Knowledge

Student unionism in the United Kingdom

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355:, which requires educational institutions to have a code of practice and publicise the ability to opt-out from membership without forfeiting access to the majority of union services. The Act also requires that unions have a written constitution and that elections to major union offices are held by a secret ballot of the membership. The Act states that if a petition signed by a minimum number of students (the threshold cannot exceed 5 per cent) is lodged then a referendum must be held on whether or not to end one of the union's affiliations. Money donated to a students' union is subject to 557: 463: 377: 248: 144: 233:
In addition to lobbying, campaigning, debating and carrying out other representative activities, most students' unions facilitate 'student activities' (societies, volunteering opportunities, and sport) peer-led support (through advice centres, helplines, job shops and more), and social venues to
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law and can only be spent to further this charitable purpose. A major source of funding for most unions are 'block grant' donations given by their colleges or universities. Historically, the majority of students' unions were exempt charities however a change to the law means that unions became
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bring their members together. Most unions receive some funding through an annual allocation, also called the block grant, from their educational institution. Many unions supplement this income from commercial sales from their venues, shops, and marketing revenue.
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of the students' union. Many students' unions also have unpaid officers who continue as students during their term of office. Some of these non-sabbatical officers may sit on the Executive Committee of the Union, or on the Union Council.
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is to democratically represent the interests of their members. Students who resign their membership may still use union social facilities provided (often the main or only such facilities available) since they are for the benefit of the
324:' and ensure students would have to join their union (opt-in) rather than automatically becoming a member. As many unions receive funding based upon membership levels this threatened their ability to achieve their core business. 220:
used to have a pair of segregated student unions for men and women and/or had separate "unions" for social activities and "students' representative councils" for representational matters (an arrangement that still exists at the
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In general, a students' union is a separate legal person from the university or college which it is associated with, however in some cases the union is regarded as an integral part of the university.
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and individual students' unions managed to successfully lobby against the moves to restrict their political activities. The then Education Secretary, John Patten aimed to end the '
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in 1910–1913. This was again predated by buildings built for union societies, including the Oxford Union in 1857, the Cambridge Union in 1866, and the Edinburgh University Union's
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in 1892, although the UCL Student Union was the first to receive official recognition, in 1893. In some cases, the union society transformed into the students' union, e.g. at
1095: 635: 969: 449:), they operate as private members' clubs. At other universities, the SRC and the former union or unions have been combined into a single students' association. 706: 868: 532: 317: 112: 45: 96: 954: 724: 527:, students' unions operate in a similar way to those in Great Britain, except that they cannot exclusively be members of NUS. At the height of the 216:) are named 'guilds' of students while the term 'students' association' is also used at some institutions, particularly in Scotland, where the 1012: 928: 65: 1043: 604: 510: 424: 295: 191: 671: 539:, decided that all student unions within Northern Ireland would hold membership of both organisations, through a new group called 938: 69: 61: 753: 582: 488: 402: 273: 169: 818: 536: 543:. The move was an attempt to promote student unity despite the sectarian divide and the arrangement is still in place. 360:
registered charities during 2010. Students' unions are required to act in the interests of their members as students.
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Although "students' union" is by far the most common name adopted by these organisations in the UK, seven (including
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All students are eligible to elect members to the Student Representative Council unless they opt-out under the
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is a full-time paid officer elected by students from their membership. The sabbatical officers are generally
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of the institution, not just union members. The vast majority of UK students' unions are affiliated with the
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in 1908, while in others an entirely new body was established alongside the existing society, e.g. at
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to introduce variable student fees in English and Welsh universities contributed towards the
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The first students' union in the UK was the Student Representative Council formed at the
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In England, primarily social "union societies" came into existence earlier, such as the
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http://resource.nusonline.co.uk/media/resource/qc%20opinion%20on%20Charities%20Act.doc
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where the Union Society of King's College London (established in 1873) became the
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David versus Goliath: The past, present and future of students’ unions in the UK
645: 556: 462: 376: 356: 321: 247: 225:). When these were amalgamated the term 'students' association' was introduced. 143: 316:
attempted to severely reduce the influence of students' unions in Britain, the
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government's majority being slashed to just five in the
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The ultimate purpose of 1054:Young Independence (UKIP) 711:Durham University Journal 341:Higher Education Act 2004 64:secured the existence of 120:students' union building 310:Conservative government 124:University of Liverpool 58:University of Edinburgh 1024:Organised Independents 1002:Labour Students (NOLS) 778:. HEFCE. 20 April 2012 1049:Scottish Young Greens 986:Non-affiliated unions 447:University of Glasgow 346: 223:University of Glasgow 93:King's College London 1007:Student Left Network 948:Liberation campaigns 776:"Charity regulation" 579:improve this section 485:improve this section 399:improve this section 270:improve this section 218:ancient universities 166:improve this section 109:Durham Union Society 1044:Young Greens (YGEW) 1039:Conservative Future 800:. 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Index

Medsoc
Education Act 1994
students' unions
National Union of Students
University of Edinburgh
Universities (Scotland) Act 1889
students' representative councils
four Scottish universities then in existence
university courts
Cambridge Union
Oxford Union
Liverpool Guild of Students
King's College London
King's College London Students' Union
Durham University
Durham Colleges Students' Representative Council
Durham Union Society
National Union of Students
students' union building
University of Liverpool
Teviot Row House

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Liverpool

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