Leeds University Union (LUU) is the representative body for the students at the University of Leeds, England.
It is led by a group of student sabbatical officers known as the Student Executive, and supported by around 140 full-time staff members, with up to 500 student members of staff at peak times, as well as hundreds of dedicated volunteers. The organisation's aim is to ensure that students love their time at Leeds, by representing, supporting and advising students to improve their academic experience and welfare, and through the provision of social activities. LUU represents students and their interests to the University of Leeds, as well as on a local and national scale.
It was the first Students' Union in the country to be re-verified as 'Excellent' in the NUS Quality Students' Union accreditation in 2019, and continues to hold a Green Impact award at "Excellent" standard and the highest possible standard for the Best Bar None quality mark.
History
The current Union has its roots in the various societies of the Yorkshire College, a college which joined the federal Victoria University in 1887. The Yorkshire College Students Association was the first such society, founded in 1877. In 1890, a single consolidated body was formed to manage and fund the various societies. Rooms and areas within University buildings, which at the time consisted mainly of converted townhouses, were used as common rooms and meeting spaces until 1937 when work began on the current University Union building. Completed in 1939, it was made possible by a large financial donation from W Riley-Smith of Tadcaster. The building was extended in the 1960s as part of the Chamberlin, Powell and Bon development plan for the university campus, and again in the late 1990s.
The representative function of the Union developed later, with no reference to the representation of the student body being included in the university's initial charter in 1904. From 1944, presidents and vice-presidents of the Union were made members of the University Council, to represent student opinion and inform students of the operations of the Council.
Facilities
The Union houses a variety of services, which work towards its aim of representing, supporting and advising students. These services are funded partly by a grant from the university and partly through income from the Union's commercial operations, which consist of a number of retail outlets, bars and nightclubs within the building. As a not-for-profit charity, all money it earns goes back into making what it refers to as 'a better Union'.
Services
The Union's Help & Support service (previously Student Advice and Student Advice Centre) provides specialist advice to students on a range of matters including housing, money, academic and personal or wellbeing concerns, and can offer general advice and financial support. Help and Support also provides advocacy services for academic appeals and works closely with the university on many projects. They also have a team of student Health and Wellbeing Ambassadors, who run events on campus and create wellbeing-focused resources for students
Meanwhile, the Academic Engagement team works to represent students' academic interests to the university. Working with student representatives from each school and level of study, they ensure members' voices are heard by the university to secure a quality educational experience for every student.
Clubs and societies are supported by the Union's Student Activities team, which manages more than 340 clubs and societies. Student Activities also manages the Union's Give It A Go programme and administers the allocation of grant funding to societies. Societies range in topic and include the likes of RAG and Nightline as well as student media groups such as Leeds Student, Leeds Student Radio and Leeds Student Television.
Joblink is an employment agency, which any registered student can access and use. The service lists both permanent jobs and temporary work deemed suitable for students, and also runs workshops aimed at improving employability.
The Union also operates a Minibus Safety Service, called the Nightbus which takes students home from the Union at a charge of only £1. They are also proud to have a partnership with local taxi provider Amber Cars which includes an arrangement to ensure students can get home safely at night when they are not carrying cash.