For many students, the mention of a society can strike fear rather than excitement. Organised fun, you say? Having to get out of bed before midday, you say? Extracurricular activities which don’t revolve beer and banter, you say? Not on my watch, we say.
But to make such sweeping assumptions is to miss out on the joy, camaraderie and sense of community that a student society can bring. If your university doesn’t currently cater to the esoteric tastes you court, then why not start your own? A brilliant way to bring people together and not a bad look for your CV either. With that in mind, here are 5 IDEAL tips for running a student society at university.
START OUT WITH AN ORIGINAL CONCEPT
No campus wants two weekly Peaky Blinders dress-up sessions, right?. Yep, in the student society game, it’s all about being unique, and the more esoteric the better within reason. So, pitch yourself perfectly, with something which will draw the necessary punters but still maintain the passion and obsession of a little geekery; this should be more than just another excuse to down pints. You do not want to be another Bullingdon Club, so have a concept which realises itself beyond the partying. Go too far down a rabbit hole, though, and it’s likely the society won’t get past the ideas stage. It’s a fine balancing act.
THINK ABOUT FUNDING
Nothing in this life is free, and that mantra certainly applies to student societies. Funding is required to get things off the ground but fear not, you won’t need to burn your student loan to do so. What’s more, it’s likely the university will help out if the pitch is plausible, with grants and sponsorship. Plenty of places (pubs, restaurants, health clubs) will be keen to doll out a few freebies if it guarantees your group patronises them regularly, so investigate that opportunity as a priority. All in all, it’s estimated that you’ll only need around £100 to get things off the ground.
GET RECOGNISED
You want to do things legit, properly and above board right? Well, you’re going to need to apply to the university to get recognised, and to do that, 10 signatories, at the very least, are required, though having a team of fully signed up and paid for members certainly won’t hurt your application. Showing you have a few events secured and a demonstrated, clear potential for growth is another surefire to tick the bureaucratic boxes.
PROMOTE & PARTICIPATE
The fire always burns brightest when first lit. It’s vital to keep that flame going in the long run if you’re to make something of your society. To keep people interested and things moving, you should promote yours ruthlessly, using a variety of channels. Freshers’ fair is your first port of call for attracting members, but following this initial rush, make sure you keep the buzz going.
Social media is a great tool for promotion, but word of mouth is also so vital. Branded merchandise like t-shirts and study specific items like pencil cases and bags are a great way to keep your society at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Check out these cracking wholesale gifts and merchandise from Adventa, which can be personalised with your group’s name and logo.
LEAVE A LEGACY
It’s all fun and games for three years, but once you leave university, you should aim for your society to be able to continue without you. The best renditions have been around for generations and have a charitable, philanthropic legacy. Try to ensure that your society is sustainable and long lasting, allowing others to reap the rewards long after you’ve left the building.