Starting Up A New Group
Have you got a passion/hobby with nowhere to share it? or have you got a totally new idea that no-one has ever thought of before? Start your own group with the support of your Students' Union, recruit like-minded students and make the most of your time at University.
On this page
How To Start A New Group
Whether you wish to start a new special interest group or sport not already catered for at UPSU, we can provide the resources to get a new a group on their way.
Initially all new groups start out as societies. For those societies that are also sports, they may graduate to become full Athletic Union clubs once they have established their membership. All groups are supported by the Activities Team who provide resources such as vehicle hire, facility booking and guidance to develop your group.
- Contact activities@upsu.net if you have any questions about setting up a new group
- Complete the New Society Proposal Form below.
- Your proposal for a new group will be reviewed and once approved you will be sent a link to gain at least 20 “backers” for the idea.
- Your proposal will then be taken to the next Societies Zone and voted on by fellow students.
- Once accepted you will have the full backing of the Students’ Union including financial support and inclusion on the Union’s membership systems
New Groups Process
Your first job is to check that the society doesn’t already exist. Go to https://membership.upsu.net/ to see what societies we already have.
If someone is already doing that activity you can get in contact with them and get involved via their society page on the website.
If no-one is currently using your idea then great, you can carry on with the rest of the steps!
Next Steps
Now you need to complete the New Society Proposal Form on this page.
You may be able to adopt a previously ratified society if someone has done the same thing within the last two years but has failed to get together a new committee.
If not then you will need to start a new society from scratch.
Ratifying your Society
• Prepare and give a five minute speech at Societies Zone
• The other societies’ presidents’ vote on whether your idea is allowed to become a society.
• Once ratified you then need to have a meeting to set up your budgets, society email and get yourself set up on upsu.net so that you can start taking on members.
Final Steps
• To be accepted as the official committee for a group you will need to host an Annual General Meeting (AGM), in which the members of your group are invited to vote on who they wish to run the group.
• Your team must consist of at least 2 positions for a free society, President and Secretary.
If you have any questions on how to start a society or if you have filled out the paperwork please contact Amber at vpactivities@upsu.net
If you are a current society that is looking to move into the Athletic Union please set up a meeting with the current VP Sports by email (vpsports@upsu.net).
New Society Proposal Form – https://upsu.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Je2XTcbATnqexL
Adopt a group
As well setting up a new group, you may also want to consider adopting a dormant student group.
Dormant groups were active in previous academic years and do not currently have any committee members to lead them. The benefit of adopting a group is that they may have many of the resources, accounts and equipment already available – meaning you can get up and running much faster.
Dormant group list for 2017-18:
Acting Society
Aikido Society
Art and Design Society
Beer Pong Society
Brazilian Ju Jitsu
Circus Skills Society
Creative Writing Society
Criminology
Crossfit Society
Drum and Bass Society
East African- Kenyan Society
English Literature Society
French Society
Hispanic Society
Indonesian Society
International Student Volunteers
Karting Society
Krav Maga
Krishna Consciousness Society
Kuwaiti Society
Lego Society
Marrow Society
Microscopy
Musicians Network Society
Nail Art Society
Nigerian Society
Ninjutsu
Olympic Weightlifting Society
Pakistani Society
Palaeontological Society
Personal Development Society
Pizza Party
Portsmouth Business Union Society
Powerlifting Society
Qatari Society
Rambling
Reggae
Roller Skating and Slalom
Skydive Society
Slow Food on Campus Society
Sneakers and Streetwear
Socialist Workers
Sociology
South-Asian Society
Southampton University Officers’ Training Corps
Sustainability and Corporate Social Awareness Society
Tea Party Society
Television and Pop Culture Society
Ten Pin Bowling Club
Windsurfing Club
Winners Campus Fellowship