What is Society Development?
Society Development is an opportunity for society leaders to work with union staff to identify, develop and improve their society's activities and aims through a structured development plan and level scheme.
Through the society development scheme, societies will be able to improve the standard, range and accessibility of activities they offer, upskill society officers and members, and raise the profile of their society within the wider UCL community. Societies can achieve a bronze, silver or gold development level and the chance to win a funding prize for their society based on the strength of their nomination and supporting evidence.
How do we get started?
To get started, download the Society Development Plan Template and browse the development criteria below to get some inspiration. If you would like to arrange a development meeting, email the Activities Team at su.activities@ucl.ac.uk.
How do we nominate our society?
Society Development Level Nomination Form
Societies can nominate themselves for a development level to reflect their achievements during the 2024-25 academic year through our webform. The deadline to nominate your society for a Society Development Level in 2024-25 is 5:00pm on Wednesday 16 April.
Before you nominate your society for a Society Development Level, please ensure:
- Your society is affiliated with Students' Union UCL
- Your society meets the minimum society criteria:
- You have 30 members
- You have completed Annual Registration
- Your committee members have completed the required training modules
- All committee members have bought a standard membership to their own society
What are the criteria?
Contributing factors to the levels have been broken down into key areas you should consider when creating your Society Development Plan and when completing your nomination. This is not an exhaustive list of items and other equivalent developments that have helped your society excel in an area will be considered.
When nominating your society for a Society Development Level, you need to clearly demonstrate how you meet as many of the criteria as possible and the steps you have taken to develop your society. Your nomination will be evaluated based on how many criteria you meet – the more you meet, the better!
Please include as much evidence as you can within the word limit on the nomination form. We recommend submitting a file for evidence at the end, but make sure all your content is collated on one file per society.
Society Engagement and Activity
- Membership
This society has increased its membership by 10% from the previous academic year
This society has attended two events aimed at recruiting new members (e.g. Welcome Fair, January Welcome)
This society has run at least three taster sessions aimed at recruiting new members over the academic year
- Society Events and Activities
This society has run an event or workshop with an external speaker
This society has run an event that develops career insights for its members
This society has provided opportunities for its members to gain a skill or qualification
This society has run a new or innovative large-scale event
This society has partnered with another society or club for an event
- Communications and Social Media
This society posts varied and professional content on social media on a regular basis
This society has ensured that all communications are compatible with screen readers and all videos are subtitled
This society has increased their social media following by 10% on at least one platform
This society sends out regular (at least monthly) newsletters to its members
This society has been the focus of a news story published on the Students' Union UCL website
This society has contributed content to a Students' Union UCL newsletter
Society Leadership
- Democracy and Committee
This society has attended a development meeting with the Activities Team
This society has an up-to-date Development Plan that has been submitted to the Activities Team
The society has frequently (at least termly) updated their development tracker throughout the year
This society has held at least three minuted committee meetings per term
This society has achieved 60% voter turnout in a by-election (e.g. term 1 by-election)
- Budgeting and Finance
This society has kept an accurate record of its finances and discussed the budget during a development meeting
This society has diversified its sources of funding via sponsorship or a Friends' Trust grant
This society has run an event that raised over £200.00 for their non-grant account
- Sustainability
This society has promoted one measure of sustainability (e.g. ensuring no single-use plastics are used at events)
This society has held a specific event that aims to raise awareness around issues of sustainability
This society has endeavoured to ensure that all products purchased for activities and events are sustainably sourced or recycled
This society has worked with the Student Sustainability Ambassadors or Sustainability Officer to create a spotlight article, workshop or event
- Welfare
This society has introduced an initiative or event in which welfare was the leading priority
This society has partnered with a mental health charity for an event or fundraising campaign
This society has run regular mental health/wellbeing events for members
This society has circulated information to all members which signposts all Students' Union UCL wellbeing resources and services
All committee members have attended the Active Bystander training
This society has arranged Active Bystander training for its members
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
This society has run an initiative to improve Postgraduate engagement or postgraduate specific activity
This society has activities that are suitable and adaptable for disabled students
This society can demonstrate its membership and activities are good value for money
All access information about activity and event venues is published on the society webpage, events and social media
This society has hosted a Liberation Month event or actively engaged with a Students' Union UCL campaign
This society has partnered with a community organisation or Union Officer to support underrepresented groups taking part in its activities more regularly
This society actively hosts activities and events that are not centred on alcohol or held in alcohol related spaces
Community Impact (UCL and beyond)
- Students' Union UCL Community
This society has run an event at UCL East
This society has an active team in a TeamUCL League
This society has run a workshop/showcased/performed in a Union wide event
This society has run an event or taken part in a Union event relating to Intercultural Engagement
This society actively engages with society alumni
- Volunteering
This society has actively promoted volunteering opportunities to its members
This society has run at least one one-off volunteering event through the Volunteering Service
This society has set up a recurring volunteering project through the Volunteering Service
- Fundraising
This society has run one fundraising event or campaign (raising over £100.00)
This society has run two or more fundraising events or campaigns (raising over £250.00)
This society has raised over £1000.00 throughout the year
Innovation
- Innovation
We will also consider other equivalent ideas that have helped your society excel and develop. Please include any other events, campaigns or projects your society feels is worth noting on your nomination form