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Societies at the University of Cambridge

Cambridge boasts hundreds of societies for all tastes. CUSU provides a range of services for societies in the University, including the Societies' Fair, vehicle hire, the Societies Directory, and more. Societies are regulated by the University's Societies Syndicate.

Unlike many student unions, however, we do not receive funding from the university for the provision of these facilities. Instead, this funding is provided through the Societies' Syndicate on which we provide representation. However we do administer the CU Vehicle Hire Scheme and our entire range of student services are available for societies to use.

Some basic information on the running of societies at Cambridge University, explaining the system of regulation, is available.

	Societies Fair The Societies Fair (Freshers' fair) takes place annually each October. Around 350 societies run stalls to an estimated 10,000 visitors.
	Societies Directory The Societies Directory is the best way to attract potential new members to find your society. It lists all the Cambridge societies, officially registered or not, and currently lists more than 600.
	events@cam events@cam is our event listings service, available to Societies and other groups in Cambridge University.
	Online voting The CUSU online voting system is available to all Societies in the Societies Directory. You can use it to run cross-campus votes easily and securely.
	Information and advice for Societies We can provide information and advice for Societies. Online advice available includes forming and running a society, representation on the Societies Syndicate and Sports Syndicate, Obtaining funding for societies, and general financial/VAT advice.

Vehicle Hire Scheme

The Cambridge University Vehicle Hire Scheme is administered by CUSU and provides cheap, good-quality transport for University and College societies and sports clubs.

Societies Bulletin

The Societies Bulletin is a low-traffic opt-in mailing list for Society managers, for information on matters of relevance to most Societies. It only includes advise for societies from others or questions asking for advise. As such it might include information on the Societies Fair, information on facilities and venues in Cambridge, and info on training courses for societies. It will not include information advertising a societies events/activities, which are strictly one society's publicity. Mails will always come from the Services Officer or the Sports & Societies Officer, and if there is content, will come out once a week.

Only society managers can receive the societies bulletin, and they must opt-in. To do so, log on to your society on the Societies Directory, select 'update this entry', scroll down and select 'yes' for the mailing list. You can at any time opt-in or opt-back-out of the bulletin.

Societies Training Scheme

CUSU has been piloting a Societies Training Scheme, where in Lent and Easter term, a number of training events will be organised for societies to attend and will be free of charge. Events will centre on four themes: Finances, society management, publicity and event organisation, and health and safety. If you have suggestions or request for assistance and training, email Dom the Coordinator!

Communications

• DTP (publishing) facilities and other services.
• E-mail forwarding service, giving societies a permanent e-mail address (in the form mysociety@cusu.cam.ac.uk) which forwards mail on to the present officers.
• Webspace: The Student-Run Computing Facility (SRCF), in association with CUSU, provides free webspace and computing facilities including e-mail and mailing list facilities, without bureaucracy.
• The Cambridge Student newspaper also runs a listings service. Contact the Business Manager for further information and pricings.

We are always seeking to expand the services, facilities and information we can provide for societies. Please contact the CUSU Coordinator if you have any questions or suggestions.