Society Funding

How are societies funded?

Societies are allocated a budget of £2 per member (up to a maximum of 250 members) unless they become Silver or Gold societies, in which case they can claim up to £3 per member.

You will be notified of your budget allocation, and this information is also posted on the Societies Committee Notice Board.

Societies can also charge membership fees and/or receive additional funding from external bodies. All additional funding/sponsorship must be declared to the union.

Your budget allocation is not a lump sum paid into your bank account. It is the maximum amount that you claim back from the union.

Special Funding

On top of your society budget you can apply for Special Funding for specific activities/projects. You can apply for special funding more than once.

The Societies Committee will consider your application and any extra information you can provide in support of this will make your claim more substantial.

Under normal circumstances, only societies with Silver or Gold award are allowed to make claims for Special Funding. Contact a member of Societies Committee for further information.

How does Society banking work?

The Union's bankers are the Co-operative Bank, and Societies are NOT allowed to hold funds with any other financial institution.

To set up an account you need to collect a form from the Student Activities Centre - return completed forms to the Student Activities Centre NOT directly to the bank.

Your Chair and Treasurer will be the signatories for your bank account. Once the completed forms have been cleared by the bank, you will be provided with a chequebook and paying-in book.

Every society treasurer has to attend Treasurer Training. Training sessions are held regularly and details will be posted on the website and the Societies notice board.

Treasurer training is compulsory or your society will not be registered.

At Treasurer Training all the bank forms will be explained and ideas for budgets and sponsorship will be discussed.

Making a claim

• 1. Collect a claims form from the Student Activities Centre.
• 2. Complete it and attach the relevant receipts with a brief description of property bought.
• 3. If claiming for publicity, please submit a copy of the publicity material.
• 4. Return the form to the Student Activities Centre; it will normally be
  discussed at the next Societies Committee meeting.
• 5. If your claim is approved, money will be transferred from your budget
  allocation into your bank account.
• 6. To get your mits on the money, you will need to use your society cheque book.

Key points to remember

• The claim has to be less than £250
• You cannot claim for food and drink
• Societies cannot claim money from the previous year's budget allocation

Society funding works by refunding societies after money has been spent - remember to keep your receipts safe.

Making a deposit

• 1. Collect a paying in envelope from the Student Activities Centre.
• 2. Complete a paying in slip and take money to The Finance Office (Ground Floor)

Funding basics

*Check the societies committee noticeboard to see if your claims have been approved.

* Submit Special Funding Application forms with your proposal for extra funding well in advance of your event.

* Keeping a log of your society spending will make it easier when you have to write cheques to reimburse people.

*Check your pigeon hole for bank statements regularly.

*Remember to complete change of signatories forms for your bank account if your Chair and/or Treasurer change. You will need the signatures of both the outgoing and the incoming position holders. If your society is going to be run by different people next year, it is a good idea to make this changeover before the summer holidays, while everyone is still around.

*IT IS MANDATORY to submit a final Income & Expenditure Form at the end of the academic year. The information on this form will be taken into account when considering future society recognition.

And remember -

Society accounts do not have overdraft facilities

You are responsible for your accounts and any charges that may be incurred. It's worth checking your society pigeon holes regularly for your bank statement.

Not happy with Societies Committee decision?
Email societiescommitee@umsu.manchester.ac.uk