This page contains information on how the Students' Union functions, such as:

Student Leadership including how we are funded!
Trustee Board
Student Council
Complaint process
Student Leadership

Student Leadership

Executive Officers

Each year, a set of full-time Executive Officers are elected by the whole student population to work full time in the SU for the year. They keep in touch with your views and tackle all issues to do with student life and making sure the Union offers what you want. All of the Executive Officers sit on the Union’s Trustee Board.

Part-Time Officers

Part-Time Officers are crucial to the future development of the Union. Their key responsibility is to make sure that the group they represent receives the support and services they require. They seek to improve the overall experience students have during their time at the University of Leicester. Also elected by students, they work alongside our Full-time Executive Officers.

Trustee Board

Why do we have a Trustee board?

In 2010, the Students’ Union became a charity registered to the Charity Commission; following the 2006 Charities Act and requirements for all Students’ Unions to become full charities. As a result, a Trustee Board was established to provide guidance, expertise and strategic oversight of the Students’ Union.

The Trustee Board has ultimate responsibility for the overall management of the Union. This responsibility is delegated on a day-to-day basis to the Chief Executive and staff team. The Trustees must ensure that the Union remains legally compliant and solvent, and in ‘safe hands’ in accordance with our Articles of Association and the Bye-laws.

The Trustees meet at least four times per year and are the key decision-making body at the Students’ Union. Generally, the Board does not get involved in the political issues or policy setting, which is led by the full-time Executive Officers and students through Union Council and Student Ideas.

The Trustees ensure that the Students’ Union has a clear vision and strategic direction; they ensure that there are enough funds to do the things that students expect us to offer and that we comply with all regulatory requirements. This also involves the Trustees regularly discussing the Union’s performance and its Strategic plan; the annual budget and any major expenditure and ensuring that our work is rooted in our core charitable purpose.

What is a Trustee?

For information regarding the role of a Trustee in a Charity, please see:

Charity Commission or Government Guidance on Trustees.

Who are the members of the Trustee board?

Now, the Trustee Board is comprised of 10 Trustees:

Four of the Trustees are elected full-time Executive Officers, who are also responsible for representing the student body and elected in the annual election process. For 2024/25, they are Joshitha Venkataraman, Ajay Reddy, Aishwarya Kote, and Reed James.

One Trustee is a current student at the University. This student is appointed on the basis of the skills they can bring to Trustee Board, their name is Sian Worton.

Five of the Trustees are External Trustees who are appointed because of their skills, experience, interest and commitment to the Union. They serve for up to two terms of four years. They are David Moore, Julia Bates, Nicola Hurley, Phil Smith, and Sabina Tariq

You can find more information on trustee's, their roles and responsibilities here.

What are the Trustees’ role descriptions?

To act as Trustees of the Union, ensuring that all of its services are relevant with positive effects on students.
To abide by the Trustees’ Code of Conduct.
To abide by the laws of the United Kingdom and by the Union’s Constitution.
To promote the purpose, vision, aims and objectives of the Union.
To actively commit to reducing the environmental impact of the Union, whilst highlighting the best ethical practice.
To carry out all duties with due regard to Health and Safety, Customer Care and Equal Opportunities Policies
To be Directors of the Union and other appropriate subsidiary companies (where eligible in company law), having legal responsibility for its services.

Meet the Trustees

Julia Bates

Julia Bates is a highly experienced and FCIPD-qualified HR generalist with a career spanning over two decades, including over a decade in the charity sector. With a degree in Human Resource Management from Northumbria University and has held various leadership roles in different organisations, her work embodies her expertise in HR and organisational culture, as well as her passion for charitable work.

Julia is currently the Director of People at Rainbows Hospice for Children & Young People who oversees their People, Facilities, and Deputy Executive support functions. Here at the University of Leicester Students’ Union, Julia serves as the Chairperson of our Trustee Board.

Philip Smith

Philip Smith is currently the Chief Executive Officer at the University of Warwick Students’ Union and he has been in the students’ union sector for over a decade specialising in areas including commercial development & operation and developed his expertise in students’ union and social enterprise.

Philip is now one of the Lay Trustees of our Trustee Board here at LSU.

David Moore

David graduated from the University of Leicester and subsequently followed a career in international banking mainly with Citibank where he worked for 33 years retiring as a Managing Director. Further to retirement, he brought his financial expertise to bear in the fields of higher education and healthcare. He served on the Council of the University of Leicester, including a period as Treasurer, and continues as a co-opted member of the University’s Investment Committee. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Laws by the University in 2023. David served as a non-executive director on the Boards of two NHS Trusts: Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust from 2012 to 2018, and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust from 2018 to 2022. He was also a Public Member of Network Rail between 2008 and 2011 and is currently a trustee of the British Cardiovascular Society and the Northamptonshire Health Charitable Fund. He volunteers his time as an adviser at Citizens Advice in Daventry.

