Students' Union UCL

University College London Union

Institution	University College London
Location	Gordon Street, London
Established	1893
Affiliations	Aldwych Group, National Union of Students
Website	uclu.org

University College London Union (UCLU), founded in 1893, has a credible claim to be England's oldest students' union. It was formed with the following objectives: "the promotion of social intercourse and of the means of recreation, physical and mental, of the students of University College, and the financial successes of students' clubs". UCL Union was the first of its kind as it was formed for both athletics clubs and social activities alike.

Since its formation, the Union has taken on responsibility for many aspects of student life. Events for example were seen as a key element hence the establishment of an Ents Committee. A student magazine known as the Gazette was formed a few years later and the Somers Town sports venue was also acquired.

UCL Union is affiliated to the National Union of Students.

Organisation

Student Development is at the heart of the work the Union does today. UCL Union runs over 200 clubs and societies for its members. It runs commercial services including 3 bars, 4 cafés, two shops and a fitness centre. UCL students, through the Union have nine weeks free access to put on student shows and events in the UCL-owned professionally run Bloomsbury Theatre.

The Union's sports clubs have access to several different venues including Astor College Gym, Bloomsbury Fitness, the Somers Town Sports Centre and the 100-acre (0.40 km²) Shenley Sports grounds, which Watford Football Club rent for training purposes.

UCLU provides support to students through Jobshop and the Rights & Advice Centre, and has a highly active Volunteering Services Unit, providing volunteering opportunities for over 1400 students a year.

As well as the magazine "Pi", the Union's media output includes the radio station Rare FM, the "alternative" magazine The Cheese Grater and a number of smaller publications. The University of London Union's newspaper, London Student, is also distributed at UCL Union, as UCL is one of the University of London's constituent colleges.

UCLU president's medallion

Charity Status

Operation of the Union lies mainly with elected full-time officers called sabbatical officers and appointed staff. The UCL Union is a registered charity in UK law, a status which requires it to have a trustee board. The board is composed of the elected UCLU sabbatical officers (6), six elected student trustees, and five appointed external trustees. Trustees are charged with responsibility for controlling the charity's work, management and administration on behalf of its members. The trustees and/or the means by which trustees should be appointed, are set out in UCLU's governing documents.

THE OBJECTS OF THE UNION ARE THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION OF STUDENTS AT UCL FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BY:
4.1 PROMOTING THE INTERESTS AND WELFARE OF STUDENTS AT UCL DURING THEIR COURSE OF STUDY AND REPRESENTING, SUPPORTING AND ADVISING STUDENTS;
4.2 BEING THE RECOGNISED REPRESENTATIVE CHANNEL BETWEEN STUDENTS AND UCL AND ANY OTHER EXTERNAL BODIES; AND
4.3 PROVIDING SOCIAL, CULTURAL, SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND FORUMS FOR DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATE FOR THE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ITS STUDENTS.

Clubs and Societies

UCL has numerous clubs and societies, catering to a range of interests, which include, sports, film, drama, martial arts, politics and degree-subjects. The UCLU Debating Society, founded in 1828, is the third oldest student debating society in the UK after the Oxford and Cambridge Unions. UCL Union Conservative Society, founded in 1908, is the oldest student Conservative association in England, if not the whole UK. UCL Union Jewish Society is among the most active Jewish student groups in the UK, representing what constitutes the largest proportion of Jewish students on any campus in the UK; additionally, the UCL Union Christian Union is one of the largest in the city, whilst the UCL Union Islamic Society is amongst the largest in the country. Each year UCL stages an opera, despite its lack of a music department. UCOpera receives considerable national press coverage.

Events

In 2007, UCL Union increased the amount of events they hosted in external venues by creating their "VODPOP" brand @ Turnmills and later followed by "Club Neon" @ Heaven. Both have now moved Venue with Vodpop successfully relaunching itself at Pacha after a brief stint at Scala, and Club Neon currently poised to move to an exciting new Venue after a one off fling at the Arches. The Union also makes extensive use of external clubs for one off events such as the Winter Ball, and has to date held events in Egg, Scala, Ministry of Sound, Heaven, Turnmills, Koko and Pacha among others.

Campaigns

Out@UCL group taking part in Pride London 2011.

The Union facilitates and funds a set of independent campaigns every term. These have included: Go Green Week, Stop AIDS, Darfur Week, Free Education, London Living Wage, Save a Life (organ donation), Students for Ethical Investment and Mental Health Week.

There is also an active set of Liberation Networks, including LGBT+, BME, Women's and Disabled. As well as an International Students Network.

External links

• UCL Union web site