General Meeting 2026

Come along to the Greenwich Students’ Union general meeting on 1st June 2026.

Your trustees have called a general meeting to approve changes to the GSU charitable purposes and governance structure. These changes are needed so that we can move ahead with the proposed merger with Kent Students’ Union.

Greenwich Students’ Union is your union. It’s run by students, for students. As a student, you’re invited to the general meeting. You have the right to attend, speak and vote at the meeting. 

Register to attend today

 

If you can’t make it in person, then you have the right to register a proxy vote. This means that you can appoint someone to attend, speak and vote on your behalf. 

Submit a proxy vote

 

Be a director for a day!

We’ve planned an exciting, packed line-up of activities for your general meeting. This includes a FREE networking lunch with the GSU CEO and Chair of Trustees, employability workshops, a special GSU Council tackling the BIG student issues as well as a FREE drinks reception.

This is your chance to help shape the future of Greenwich Students’ Union, a multi-million-pound charity run by students, for students, network with charity leaders, shape your CV and create the LinkedIn post of a lifetime!

Come along to the Greenwich Students’ Union General Meeting and be a director for the day!

 

View the full agenda on the general meeting event page

 

Why you should attend the general meeting: 

 

 

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First 50 students to sign up will receive a free gift

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Have your say on decisions that shape the future of GSU

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Join networking sessions with GSU CEO and Chair of Trustees

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CV and LinkedIn workshop to boost your employability

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Great experience to add to your CV

 
 
 

 

What changes are being proposed?

Greenwich Students’ Union has announced an intention to merge with Kent Students’ Union. This follows the announcement that the University of Greenwich and the University of Kent are going to merge to form the London and South-East University Group.

Through merging our two Students’ Unions, we hope to build a new organisation that will ensure a consistent, high quality student experience across the whole of the London and South-East University Group. 

The aim is to create a combined students’ union that draws on the strengths of both of our organisations and delivers an enhanced student experience across all four campuses.

In order to progress a merger, we need to amend the Greenwich Students’ Union Articles of Association. These changes include:

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Amending the GSU objects and charitable purpose

Greenwich Students’ Union exists to advance the education of students at the University of Greenwich.

Due to requirements under charity law we need to amend our charitable purpose ahead of the finalisation of the merger, to reflect the fact that we will exist for the benefit of students across the whole of the London and South-East University Group.

The trustees are asking you to approve the new charitable purposes, which you can see in Article 3 and the “interpretation” section of the updated Articles of Association linked at the bottom of this page.

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Change to the GSU governance structure

Students’ Unions’ governance is structured through either an association model, or a foundational model. GSU currently has an association model, and KSU a foundational model.

The association model means that all students are company law members, and we must hold general meetings for any company law changes. The foundational model means that the trustees hold that constitutional membership and can vote on key changes.   

We want to change from an association model to a foundational model to empower our trustees, of which a majority are students, to make administrative decisions more efficiently.  

You can see the proposed changes in the ‘Membership’ section (starting at Article 11) and Schedule 1 of the updated Articles of Association linked at the bottom of this page. 

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Two administrative updates around trustee communication

Simplifying the process for trustees to agree decisions by email, so that decision-making can be more agile. The changes are shown in Articles 34 and 35 of the updated Articles of Association linked at the bottom of this page.

Clarifying a company law point about communications from the Union to the trustees in their future capacity as members of the SU. The changes are shown in Article 42.4.2 of the updated Articles of Association linked at the bottom of this page.

 
 

 

 

General meeting information

 
 

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Where: Dreadnought building, Greenwich

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When: Monday 1st June

 

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What time: 1pm

 

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Proxy deadline: 28th May

 

 
 

 

Jargon buster

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Articles of Association

The supreme governing document of a Students' Union, defining its purpose, structure, and rules for operation as a charitable, member-led organisation.

The articles outline member rights, trustee roles, election procedures, and how the Union works

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General Meeting

A general meeting is your chance to have your say on important matters relating to Greenwich Students’ Union.

This includes changes to our Articles of Association, company law matters, and written resolutions from members (you!).

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Proxy Vote

If you can’t attend a general meeting vote, then you have the right to register a proxy vote.

This means that you can appoint someone to attend, speak and vote on your behalf.

 

 

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Foundation Model

Students’ unions’ governance is structured through either an association model, or a foundation model.   

Under a foundation model, the trustees are the constitutional members of the students' union. The trustees therefore have a legal role under company law and are required to vote on key governance changes.

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Association Model

Students’ Unions’ governance is structured through either an association model, or a foundation model.   

Under an association model, all students are the constitutional members of the students' union. This means that key governance changes need to be voted on at a general meeting.

group of students around a table smiling and working on a team building project together

Charitable Purpose

To be recognised as a charity, an organisation must be established exclusively for purposes that are charitable in law. There are thirteen categories of charitable purposes. 

The charitable purpose is enshrined in the Articles of Association and shape the work of the organisation. 

 
 
 
 

 

 

GSU Council

The final GSU Council meeting of the year will be held during the general meeting. 

For this special edition of Council, we will be discussing the two biggest issues that you have told us about across 2025/2026:

  • The Cost of Living, and
  • Loneliness on campus

 

Here, you can share your experiences and come up with solutions to make students lives' better. These recommendations will form how your 2026/2027 Officer team tackle these issues.

So be a part of the most important conversation of the year and secure your place.

 

Submit your questions for GSU Council

 

 

How to get involved

We’d love to see you in person at the general meeting. Sign up by completing our online form today.

 

Register to attend in person

 

If you can’t make it in person, then you have the right to register a proxy vote. This means that you can appoint someone to attend, speak and vote on your behalf. Complete our online form to register a proxy vote. You have until 3pm, 28th May to submit your proxy vote.

 

Submit a proxy vote

 

Key documents