TB1 Round Up: Bristol SU wins!
Time flies, doesn’t it? What an incredible term it has been, thank you for being a part of it!
Take 5 minutes to reflect on our highlights and find out what’s been going on at Bristol SU over the past few months, which has been packed with plenty of activity, achievements and unforgettable moments.
Welcome Week 2025
Once again, Welcome Week was a massive success.
From video game tournaments and craft sessions to quizzes and our club night finale at Document, the energy was non-stop. And who could forget the dog life drawing? It definitely stole the show on our socials! 📸
Welcome closed out with our annual Welcome Fair which took place on the Clifton Downs. Here we hosted stalls from our 300+ student groups, local food vendors and businesses who were bringing the good vibes!
Your Housing needs sorted!
Housing is one of the biggest concerns for students, and we have listened. With the backing of your Full-Time Officer Team, we launched the Housing Advice Service. This vital service has already helped countless students with deposit disputes, emergency accommodation and unsafe housing issues. It complements Bristol SU Lettings, which continues to help house thousands of students each year. In November, both teams came together with city-wide partners for the Housing Fair in the Anson Rooms, giving students practical advice on renting and their rights.
Research That Matters
Our research team have once again delivered powerful insights this term, including surveys on student work-life balance, wellbeing services and commuter experiences. These findings help shape SU priorities and improve student life.
You can browse through their reports here and keep an eye out for their important work in local and student media! 🤓
Democracy in Action
The way we structure our democracy at Bristol SU has changed a lot since the Representation Review which concluded last year. Not least on how we hear from students, your ideas for change and what matters to you. As part of this we launched the Ideas Board - a space for students to share ideas that spark real change.
Did you know we also welcomed six new Student Community Organisers into our Student Voice structures this year? These students are being paid to make an impact across campus, start campaigns and support ideas that come through our ideas board. You can find out more about their work and who’s involved on our website.
A Union for All Students
We launched our new strategy here at Bristol SU, setting out our vision to be a progressive, impactful and exciting part of student life. We'll continue to be relevant to all students and make a real difference to their lives by being the voice of the whole student body to the university and further afield. We'll also continue to offer expert advice, support and information to help our students thrive. And we'll develop community and belonging by being the home of student groups, communities, activities and events at the University of Bristol. We’re bigger, better and ready for the next three years.
Click to read more about the strategy and follow our progress!
UEB Agreement
For the second year running, the Full-time Officer team have secured a renewed agreement with the University Executive Board, aligned with their collective priorities for 2025/26: student poverty, academic satisfaction and collective wellbeing. This agreement ensures student concerns are heard at the highest level and the University are held accountable for the Officer's asks.
Find out more about the agreement and the progress made on this page.
Talking of the great work your FTO’s are doing…
Officer Wins
Our Full-Time Officer Team has been working hard to deliver for students this term. International Students Week and the Global Food Fair stand out again, championed by your International Student Officer, Jessie.
You asked for more space for activities - and you got it! Katie, your Union Affairs Officer, led the opening of the new SU Basement, which has already become a popular student group hub. This is just the beginning, so watch this space for more developments.
Lucy, your Student Living Officer, has also been busy securing big wins. We saw the return of affordable exam buses, helping students travel to Coombe stress-free. Lucy negotiated a £15k laundry fund while capping prices, and achieved rent reductions in halls, a huge step forward for first-year students.
Linlu relaunched the Gender Expression Fund, and with the backing of the full team, the Activity Hardship Fund returned to make student groups more accessible for everyone.
Representation matters, and Mia, Sharan, Jessie and Katie took your voice to Westminster, Birmingham and Brussels, ensuring students are heard in key decisions at every level.
Ella, your Sport and Student Development Officer, continued her work on the Injury Support Group and has started planning for Derby Day 2026, the ultimate festival of sport for players and spectators alike. Save the date: 18 March at Coombe Dingle!
But there is more…
Student Groups
Student groups have thrived this term. We affiliated new groups in September with more applications under review for January! Alongside our already popular Give it a Go! program, we launched the Give it a Go Takeover Day, where 150 student groups took over all our spaces running sessions throughout the day. Outside of thier regular activity, groups have raised thousands for local and global causes, and we have been celebrating their achievements as part of the Group of the Month awards!
Students giving back has been a regular theme across the term, as hundreds have taken time out of their busy schedule to volunteer. The volunteering fair was also a highlight as we welcomed students to connect with local organisations to discuss opportunities 🫴
Events
After Welcome Week, our Event program has continued to be a standout success, from Diwali Mela and Dola Re Garba to Best of the Southwest which saw 18 Acapella groups perform for nearly 300 people in the Anson Rooms. Our day trips programme sold 837 tickets and took students to top UK destinations covering 1,800 miles. Wowza! 🚌
Sharan your Postgraduate Education Officer has also taken it upon herself to build more community in the PGR and PGT community. She has set up a series of PG Pints Events in the Beckford, allowing students to meet, mingle and share stories. Not managed to get involved yet? Don't worry, these PG specific events are set to continue in TB2 ⭐
Looking Ahead...
This is just a snapshot of an incredible term here at Bristol SU. We’re excited for what’s next, starting with Refreshers on 19 January.
But for now that's all from us, good luck in your Exams and enjoy your winter break ⛄
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