The Students’ Union is a registered charity under the Charities Act 2006.

In accordance with the Act the Students’ Union is subject to charity law and regulated by the Charity Commission.

The Students Union is also regulated by the University of Bolton| under its obligation with Section 22 of the 1994 Education Act.

 

Public Benefit
The Union’s objects are the advancement of education of students at the University of Bolton for the public benefit by:

Object 1
Promoting the interests and welfare of students at the University of Bolton during their course of study and representing, supporting and advising students;

The University of Bolton Students’ Union runs a Student Advice Unit which is a professional, friendly service to provide help to students with any problems they have with university life. All our advice and help is free and confidential. We give information in person through our appointment or drop in service, via email or from the website and we also run targeted information campaigns throughout the year. We also offer individual advice and we can also act as a student’s representative.

The main areas we help with are University academic procedures, money and life as a student. We provide information and advice on a range of support relating to student finances including loans, fees and funding as well as advice on budgeting and managing debt. We also provide information, advice and representation on all aspects of University Procedures, including appeals, academic misconduct and re-sits.

We provide information aimed at international students and advice students on their visa renewals and other immigration advice and signpost when appropriate. We provide a range of information and advice concerning students’ health and well-being. We can also provide general advice in many other areas and, if we are unable to help, we refer students to someone who can.

 

Object 2
Being the recognised representative channel between students and the University of Bolton and any other external bodies;

We represent 13,000 diverse members in two main areas: academic representation within the University, and student representation within the Union.

The Sabbatical Officers are voted into their roles by the members to represent them at the Union full-time. Their roles are focussed on enhancing students’ lives through listening to how the members want things to be done, and working with Union staff, student interest groups and the Trustee Board to make it happen. They represent members to the University, external organisations and the community. Any member of The University of Bolton Students’ Union can stand for the Officer elections that take place every year.

The Union Senate consists of 26 elected student representatives, including Elected Sabbatical and Non Sabbatical Officers and School Board of Study Reps. They are responsible for directing the Union’s representational and campaigning activity. They debate and agree union policy and review the activity of the Trustee Board and Sabbatical Officers. Any member of the Union can attend a Senate meeting and ask questions or make proposals.

The Union’s approach to representation to the University centres on the structure of Student Representatives at both School and Course level and Sabbatical Officers and their aim is to ensure students receive the best possible education, champion change and enhance their employability and life skills.

Student Representatives are members appointed to represent students’ learning and teaching issues at a Course and School level. The Sabbatical Officers provide additional representation at Senior University level. If a student has a problem they can inform their Student Representative who in turn will enable the Sabbatical Officers to lobby the University on their behalf, the results of which is fed back to the student through the Student Representative.

Any student can be a Student Representative and the Sabbatical Officers work with them to push education issues within the University of Bolton. In the past they have successfully lobbied the University on issues such as establishing a consistent feedback and assessment process across the University Schools. Being a Student Representative allows students to develop skills such as negotiation and assertiveness which are highly desirable to employers.

 

Object 3
Providing social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities and forums for discussions and debate for the personal development of its students;

There are over 20 clubs and societies that students can get involved in, making their leisure time at university more fun: Faith and Cultural Groups, General Interest Groups, Media Groups, Outdoor Activity Groups, and Sports Groups. The Union also provides students with the opportunity to be involved in Student Media such as the Radio Station and Newspaper. All of these activities add value to the overall student experience as well as providing the students with enhanced employability and life skills.

The Union also provides a programme of taster activities providing something fun, interesting and different for students to do in their spare time without having to join a group.

Our Student Activities Service has a dedicated team of friendly, helpful staff to provide specialist support to each activity. We provide information and support on all the activities UBSU has to offer. A variety of rooms and spaces are available for activity groups to hire for free within the University. We provide advice and information on all student activities, including starting a new society, and support on how to manage their budgets.