Call for an AGM, 12 noon to 3pm, Friday 10th May – The Stripe Plaza
On Friday 10th May, all students are invited to attend an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Winchester Student Union. The AGM will be taking place as part of the activities arranged for our Recharge Festival and will be formatted so students can drop in anytime between 12noon and 3pm.
This meeting is an opportunity for members to get feedback and information from their elected officers, and the Trustees who manage the Union on their behalf, as well as an opportunity to ask questions relating to the Union and how it represents members' interests.
The business of the meeting will include:
- Receiving information from the Trustees (via Officer Trustees) detailing the challenges and successes of 23/24;
- Receiving the accounts of the Union for 2022/23;
- Ratifying the appointment of Auditors 2024/25;
- Approving the list of Union affiliations;
- Open questions from members.
After visiting this information page, if you have any further questions about the AGM or the agenda, please email su_pres@winchester.ac.uk
Receiving the Accounts of the Union – 22/23
As part of the requirements of being a Student Union and charity, Winchester Student Union are required to have their financial accounts and practices externally audited on an annual basis. This audit, which was started on site in August 2023 and completed in January 2024, was undertaken by auditors Goodman Jones.
Our members are invited to note the below report from our auditors along with our financial accounts for 22/23.
Audited Accounts – 22/23
- No substantive matters of risk or concern have been identified by the auditors.
- These accounts recognise a -£56,554 deficit year for the Union.
- The Union held an unrestricted reserve (savings to spend in foward years) of £216,155, net of fixed assests
- The Union was in receipt of a grant of funds from the University of Winchester of £381,500. After payment of lease back to the University of £95,000, this resolves at £38.45 per student (0.42% of student fee).
Ratifying the appointment of Auditors
Via a meeting of both its Trustees and members (AGM), Winchester Student Union agreed the appointment of Goodman Jones as external auditors for a period of three years accounting years, ‘20/21’, ‘21/22’, and 22/23. In a meeting of Trustees in January 2024 it was agreed to extend this term for a further year before going back to tender. The Union can therefore confirm that Goodman Jones is proposed to be responsible for auditing the Union’s account for financial year 2023/2024. After this, as noted, the Union will go back to tender for the appointment of future auditors.
Approving the list of Union affiliations, 24/25
Below are a list organisations that the Union proposes to affiliate with, either for access to physical or information resources, or both. All of these are ongoing affiliations with no new affiliation proposed at this time.
Our members are invited to ratify the below list of affiliations for 24/25. Voting on ratifying this list will take place at the AGM, with the simple responses of ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the affiliations:
National Union of Students (NUS) – this costs circa £6k per annum (or approx. £0.75 per member) and gives Officers access to training, networking and support opportunities. Along with access to a national purchasing consortium allowing us to buy and sell shop and bar products at competitive prices.
Whilst their are notable benefits to remaining affiliated to NUS for the 24/25 academic year (as noted above), in recent years Student Union executive officers have expressed concerns as to the benefit vs cost of affiliation to NUS. As such, whilst we a proposing affiliation, if approved at AGM, the Union is still seeking to hold a cross campus referendum (an ‘all-student online vote’) on future affiliation.
The Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) – this costs £300 per annum and gives our officers and staff access to a large online resource database, networking and information sharing opportunities with over 200 University and Union environmental Managers and other Green champions.
The Community Transport Association (CTA) – this costs £400 per annum and gives bespoke advice on running minibuses and transport services in the third sector including access to small bus permits for community use.
British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) – this costs circa £5k per annum and gives access to league matches for many of our sports teams along with training for officers and staff. Actual cost can vary somewhat depending on active sports and performance of sports teams.
WonkHE – at a cost of £3700 per annum, affiliation gives officers and staff access to HE policy analysis, briefings and consultations along with daily briefings/news bulletins related to the national HE landscape, training and networking.
Advice UK – at a cost of £300 per annum, affiliation gives officers and staff access to support, training and guidance for UK independent advice services.
Pubwatch – this free affiliation gives the Unions’ licensed trade team access to information and resources from other licensed venues, the city council, police and fire & rescue services all collated by Winchester BID.
