It all starts with an idea...
RUSU is all about its membership and loves nothing more than when an exciting new student group starts up! Nothing is too difficult, bizarre or niche. Bring forward your idea to the Student Activities team and together we can see if we can make it work.
RUSU Support
RUSU's Student Activity Groups can shape themselves how they like, are responsible for deciding what activities they undertake and for finding their own funding. However, they're not entirely on their own. The Student Activities team, located in The Hub, is there to provide all the support they might need, such as:
- Providing monetary grants to support exciting ideas
- Hiring 3sixty and Café Mondial at cost price
- Placing bookings and orders
- Arranging matches
- Supplying minibuses for travel and testing drivers
- Liaising and representation with University staff and structures
- Helping stimulate ideas and offering campaign support
- Storage for bits and pieces
- An account within RUSU to manage your money
- Providing links with other student groups
In return, RUSU expects groups to represent the Union and University positively. Group members should represent their members at Union level by attending democracy meetings and getting involved in campaigns and other groups' work.
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First, Arrange A Meeting
Contact the Student Activities Team or drop into the Hub. Let us know your plans and we can arrange a time to hear your ideas in full at a time that suits you. Then…
Before The Meeting
It's important to carry out some preliminary research before you meet with the Student Activities Team. In particular, you should:
- Collect names and University of Reading e-mail addresses of at least 50 interested students
- Hold a couple of trial sessions of what will be your core activity
- Talk to any current Activities Groups that would share your interest
RUSU loosely categorises its groups into the following areas; Arts & Dance, Academic, Career, Competitve Sport, Culture & Faith, Hobbies & Interests, Politics & Causes, Media, Recreation. Have a think about where your new group might fit.
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At The Meeting
Bring along any relevant evidence of what you’ve done so far to your meeting with the Student Activities team, such as:
- A list of potential committee members
- Pitch the sorts of activities you’ll do as a group
- Explain the benefits the gorup will provide for individual students and the wider University of Reading community
It's important to flesh these things out with as much detail as possible to give you the best chance of starting up a an amazing new group!
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After The Meeting
If you’ve put forward a convincing argument for your activity group, you can get right onto having a great time as a brand spanking new RUSU group. The next steps are to:
- Sign the RUSU Behavioural Policy & Activities Constitution
- Provide RUSU with all your committee members’ contact details so you don’t miss out on any important events or meetings
- Once the Student Activities team will set up your page on the RUSU website then you can direct members to pay their Activities Fees online or in The Hub
- Join in with category discussions and attend the compulsory termly meetings of all Activities Groups
Running a student group is great fun. You’ll meet new people, get to do an activity you love and it may just become your new favourite thing about university. The best groups are those that are run efficiently and ambitiously. If you want to get the most out of your group, be prepared to put a bit of work in to make a good idea great! Have fun!
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