Sabina Tariq

Sabina is a legal expert with over a decade of experience in the field. With her passion and expertise in commercial advice and guidance across technology, marketing & procurement, and brand/IP protection, she is now serving as Senior Legal Counsel at comparethemarket.com.

Nicola Hurley

Nicola is an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIP) and an honorary associate professor at Nottingham University Business School’s Haydn Green Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. With her career as senior executive in different companies and servitude as a trustee in different organisations that focus on charitable work and young people’s development, she is passionate about people and dedicated in and helping people to realise their potential and achieve their goals in life.

Sian Worton (student Trustee)

I'm currently a third year Criminology and Forensic Psychology BSc student and I'm extremely grateful to be your student trustee at the University of Leicester Students’ Union. Last year, I worked as the Part-Time Accessibility Officer and I loved supporting this amazing student community. I look forward to representing Leicester students' best interests again this year.

Matt Schofield

Matt is the President of LSU for 2025/26. Find out more.

Course: Financial Economics and Banking

Hometown: The Peak District

Cleo Cornou

Cleo is the Communities Officer for LSU for 2025/26. Find out more.

Course: Criminology with Forensic Psychology

Hometown: Le Havre, France

Aishwarya Kote

Aishwarya is the Education Officer of LSU for 2025/26. Find out more.

Course: International Business MSc

Hometown: Hyderabad, India

When are the Trustee Board Meetings?

28^th August 2024
20^th November 2024
19^th February 2025
16^th April 2025
25^th June 2025

Minutes of previous Meetings

Sub Committees

Finance & Audit Committee

The purpose of the Finance Committee is to ensure that the Union meets approved income and expenditure targets, via the annual budget process and the monthly management accounts. The committee will also approve additional one off and capital expenditure. The members of the Committee are required to review and consider appropriate methods of overseeing the Guild’s financial activities. The Committee meets three times per year and the composition is as follows;

2 x Lay Trustees (1 Chair)
2 x Executive Officers
1 x Student Trustee
Chief Executive and Finance Manager or nominees in an advisory capacity.

HR & Remuneration Committee

The purpose of the HR & Remuneration Committee is to ensure that the human resources of the Union are working effectively to deliver the organisation’s strategy and policy. The group also review pay and reward policies of Union staff. The Committee meets two times per year and the composition is as follows;

2 x Executive Officers (1 Chair)
2 x Lay Trustees
Chief Executive and HR Manager or nominees in an advisory capacity.

Risk Management Committee

The purpose of the Risk Management Committee is to ensure that the Union complies with all relevant laws and regulations and that an internal system of accountability is formally set up. The members of the Committee are required to monitor and scrutinise the Union’s risk register in depth. The Committee meets 2 times per year and the composition is as follows;

2 x Lay Trustees (1 Chair)
2 x Executive Officers
Chief Executive and Director of Membership Services or nominees in an advisory capacity.

How Can Students Influence the Trustees?

Whilst the Trustees have to take a number of decisions that may not seem directly relevant to your student experience, it is vital that they are accountable to the members of the Students' Union.

As members of the Students' Union, you can influence the Trustees in a number of ways:

By contacting the Executive Officers

Joshitha Venkataraman – su-president@le.ac.uk

Ajay Reddy – su-sportsandsocieties@leicester.ac.uk

Aishwarya Kote – su-liberation@leicester.ac.uk

Reed James – su-communities@le.ac.uk

By initiating the removal of a Trustee (Student, External or Officer Trustee)

Should you have reason to call for an External or Student Trustee to be removed from office, there is a set procedure that you must follow as the Students’ Council need to support the removal.

There are two ways in which a Trustee can be removed from their position if –

A motion of no confidence in the Trustee is passed by a two-thirds majority in a secret ballot of Student Council. When a motion of no confidence is submitted the Trustee in question has the right to submit a written defence to the meeting in question. If the motion is passed then the Trustee would be immediately be removed from their position.
A Trustee may be suspended if a majority resolution of no confidence is passed by the Trustees, the Trustee in question the resolution of no confidence is then presented to the Student Council to consider a motion of no confidence, which if passed by a two-thirds majority would cause the Trustee to be removed from Office.

Should you want advice on this, you can speak to the President who is Chair of Trustee Board or our Student Voice Manager

Joshitha Venkataraman – su-president@le.ac.uk

Ian (Student Voice Manager) – irb2@le.ac.uk

What is the Union Memorandum & Articles?

