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Societies at Cambridge University

Cambridge University 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 takes place annually each October. Around 350 societies run stalls to an estimated 10,000 visitors.

Currently the 2007 fair is being reviewed- please send all your feedback, or ask for news on the current review, to the CUSU Services Officer.

Societies Directory - online and printed

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 500.

Equipment Hire Scheme

New for 2007, CUSU is starting an Equipment Hire Scheme for all societies and individuals. So far there is a projector (with portable stand and screen, and remote control), display boards, large A3 signposts, and trolleys for moving equipment (with more purchases being planned). Keep up to date with the Scheme, and find out how to rent equipment.

Societies Storage Space

CUSU is working on acquiring some funding for a limited storage space for societies in the centre of town. Keep up to date with this, or make sure your society is on the societies bulletin.

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.

'Re:fresh' campaign

For the first time this academic year, 2006-7, CUSU has made a new publication just for societies. It's called 'Re:fresh' and aims to be a Lent term equivalent to the Societies Fair, in that it lists many of the Cambridge societies, what they do and their plans for the Lent term. To find out more about it, and to see it online, click here.

Societies Training Scheme

Also, for the firt time this year, CUSU is pilotting 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. Email societies.training@cusu.cam.ac.uk for more details or keep checking the website regularly. Click here for more details.

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.

Communications

• Top-quality photocopying, 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.

Advice

• General Advice on forming and running a society, representation on the Societies Syndicate and Sports Syndicate, Obtaining funding for societies, and general financial/VAT advise.

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