How we are run
Solent Students’ Union is an independent charity that exists for the benefit of Solent students. We represent Solent students’ interests, provide advice and support to ensure their university experience is a positive one. We offer great opportunities to make friends, learn skills and make a difference during their time in higher education.
How we make decisions
The organisation is democratically run, with four sabbatical officers (elected annually) directing our work. However the overall responsibility for the Students’ Union is overseen by our Board of Trustees, which consists of our four elected sabbatical officers, two student trustees and four external trustees. You can meet our four sabbatical officers here.
We are completely independent
Although we work alongside Solent University to support our students, we are a completely independent organisation and follow our own policies and structures. This ensures that we remain entirely focused on our members (students) with one purpose in mind: to enhance the student experience of all our students.
Our staff
Solent Students’ Union employs around 10 salaried staff at any one time. We also offer a range of volunteer for students, as well as the chance to become a voluntary student officer. There is a clear distinction between the Board of Trustees and those that carry out the everyday work or activities, be they paid or non-paid staff. Our Staff, headed by our Chief Executive (CE), are delegated to deliver the Union’s day to day support services and activities, but never the overall responsibility. This responsibility lies with our Trustee Board, our governing body, on which all four of our sabbatical officers sit.
We are a Registered Charity
Solent Students’ Union is registered as a charity in England and Wales. Our regulator is the Charity Commission and our charity number is 1153350.
Being a charity means that:
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We are not-for-profit: any income we generate from our commercial services goes straight back into providing services for students.
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We’re governed by charity law: which has some implications on how we can spend our money – making sure it’s spent on students, for example.
- We’re accountable to our members: which means we’re constantly looking to help students better understand what we do, and how we spend our money.
The Board of Trustees
Trustees make up the collective body that has strategic leadership and legal responsibility for the Students Union although they delegate the day to day running of the Union to the Chief Executive. The role of the Board is to:
Funding
We are a Registered Charity. Our funding is generated in the following ways:
- A block grant from the University
- Donations and other grants
- Revenue from our shops and ticketed events
* Money spent in the shop or for ticketed events at the Students’ Union goes back into funding student services. When you buy a branded hoodie or T-shirt or buy a ticket for one of our events, you are actually helping to support our core services and, in turn, helping the Students' Union amplify student life.
Student Opt-Out
If you do not wish to be a member of Solent Students' Union and want to opt-out of the membership, you may do so by either opting out at te point of enreollment to Solent University ot by writing to the SU President who will inform the University Secretary within five days. You can contact the SU President by emailing: su.president@solent.ac.uk.
However, the privileges lost by students who have chosen to opt out of membership (as outlined in the Education Act 1994) are:
- Use of Union social facilities
- To join Union Activities, subject to their conditions of membership
- Access to service and support facilities
Those students who have chosen to opt out of membership will still be subject to the same code of conduct as members, and the trustees may still withdraw these privileges if the student breaks this code of conduct.