Knights Accreditation Scheme

This Knights Accreditation Scheme will ensure our sports clubs are being rewarded for their commitment and the positive impacts they have on the student body as well as their successes.

There are three different levels to this scheme – bronze, silver and gold. Each level will have different requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to progress.

These requirements are focused on many aspects of the union, ranging from raising money for charity to non-drinking socials and much much more.

When you have completed the requirements for a level, email c.nazif@reading.ac.uk with the evidence for each point that you’ve completed. The key below tells you what type of evidence is required for each point.

Key

  1. RUSU will have access to this information already.
  2. Please send a copy of online social media/email event and invites sent to members.
  3. Please submit a link to this.
  4. Please submit photo proof.
  5. Please submit minutes.
  6. Please submit a copy of the contract.
  7. Please send a description of the change made.

Bronze

Every club must reach Bronze accreditation in order to be an affiliated club. This means you are able to have a bank account, a webpage, ability to bid for funding/extra grant fund etc., RUSU booking and admin/development support.

Clubs must complete all 10 of the Bronze requirements to be considered a bronze standard club.

  1. Complete elections in line with RUSU guidance, to elect at least 4 core roles: President, Secretary, Treasurer and Welfare. (1)
  2. Sign both the constitution and the behavioral policy (1)
  3. Complete compulsory committee training (1)
  4. Complete risk assessment and equipment inventory (1)
  5. Have a representative attend a minimum of 2 activity group committee meetings (we recommend you come to them all) (1)
  6. Have a minimum of 15 members (except for campaigns and causes societies) (1)
  7. Hold a valid Annual General Meeting with your members (2, 5)
  8. Hold at least 1 welfare focused event or 1 welfare focused post on social media.* (2, 4)
  9. Host at least 1 non-alcohol focussed social event (2, 4)
  10. Being financially sustainable (1)

Silver

Every club should achieve this to show they are a well-run, developing club engaged with the Students union and the Knight community.

Clubs must have achieved Bronze and completed 10/15 of the Silver requirements to be considered a Silver standard club.

  1. Write media content for your club for The Spark Newspaper, RU:TV or B radio (articles, shows or videos). (3, 4)
  2. Host at least 2 non-alcohol focussed social events (2, 4)
  3. Raise at least £50 for charity (can be in conjunction with RAG projects) (1, 4)
  4. All 4 core committee members to complete additional RUSU welfare committee training. (1)
  5. Create a club logo image (to go on social media accounts and the RUSU website) (4)
  6. Have a representative at all activity group committee meetings (1)
  7. Collaborate with another club or society to run a joint event or club swap (2, 4)
  8. Have a Fresher's Fayre stall and hold a taster session to attract new members.
  9. Have 10% of your club attend a RUSU social mixer and/or RAG event.
  10. Create a social media page/or group for your club. (4)
  11. Create an online newcomers group/page to communicate information to new members after freshers week before paying membership. (3, 4)
  12. Run a club trip (away fixtures don't count!) (2, 4)
  13. Implement an equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) rep into your committee. (1)
  14. Post at least once in the RUSU community FaceBook group or collaborate with student activities team’s social media (resharing content doesn’t count). (4)
  15. Hold at least 2 welfare focused events/welfare focused social media posts. * (2, 4)

Gold

Every club can easily achieve this, but displays a consistent level of effort put in by the committee to achieve a well-run and rounded club. Clubs that achieve this will be recognised at the Awards and throughout the year through RUSU and social media.

Clubs must have achieved Bronze and Silver, and completed 10/15 of the Gold requirements to be considered a Gold standard club.

  1. Raise £300 for charity (can be in conjunction with RAG) (1, 4)
  2. Have a stall at Re-freshers Fayre and a session in ‘give it a go’ week (1)
  3. Hold at least 3 welfare focused events/welfare focused social media posts. * (2, 4)
  4. Be part of a RUSU part-time or full-time officer campaign OR participate in a RUSU run event or University open day. (1, 4)
  5. Run fortnightly committee meetings (5)
  6. Gain sponsorship from an external company or external funding (1, 6) Societies: Collaborate with a community project.
  7. Establish a partnership with a local group or institution (e.g school) (1, 4)
  8. Run a second volunteering event with at least 30% of members (can be in conjunction with RUSU planned volunteering projects) (2, 4)
  9. At least 2 news articles/shows with The Spark Newspaper/RU:TV/B radio (refer to silver award). (3, 4)
  10. Produce a development plan (1)
  11. Increased membership by at least 10% from previous year (1)
  12. Host at least 3 non-alcohol focussed social events (2, 4)
  13. 2 joint events/club swaps (2, 4)
  14. Have your EDI or welfare rep attend all equality, diversity and inclusion training. (1)
  15. Implement a change within your group that will directly increase your accessibility and/or inclusivity. This can be led by your equality, diversity and inclusion rep, who will receive training on this. (7)

* Mindfulness mornings, educational workshops, coffee mornings, mental health discussions etc.

Rewritten by Amy Sheffield Autumn 2021 to be more welfare and inclusivity focused in relation to 2nd elected manifesto point.

RUSU Activities & Opportunities Officer 2022/23 Harry Everitt

Activities & Opportunities Officer
Harry Everitt