To agree an updated lease of the Union building with the University, safeguarding the Union’s branding and visibility on Park Place and ensuring effective control of ingress and egress to the Union building
2. To work with the University to understand if engagement in Students’ Union activities has a positive impact on academic performance and to agree a plan to further develop understanding of student development in co-curricular activities 3. To increase the number Heath Park students engaged in the Students’ Union and to develop a peer-support scheme for Healthcare students 4. To improve oversight of Union operations and performance, evidenced by the development of a new management reporting structure and senior management team responsibilities 5. To ensure that at least 15 Managers / Heads of Departments complete a 360 degree appraisal that form action plans within their VIP process
Step 17
Keep setting yourself challenges
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
achieve financial stability through robust financial management, reviewing existing practices and investing in the union’s building and facilities
ensure that the union’s systems, policies and procedures add value, enable greater student engagement, are easy to understand
1. To achieve the overall budgeted surplus and cash position for the Union’s group of companies for 2016/2017
1. To complete a comprehensive review of the Union’s existing financial procedures, agree a new financial procedures manual and train relevant staff in those procedures
2. To achieve the overall budgeted income position for CUSL, including a significant yearon-year increase in rental income
2. To develop an action plan against the areas identified for review through the internal audit process and to ensure progress within all areas
3. To successfully complete the redevelopment of the ground floor of the building
3. To review the progress made against the plan set out within the ‘It’s no Joke’ policy and to publish the progress made and next steps
4. To find significant efficiency savings or increases in commercial contribution for 2017/18, compared to 2016/17 5. To develop a 10-year capital projects plan for the Union, including plans for an upgraded reception
4. To implement the Welsh Language Policy and review progress made in a report to the Board of Trustees 5. To review the Union’s Governance and democracy arrangements, focusing on making the Union’s structures more accessible to more students
Be the heart of student life
Step 18
Be the heart of student life
Partners for life With the completion of the Ground Floor project in 2016, we have updated most of our student-facing areas in the last five years. These changes have enabled us to overhaul our services to students and have been instrumental in driving up our student engagement and satisfaction. However, we recognise that the Great Hall looks tired and is an unpopular lecture theatre, so over the next few months we will be talking to students about how the space can be improved. Looking to the future, there are some very exciting developments to come. The Students’ Union is a key partner in the new Centre for Student Life that the University are hoping to unveil in 2020. This five-storey building will adjoin the Students’ Union building on Park Place, offering a welcome-point for students, a home for all of the University’s student support services, as well as a lecture theatre, study space and retail outlets. We are confident that this new development will consolidate the Students’ Union at the heart of the Cathays campus and will provide an excellent resource to future generations of Cardiff students. Another priority for the Students’ Union is a complete overhaul of the Union’s facilities at the Heath Park Campus. One of the seven goals contained in Our Plan (2014-17) is to ‘build the Heath Park Campus student experience’. As a part of the plan, we have an aspiration to develop a Students’ Union building at the Heath. Over the coming months we will be lobbying the University to consider this as a part of any Health Park development plans.
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
Assemble the best team
Step 19
Assemble the best team
Cardiff University Students’ Union Annual Impact Report 2016
Trustees and senior staff of Cardiff University Students’ Union Sabbatical Trustees President – Sophie Timbers (from 1 July 2016) President – Claire Blakeway (from 1 July 2015, to 30 June 2016) VP Societies – Milly Dyer (from 1 July 2016) VP Societies – Hannah Sterritt (from 1 July 2015, to 30 June 2016) VP Sports & AU President – Elin Harding (from 1 July 2016) VP Sports & AU President – Sam Parsons (from 1 July 2015, to 30 June 2016) VP Education – Mo Hanafy (from 1 July 2016) VP Education – Sophie Timbers (from 1 July 2015, to 30 June 2016) VP Heath Park – Niko Ciecierski-Holmes (from 1 July 2016) VP Heath Park – Katey Beggan (from 1 July 2015, to 11 March 2016) VP Postgraduate – Alex Kuklenko (from 1 July 2016) VP Postgraduate – Katie Kelly (from 1 July 2015, to 30 June 2016) VP Welfare – Hollie Cooke (from 1 July 2016) VP Welfare – Kate Delaney (from 1 July 2015, to 31 March 2016)
Student Trustees Matthew Williams Alexandra Thornton-Reid (to 30 June 2016) Thomas Tilston (to 30 June 2016) Sarah Hopkins-Weaver (from 18 July 2016) Alex Williams (from 18 July 2016)
University Nominated Trustees Gethin Lewis Susan Gwyer-Roberts (to 30 June 2016) Mark Leighfield (from 18 July 2016)
External Trustees Richard Roberts CBE Rakesh Aggarwal Joseph Al-Khayat (to 17 September 2015) Bethan Walsh (from 2 February 2016)
Senior Staff Chief Executive – Daniel Palmer Director of Finance – Alice Courtney-Hatcher (to 10 December 2015) Interim Deputy Chief Executive (Director of Operations) – Ben Eagle Director of Membership Services – Steve Wilford Director of Commercial Services – Mark Cheeseman
Cardiff University Students’ Union, Park Place, Cardiff. CF10 3QN