UNION Your Guide to
YOUR STUDENTS' UNION
Weareheremakesureyouhavethebest possibletimeattheUniversityofReading!
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WHATISASTUDENTS' UNION?
Reading Students' Union (or Reading SU) is a student-led charity based on the Whiteknights Campus. Everything we do is student inspired and, as a not-for-profit organisation, all funds raised through our activities are passed right back into the Students’ Union to benefit students. As a student, you are automatically a member of the Students’ Union so you can come and check out everything we have to offer as soon as you arrive on campus.
Reading SU is a place for everyone. Whether you're looking for a space to relax, have fun and connect with like minded people; free, friendly, empathetic support; an opportunity to gain leadership skills; or a platform to share your voice, we've got you covered!
STUDENT LEADERS
Without students, we don't exist. That's why they guide every decision we make! Each year, a team of student leaders are elected by the student body to lead the SU and make positive change for Reading students.
Five Full-time Officers represent the student voice on campus, locally, and nationally and they work with 11 Part-Time Officers to ensure our diverse student membership is represented
A team of over 400 Course Reps and 48 Senior Reps also work to ensure the University provides the best possible academic experience for all students.
As a charity, we have a Trustee Board which the Full-Time Officers and Student Trustees sit on, alongside External Trustees. And, we have Student Council meetings every term where Student Councillors discuss and vote on the big student ideas that have been submitted that term.
GETINVOLVED
Each year, in our Autumn and Spring Leadership Elections, our students elect our Full-time officers, Parttime Officers, and hundreds of Senior and Course Representatives.
Our leadership roles are a great way for students to have a voice, make positive change and gain experience to improve future employment opportunities!
As your Students' Union we want to make sure that every student is heard and represented and these leadership roles are a key part of that with reps making change happen in their schools, departments and across the University!
b e aleader
have your say
You don't have to wait for elections to have your say! Students can submit their big ideas on our website and come along to Student Council - all students are welcome.
Or, you can get involved with campaigns and projects throughout the year. You can also launch your own. If you want to make a difference in the world, we want to help!
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SAY
SOCIALMEDIA
Want to be the first to know about what’s happening at your SU? Follow our socials and stay connected with us
Our main channels feature loads of content that will help you as a student, from officer elections to campaigns and important causes or the chance to nab some freebies!
Our events channels are where you’ll hear about all our events, from Summer Ball and sell-out Union nights, to relaxing events to help you de-stress.
Our activities channels are for everything club or society related, this is where you’ll find updates, events and sport fixtures and results.
WEBSITE
Our website is your hub for everything the SU has to offer. It’s where you vote in elections, buy tickets for events, book advice appointments, and much more Scan the QR code to be taken to our home page…..take a look around! Visit our website
EVENTS
Throughout the year, expect comedy nights, quiz & karaoke, LGBTQIA+ events, club nights, free pool Mondays and Bingo Lingo – just to name a few!
We also have our annual Summer Ball each June, which welcomes over 4,000 students! With live entertainment, a fun fair and food stalls, it really is the perfect thing to look forward to.
WELCOME WEEK
Welcome Week is your gateway to campus life. Explore your campus, meet new people, and discover everything about the place you'll be studying.
At our Freshers’ Fairs you can discover all the student groups you can be a part of. That includes our clubs, societies, and volunteer groups as well as local and national companies (lots of freebies!) and charities.
We have loads of great events for you when you arrive like our student get togethers, Wednesday & Saturday Club Nights, Freshers Ball and more!
WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK
Whether you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student, from UK or overseas, straight out of college or returning to study, our free, confidential and independent advice service is here for all students. We can help with:
Academicadvice
Like complaints, disciplinaries and exceptional circumstances.
Housingadvice
Such as checking your tenancy agreement, disputes about deposits or problems with landlords.
Moneyadvice
Like Student Finance, budgeting or help with utility bills or tax.
We deal with a wide range of issues so, if you are unsure, just get in touch. If we can't help you, we'll direct you to someone who can. Hopefully you won’t need us anytime soon but just remember, if you do need us, we’re here for you.
SUPPORT
We know that surviving on a student budget, especially during a cost-of-living crisis, can feel hard. So, we worked closely with the University to help students.
Last year the SU gave out free student discount cards, provided a budget-friendly breakfast, offered funds to help students struggling to afford to join clubs and societies and gave away snuggly oodies to keep students warm!
WELFARE
University can be challenging at times, if you feel you need a little extra support there are loads of services locally and at the university that can help Get in touch with our Advice Service & they can help you out.
MYWAYSTUDENTSAFETYAPP
Available for all students, the MyWay Student Safety App shows you the safest route to walk home after a night out in Reading Click below to download it now!
With over 150 sports teams and societies, and plenty of volunteering options, there are lots of opportunities to get involved with at your SU!
HOWTOJOIN
In Welcome Week, if you visit our Freshers Fair and you'll have the chance to speak to committee members and sign up for taster sessions. Don't worry if you miss the Fair though, there's plenty of information on our website and you can join opportunities throughout the year. The student opportunities page on our website is also where you can pay for membership, events and buy merchandise for your clubs and societies.
STARTYOUROWN
Can't find the society you want? You can apply to set up your own via our our website.
EAT, DRINK, SHOP
Fancy a bite to eat in-between lectures? Looking to rep your University with some merch or even if you need a fresh trim - we’ve got you covered… And the
right back to benefit students!
HEAD TO THE SU TO FIND:
our venues
All our venues have received a Best Bar None Gold Award.
All our venues are certified as part of the Egalitarian Safe Space project All money spent in our venues goes directly to fund student activities such as democracy, the Advice Service, running our clubs and societies and more!
Discover our event spaces... We have the largest nightclub in Berkshire by night and home to many day-time events such as our weekly fruit and veg market.
Our venue also features rooms that are perfect for catching up with friends, studying, or booking out for a club activities.
At Mojos, you can enjoy some delicious cooked food while you unwind. Right next door is our all new games room, with ping pong tables, shuffle board, pool tables to name a few! Stop by to challenge your housemates!
WORK
Need to earn some extra cash while studying? Reading Students’ Union is a great place to work!
Right here on campus, working for us is a great opportunity to gain work experience whilst studying and be part of the diverse team who make sure students have the best possible time!
Find out more about available roles and why you should consider working with us during your time at Reading here.
NURSERY
Work FOR US PAGES
Our purpose-built day nursery, Little Learners, has state-of-the-art facilities, a great outdoor play area and on-site parking, right next to the SU With spaces for over 100 children aged three months to five years, the nursery is staffed by a team of experienced and professional childcare practitioners.
We also have job opportunities for students!
SU APP
You can find all our events on the SU app, your one stop shop for club nights, board game sessions, Get Togethers and everything in between.
You can find all the information on sports clubs & societies you want to join. AND exclusive discounts on member benefits for app holders!
The app has all the SU has to offer at your fingertips.
THE SU APP HERE!
