University of Bristol Students' Union

Coordinates: 51°27′25″N 2°36′30″W / 51.4569°N 2.6084°W / 51.4569; -2.6084

Bristol SU
Motto The best student life
Institution University of Bristol
Location Queen's Rd, Clifton, Bristol, England
Established 1908
Members c. 22,000
Affiliations National Union of Students, Aldwych Group, National Postgraduate Committee, British Universities & Colleges Sport
Website www.bristolsu.org.uk
The union's main building, on Queen's Road in Clifton

Bristol SU is the students' union of the University of Bristol, England. It is among the oldest of the UK students' unions and was a founding member of the NUS. The current home of the students' union is the Richmond Building on Queens' Road.

History

In 1934, a serious fire destroyed the main hall and electric organ of what was then the home of the students' union, the Victoria Rooms, though many of the other areas of the Victoria Rooms were fortunately saved from serious damage.[1]. The original home of the students' union was the Victoria Rooms, which was given to the University in 1920. In 1965, the students' union moved to the Richmond Building on Queens' Road[2].

A fire in the Richmond building on 15 September 2009 caused its closure. Canoes and other water sporting equipment in a storage area in front of the building caught light and by 9am was sending "thick black smoke" along the road.[3][4]

An extensive refurbishment of the union building took place in 2014–15. The building was reopened as 'the Richmond Building' in April 2015, and the union was rebranded from 'the University of Bristol Union (UBU)' to 'Bristol SU'.

The University of Bristol and Bristol students' union announced in March 2017 that they would be divesting from fossil fuels. This means they stated as part of a deal that they would dump investments in companies which extract coal and tar sands within a year; review investments in companies extracting oil and gas annually and gradually remove them depending on their polluting potential; and invest three million pounds into a green fund.[5]

Former presidents

Former union presidents have included the broadcaster, Sue Lawley, St Lucia's foreign minister and ambassador to the United Nations, George W. Odlum and Lembit Öpik[6] – Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

Awards

National Centre for Diversity Awards 2016

Bristol SU won the Students’ Union of the year at the National Centre for Diversity's Grand Awards in 2016. The awards celebrate organisations and individuals that "positively influence beliefs, attitudes, behaviour, and conduct towards issues surrounding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)[7]"

Guardian University Awards 2016

Bristol SU was shortlisted in the 2016 Guardian University Awards in the Sustainability Project Category for it's 'Get Green' project, which produced a four step model of student engagement for sustainability[8]. The awards "honour universities for projects that transform the lives of students and communities"[9]

Green Gown Awards 2016

Bristol jointly won an award with the University of West England at the 2016 Environmental Association of University and Colleges Green Gown Awards. The awards was for student engagement with the Green Capital Student Capital project, which resulted from the students' unions' partnership with the Bristol Green Capital 2015[10].

National Union of Students Awards 2017

Bristol SU won two awards at the NUS Awards 2017[11].

National Centre for Diversity Awards 2017

Suzanne Doyle, Executive Manager, won the individual award for UK's Most Inspiring Individual of the Year[12].

NUS Quality SU Award 2018

Bristol SU achieved their Quality Students' Union Award, after assessment in early 2018.[13]

National Union of Students Awards 2018

Samantha Budd, Chief Executive, wont the Simpson king Staff Achievement Award to recognise her dedication to making a difference to students and students unions[14].

Facilities and activities

Richmond Building

The union was originally housed in the grand Victoria Rooms on the corner of Queen's Road and Whiteladies Road.[15] Today this building houses the University of Bristol's music department. The Richmond Building: Home of the Students' Union stands on Queen's Road, Clifton.

The Richmond Building is one of the largest students' union buildings in Great Britain.[16] It houses the Anson Rooms gig venue; two bars; a cafe; the 200-seat Winston Theatre; Burst Radio; Photography Dark Rooms; Pottery Studio; Computer Rooms; Epigram (student newspaper) offices; various meeting rooms, study spaces and society headquarters. It is also home to the Balloon Cafe/Bar[17].

Elected officers

Bristol SU is run by a team of six officers who are elected by the student body every March. They represent students and help improve the student experience at Bristol[18] The officer team is made up of Liberation, Equality and Access Officer, Postgraduate Education Officer, Sport and Student Development Officer, Student Living Officer, Undergraduate Education Officer and Union Affairs Officer.

Activities

Bristol SU currently offers over 330 societies, sports clubs and networks covering a wide range of activities. All societies and clubs are entirely student-run by their elected committees, and are supported by the union.

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/about/about/company-information/history
  2. ↑ https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/about/about/company-information/history
  3. ↑ "Fire at Bristol Uni student union". Bristol Evening Post. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  4. ↑ "Fire at University Student's Union". Original 106.5. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  5. ↑ https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/articles/bristol-university-divests-from-fossil-fuels-and-why-it-matters
  6. ↑ Bristol University | The University | History of the University
  7. ↑ https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/articles/we-ve-won-a-national-centre-for-diversity-grand-award
  8. ↑ https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/articles/bristol-su-shortlisted-in-guardian-university-awards
  9. ↑ https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/articles/bristol-su-shortlisted-in-guardian-university-awards
  10. ↑ https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/articles/bristol-su-wins-prestigious-sustainability-award
  11. ↑ "Bristol SU wins two awards at NUS Awards 2017 @ Bristol SU". www.bristolsu.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  12. ↑ https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/articles/bristol-su-continues-to-lead-on-diversity
  13. ↑ "Bristol SU is a Quality SU! @ Bristol SU". www.bristolsu.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  14. ↑ https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/articles/ceo-wins-national-award
  15. ↑ Bristol University – The Victoria Rooms
  16. ↑ "University of Bristol – The Richmond Building". Faithful + Gould. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  17. ↑ "Facilities and Room Hire | Bristol SU". www.bristolsu.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  18. ↑ https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/officers
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