Starting a New Society

Thought of a new society that isn't listed already and will appeal to other students? Then you have achieved something already! Starting and running a society takes a great deal of time and commitment but the rewards are well worth it. If you are keen to go through this process, it is vital that you have thought through your aims and objectives thoroughly and are convinced that forming a society is the best way to fulfil these.

To be affiliated to the Students' Union there is a three-stage process that any new society has to follow. This process is outlined below:

Step 1: Collecting a 'Starting a new Society pack' from Student Activities.

You must book an appointment with the Societies officer, via Angela Lee (angela.lee@nottingham.ac.uk) in order to recieve your pack. The Societies officer will guide you in the initial stages of starting society.

The pack contains:

  • Committee List - you need at least a President, Treasurer (not in final year) and a Secretary.
  • Membership List - you need to sign up at least 25 students who would be interested in joining your society if it is affiliated.
  • Societies Risk assessment - you must fill out a risk assessment for your activity so that we can ensure that your society can exist without putting its members safety at risk. Download the Risk Assesment Document here.
  • Student Activities Profile - you need to download this from here. Please email your completed profile and risk assessment back to angela.lee@nottingham.ac.uk.

The whole pack needs to be completed and returned to Student Activities before the deadline (written on the pack when collected) so the process can continue. Packs returned after the deadline will not be considered until the next date.

Step 2: Your society is considered at Societies Executive Committee.

  • Societies Exec will verify you've competed all the necessary paperwork and requirements.
  • Societies Exec will consider your proposal and then either recommend your Society should be affiliated or refuse affiliation.
  • Societies Exec may refuse affiliation if:
    • It judges that your society would merely duplicate activities already available or has similar Aims and Objectives to a group already affiliated to the Students' Union.
    • It believes that the Aims and Objectives of your society fall within or are closer to the terms of reference of another Standing Committee.
    • They believe there are other substantial reasons for doing so.
  • If your society is refused affiliation you can appeal in writing to the Societies officer . These appeals must be lodged within five working days.
  • If your society is recommended for affiliation, your society is passed through to Societies Council.

Step 3: Your society is considered for affiliation at Societies Council.

  • Societies Council is the governing body of Societies and consists of the Societies Officer, Societies Exec and the President (or a representative) of every Society.
  • You must provide a one minute speech to be read out at Council.
  • Council members will have the opportunity to ask the proposed Society representative questions regarding the Society.
  • The Society shall be approved and, therefore, affiliated at Societies Council with a simple majority, with the Societies Officer having a casting vote.

And thats it! Good luck with starting your society!

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