edinburgh universitystudents’ association

your guide to

Potterrow

The Pleasance

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contentswho we arerepresenting studentswelfare and supportactivitiescommercial servicesour spacesfinancesour historyget in touch

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who we areEdinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) exists to represent and support over 32,000 University of Edinburgh students through their time at university; whether they be Undergraduate or Postgraduate (taught, research or Online Distance Learning). All students enrolled at the University gain automatic membership to the association.

EUSA is a separate organisation to the University, but working in close partnership. The relationship is enshrined in both organisations’ governance, and EUSA representatives sit on a variety of University committees, including University Court. The University is also the landlord and major funder of EUSA.

As an independent registered charity, EUSA has a Board of Trustees which is ultimately responsible for the financial, legal and reputational wellbeing of the association. The Board is made up of four sabbatical officers, five elected student trustees and three appointed lay trustees. The four sabbatical officers are students who are elected annually by the student body and who are taking a year out of their studies to lead the association on a full-time basis.

EUSA is a union of students supported by approximately 130 full-time staff, 450 part-time staff (who are mostly students) and over 1,000 student volunteers working to keep the student experience at the centre of all we do.

EUSA won NUS Scotland’s ‘Best University Students’ Association’ award 2014/15

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EUSA has over 1,000 students in leadership positions, 580 staff and an annual turnover of £11m

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representing students

EUSA is committed to representing student interests and promoting student-led change: Driving changes within the University and at a local and national level. We do this through:

Sabbatical Officers who sit on University committees and actively shape University decisions to benefit students.

School and Class Reps who are appointed to represent the views and be the voice of students in each school and work to provide the best possible academic experience for students, and a positive environment to work and study in.

Student Council (open to all students) where our members are able to raise any issues, bring ideas and apply for funding to turn their suggestions into a reality.

EUSA worked with 1,755 Class Reps in 2014/15

eusa.ed.ac.uk/representation

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welfare and supportEUSA provides a free, confidential and impartial advice service – The Advice Place. It exists to provide a safe space for members to ask questions, and receive guidance on personal or stressful issues. Our staff offer support relating to finances, housing, sexual health, academic advice and much more.

Over 14,400 enquiries were answered by The Advice Place team in 2014/15.

We also run a Peer Learning and Support scheme which is fundamentally about students getting support from more experienced peers: Peer Support Volunteers. Students are able to connect with a student-led learning group based on their course, sign up for a student buddy or a mentor, and join an academic family.

7,253 students took part in Peer Learning and Support sessions in 2014/15

eusa.ed.ac.uk/advice eusa.ed.ac.uk/peersupport

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activitiesEUSA supports over 260 Societies and Volunteering Groups. Having a diverse range of activities is an effective springboard for students to meet new people, and get involved in something already established, or create a start-up group of their own; gaining valuable experience and having fun.

EUSA also runs the award-winning EUSA Global programme, aiming to enhance the global experience for students, inviting them to swap a language, learn about a new culture and meet new people from around the world.

Our Postgraduate programme provides advice, support and relevant academic and networking events for postgraduates; specific to their needs.

EUSA supports over 260 Societies - which contain 23,000 members

EUSA connected 545 students on the Tandem database in 2014/15

EUSA worked with 394 Postgrad Reps in 2014/15

eusa.ed.ac.uk/activities eusa.ed.ac.uk/eusaglobal eusa.ed.ac.uk/postgrad

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commercial servicesEUSA runs a variety of commercial services, including significant operations during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Whilst the profits from these are reinvested back into our student support services, the majority of this commercial activity provides, in its own right, a valuable student service.

We focus on delivering services for students at a price, time and location they want. Our commercial services reflect the views of our members and we have a Trading Committee to drive forward innovation and balance the demands of students. For example, our bars and club nights are a big part of what we do, with an emphasis on creating a safe and welcoming environment that is accessible to all. Our shops and catering outlets balance the need to be profitable with the service requirements of varied campuses and a diverse student membership; providing good value and a wide range of product options.

Ourcommercial turnover in 2014/15 was over £8m

eusa.ed.ac.uk/eatdrink

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our spacesEUSA’s four iconic venues: King’s Buildings House, The Pleasance, Potterrow and Teviot Row House are where our student community gather. Our buildings are a significant part of our service offering and identity. They host retail outlets, music venues, bars, catering facilities, and open social and study areas – offering student-friendly atmospheres and prices.

Our venues host weekly and special one-off events and can be booked, free of change, for student activity. Whether it’s a quiz, comedy, dance rehearsal, whisky tasting, committee meeting, debate or the Graduation Ball, it’s the events which take place in our venues that bring them to life.