The key governing document of a charitable company is its Memorandum and Articles of Association. A charitable company is registered and regulated both by Companies House and by the Charity Commission. This means that if a charitable company wishes to make any changes to its governing document, it will need to register the changes with Companies House and with the Charity Commission. If the changes are regulated changes, the charity will require the prior written consent of the Charity Commission before making such changes.

Our Memorandum & Articles can be found here

What is the Union Constitution & Bye Laws?

The Students' Union's constitution and bye-laws is a list of rules and regulations which the Students' Union works to. It covers areas such as Students' Union Officers’ powers, Union Council, our democratic structures, sports club and society regulations, the Union complaints procedure and our democratically passed policies.

Our Constitution & Bye-Laws can be found here

Leicester 100

Student Council

The Union is run by students, for students. The Leicester 100 is a representative panel that sits at the heart of decision-making within our Students’ Union. They will discuss and vote on student policies/ideas, determining whether they are to be passed and become Union Policy. They also feed into key issues that are impacting students experience through feedback/forum sessions. Leicester 100 meets three times per academic year!.

As we are led by students, it is crucial we aim for the voices we hear to be reflective of our wider student population. At Leicester, we have a vastly diverse student body, and as a Students’ Union, we have an established commitment to reflect this diversity. As part of this commitment, we have established the Leicester 100 to centre this across our policy voting system. The ‘100’ is selected to proportionally represent the wider student population, measured against the protected characteristics as outlined in the Equality Act 2010. Representation of these characteristics is key, particularly in positions of policy regulation and approval, to work as a safeguard against monopolising, marginalising views, and to operate on behalf of our students as a whole.

In September of each year the Union opens up applications for to be part of the Leicester 100, all students are welcome to apply and students receive payment for their training and attendance at the meetings. The Leicester 100 is ormed in such a way to be as representative as possible of the Student population.

Decisions Made By Leicester 100

Leicester 100 discusses motions/proposals that either are been presented by a Council or students have submitted via the Ideas system. The Leicester 100 considers the motion/proposal by hearing speeches for and against and then have small group discussions before feeding back to the chair. At the end of this a vote is held and if there is a two thirds majority in favour then the motion passes and it becomes Union Policy for 3 years, if it receives between 50% and two thirds then the Leicester 100 will recommend that the Union holds an all student vote, this is called a referendum. If a proposal receives less than 50% of members voting in favour then it is rejected.

Once a motion has passed at the Leicester 100 an Task and Finish group is set up to implement the outcomes, any students are welcome to get involved

In the last 12 months the Leicester 100 have discussed the following proposals/motions

Lowering Food Pricing on Campus
Extended Bus Operation Timings
Revitalise the Botanical Gardens and Allotments to Function as a Community Garden
Transition the University of Leicester Catering Across University Campuses to More Plant-Based Options
Allow neurodivergent students extra time in assignments
Revise the Discounts and Scholarships Programme
More Ethical Banking for the Students’ Union
Demilitarise University of Leicester
The development of a University-Centralised Behaviour Policy

To find out more information and to view the minutes from the Leicester 100 meetings visit here

Student Ideas

One of our key goals as a Union is to always be listening and acting on your ideas to improve your University experience. Any student can submit your ideas via our simple Ideas System, as well as rate and comment on existing ideas from other students.

How Do I Submit An Idea?

You can submit your idea on how the Union or the University can improve its work here

What Happens To My Idea After Submission?

If the idea is something simple and straight-forward, we will implement the change as soon as possible. For anything more complex, it will be opened to students for comment and approval; ahead of been passed to the relevant Council if it reaches 50 positive votes, who will be there to help with the implementation or development of a motion/proposal to the Leicester 100.

Councils

To conduct project work, make decisions and formulate policies within their specific area – helping to support the Ideas System and the Leicester 100 the Students’ Union have 5 Councils that have a specific focus or theme. They are recruited during the summer period each year with members working together on projects/campaigns to enhance the student experience. They help to support students who have submitted ideas that are relevant to their Council.

Your Voice Is Vital

We are YOUR Students’ Union, led by YOU. If you have an idea on anything we can do better, please let us know!

Complaints Process

SU Service Complaints

Please email su-complaints@le.ac.uk with any concerns regarding the services the SU provides, the Activities Officer will alongside the relevant Staff member ensure that complaints are resolved as outline under Ordinance XXII

SU Staff Complaints

Complaints about members of SU staff are to be made to the Chief Executive Officer, who will allocate an appropriate investigating officer within the Union staff team, as per the Union's staff handbook

SU Elected Officer Complaints

The Complaints Committee shall deal with complaints against Part Time and Executive Officers, complaints submitted against other volunteer elected positions shall be investigated in-line with the Union Complaint Matrix, to Please email su-complaints@le.ac.uk with any concerns.

And Finally