Societies & Media Grants
Throughout the year, eligible groups have the opportunity to apply for grant funding from YUSU. Grants can help an amazing project come to fruition; enable you to put on a brilliant event; or just support you as you continue to provide great opportunities for your members.
Grants are not available all year round, but only at specific times of year, and they are extremely competitive, so a good application can make all the difference.
A successful grant application will grant you money for a set time period. Grant money must be spent by the 30th June of the academic year. Any unspent money will be reclaimed from your account after this date. There is no opportunity to claim it back after this deadline.
When you apply for a grant, you must state what you wish to spend it on. Any grant money you receive can only be spent on what it was requested for, except in exceptional circumstances. If you wish to spend your grant on anything other than that for which you applied, contact your link staff member to discuss your situation.
Please note: Grant funding from YUSU should never be relied upon to entirely support your society. You should always plan to use membership fees, money from members for specific activities, sponsorship deals, or other fundraising efforts to achieve your society’s aims. Grant funding is limited and is not guaranteed.
Eligibility
In order to apply for a YUSU Grant you must fulfil all of the following criteria:
Be a fully ratified YUSU student group, having completed the re-ratification process and documents for the upcoming academic year (Constitution, Risk Assessment, Equality Impact Assessment, Inventory) at the point of your application.
Charge a minimum £4 annual fee for all memberships.
Have ensured that your whole committee has paid their membership fee.
In some circumstances, a portion of your grant money may be released in advance of the minimum requirements at the discretion of your link staff member.
Eligible Items
Grant money CAN be used for the following purposes:
Publicity and Marketing (e.g. Canva subscription, posters, banners, flyers, business cards. We will fund up to £30 for this purpose).
Transport (we can fund up to ⅔ of transport/travel costs).
Training and Teaching.
Events (e.g. Regular and annual events, trips, excursions, festivals, theatre trips etc, so long as the purpose of the event is within the aims and objectives of the society).
Prizes (we can fund up to £50 for this purpose).
Speakers/travelling visitors and conferences (we can fund up to ⅔ of travel expenses).
Equipment (only if you can demonstrate that you have sufficient storage on campus).
Grant money CAN’T be used for the following purposes:
Food or drink (unless this is integral to the purpose of the society e.g. Baking Society).
Group merchandise (e.g. branded clothes, stationery).
Purely social functions (e.g. your summer ball).
Grant Types
YUSU offers various different grant opportunities. They are:
Annual Grant: Societies & Media Groups
You apply for this in Summer Term for the upcoming academic year, outlining your long-term activities and development plans.
New Society Grant: Societies & Media Groups
This grant is only available for societies and media groups which are in their first year of ratification. It’s a limited pot of up to £100 per successful application to help the group get set up and support its long-term sustainability. For more information, please contact societies@yusu.org.
Allocations
Grant applications are reviewed and judged by the relevant representative committee. Allocations are made on a number of factors, including how many members your group has, your current Own Funds balance, and how your application links to your constitutional aims. Grants are often partially allocated and all decisions are final.