The GSU Activities Development is available to all ratified GSU student groups to apply for to develop an existing offer or create new opportunities for members.
The GSU Activities Development is a funding pot available to all ratified GSU student groups to apply for. The purpose of the fund is to support student groups to continue to deliver their student activities, develop an existing offer to increase impact or develop a new opportunity for members within your student community.
To apply for the fund, a student group must complete the application form for the fund and submit it to the Activities Team for review. GSU will collate all applications, review them to ensure they are correctly filled in and then provide all applications to the Activities Committee. If information is missing from an application, the Activities Team will contact you for further information before the committee takes place.
The Activities Committee decides on all funding applications and meets every month to review funding applications. All applicants will receive an update on their application within 5 working days of the Activities Committee meeting in which the application went to. If rejected, the committee will provide a detailed outline of reasons. If approved, the funds will be available to spend from your account immediately, but won’t show in your group account for up to 3 working weeks.
It is important to note that Activities Development Funding is never guaranteed and therefore groups should not plan to deliver activities until they have had confirmation of approval unless they can fully fund the cost from the funds available to them in their account. For any applications that are successful, it is expected that the events, applications or projects must be delivered within the academic year it was applied for and any unspent funds will be re-couperated by GSU at the end of the year.
As of 2025, the Development Fund has aligned with our student group tiering structure to allow:
- Student groups who are bronze tier on the student group tiering may only apply for up to £100
- Student groups who are silver tier onf the student group tiering may apply for up to £250
- Student groups who are gold tier on the student group tiering may apply for up to £400
Criteria
- Each case is decided on its own merits, and there are occasional exceptions to the general criteria below. However, in most circumstances, the committee uses the following guidelines:
- Other than in exceptional circumstances, the committee generally only approves applications of between £0 and £400. It may decide to part-fund an application, choosing specific things in the budget to fund or subsidise.
- The committee will take into consideration the financial means of the applicants. For example, if you are a student group that has already received funds from another fund or has substantial funds available in its membership account then your application is less likely to be approved.
- Preference is given to student groups that have not already received funding from the committee earlier in the same academic year (although there is no strict cap on the number of applications that any student group can make).
- The funding must be for a project that is essential or at least highly relevant to the expected activities of the student group.
- There is a preference for developmental activities instead of supporting regular activity.
- There is a special preference for events that actively consider accessibility and inclusivity issues.
- The committee does not generally fund events retrospectively (i.e. if they have already happened).
- There is a preference for ideas that can generate revenue to be used as investment for future requests i.e. sustainable income for events, activities or projects. All applications should consider sustainability. This means that student groups should consider the future funding of a project or event where necessary and budget for upkeep and/replacement in the future. Funding in any particular year does not guarantee funding for the next year.
- Travel for speakers considered only when necessary – no excessive costs.
- No air travel is funded.
- No money for alcohol (unless the aims of the society inherently include alcohol tasting).
- The committee will not fund personalised stash or clothing for members or committee members
- The committee is unable to give money to charities, due to ultra vires laws.
- There is a preference for ideas that engage a high number of students
- If requesting funding for a course (e.g. training), there must be an agreement that the individuals who are attending the course will be bringing back knowledge or skills that will be used to benefit the group as a whole and pass the skills on to others.
Applying and Deadlines
Activities Development Fund Application Form
Development Fund Applications will be reviewed by a panel. Review dates will take place on the last tuesday of each month and will consider applications for events taking place in the future unless retroactive funding has been agreed by your coordinator. Applications will take place on a case by case basis.
i.e if your event is taking place in mid-late November, your application must meet the October deadline to allow for time to review. If you're planning ahead you can put in requests months in advance - in fact we would love this!
Examples of what student groups could apply for
- New equipment to replace outdated equipment
- Delivery of Events
- Delivery of collaborative ideas which involve multiple societies
- Delivery of projects and campaigns
- New equipment to replace outdated equipment
- Specialised training sessions to increase participation
- Urgently required equipment/kit
- Supporting unexpected BUCS progression costs
- Stationery, photocopy, printing and publicity costs
- Speaker or trainer costs - please include what the costs are for (speaker fee, travel expenses etc.)
- Audio-visual and equipment hire
- Facility hire, if it’s clear in the application why a GSU Venue cannot be used
Application tips & support
- Ensure you provide a detailed breakdown of costs for your funding application not just a top level figure
- Where possible review the maximum impact and engagement your idea could have across students
- Your application should be clear, concise and informative
- If you need support completing your form, you can email activities@gsu.ac.uk and request a meeting with a member of the activities team to discuss your application.
- If you have funds available in your account, please clearly explain why you are not able to use these for the request purposes. You should demonstrate that you have attempted to use any reserves your club/society has to subsidise purchases.