EUSA organised or supported over 1,100 events across our four venues in 2014/15

eusa.ed.ac.uk/whatson

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financesEUSA’s combined annual turnover in 2014/15 was £11m. The commercial turnover from our bars, cafés, shops and festival operations is significant at £8.1m and this generates a surplus of £0.7m. Grant income received from the University is £2.8m and provides the majority of our available resource. There are several smaller income sources amounting to approximately £0.6m.

All our income is used to provide our student advice, support, activities and representation services, as well as the provision of our buildings for students use. We also use it to pay for the staff that support the whole organisation such as our Human Resources, Marketing and Estates teams.

EUSA’s combined annual turnover in 2014/15 was £11m

eusa.ed.ac.uk/about/finances

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History of EUSA

1884 1889 1973

Student Robert Fitzroy Bell founds an Edinburgh Students’ Representative Council (SRC)

The SRC, the EUU andChambers Street Union merge

to form Edinburgh UniversityStudents’ Association (EUSA).Through the SRC, EUSA is the

oldest students’ union in the UK

EUWU votes to become mixed

and is renamed the Chambers

Street Union

2004 2012

EUSA affiliated with the National Union of Students (NUS)

A new constitution, including Trustee Board, is established,

although not in place until 2014

The SRC establishes the

Edinburgh University Union

(EUU) and the purpose-built student union

building Teviot Row House opens

1905 1964

The Edinburgh University Women’s Union is founded (EUWU)

1994 1998

EUSA and theKing’s BuildingsUnion merge

2011

Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) Union becomes part of EUSA

Moray House Institute of Education Union becomes part of EUSA

our history

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History of EUSA

1884 1889 1973

Student Robert Fitzroy Bell founds an Edinburgh Students’ Representative Council (SRC)

The SRC, the EUU andChambers Street Union merge

to form Edinburgh UniversityStudents’ Association (EUSA).Through the SRC, EUSA is the

oldest students’ union in the UK

EUWU votes to become mixed

and is renamed the Chambers

Street Union

2004 2012

EUSA affiliated with the National Union of Students (NUS)

A new constitution, including Trustee Board, is established,

although not in place until 2014

The SRC establishes the

Edinburgh University Union

(EUU) and the purpose-built student union

building Teviot Row House opens

1905 1964

The Edinburgh University Women’s Union is founded (EUWU)

1994 1998

EUSA and theKing’s BuildingsUnion merge

2011

Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) Union becomes part of EUSA

Moray House Institute of Education Union becomes part of EUSA

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get in touchSabbatical Officers 2015/16 EUSA President, Jonny Ross-Tatam eusapres@eusa.ed.ac.ukVice President Academic Affairs, Imogen Wilson eusavpaa@eusa.ed.ac.ukVice President Services, Urte Macikene eusavps@eusa.ed.ac.ukVice President Societies and Activities, Andy Peel eusavpsa@eusa.ed.ac.uk Senior Management team Chief Executive, Steve Hubbard stephen.hubbard@eusa.ed.ac.uk Commercial Director, Conrad Jones conrad.jones@eusa.ed.ac.uk Director of Membership Support and Development, Sarah Purves sarah.purves@eusa.ed.ac.uk

Finance Director, Euan MacLean euan.maclean@eusa.ed.ac.uk

Key contacts Advice Place Manager, Gin Lowdean gin.lowdean@eusa.ed.ac.uk International Engagement Coordinator (EUSA Global), Christina Schmidt christina.schmidt@eusa.ed.ac.uk

Peer Learning and Support Manager, Katie Scott katie.scott@eusa.ed.ac.ukRepresentation and Democracy Manager, Adam Bunni adam.bunni@eusa.ed.ac.uk Student Volunteering and Activities Manager, Meher Kalenderian meher.kalenderian@eusa.ed.ac.ukEstates Manager, Alan Blackwood alan.blackwood@eusa.ed.ac.ukFinance and invoicing enquiries, Anne Clarke anne.clarke@eusa.ed.ac.ukMarketing and Communications Manager, Emma Robertson-Werner emma.robertson-werner@eusa.ed.ac.uk Room booking enquiries, Anne Hunter anne.hunter@eusa.ed.ac.uk

Main reception 0131 650 2656 | reception@eusa.ed.ac.uk

Teviot Row House

King’s Buildings House

edinburgh university students’ association reception@eusa.ed.ac.uk 0131 650 2656eusa.ed.ac.uk

Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) is a charity (SC015800) and a company limited by guarantee (SC429897) registered in Scotland. Registered Office: Potterrow, 5/2 Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AL