IT’S BACK! Returning for 2024, Group of the Month is your group's chance to shine.
- Has your group been successful at a competition?
- Have you been involved in the local community?
- Do you think your group has been outstanding and want more people to know about it
Celebrating the student groups that go above and beyond to make your experience the best it can be, Bristol SU Group of the Month recognises the amazing things our affiliated student groups have been up to and helps to celebrate those achievements across the wider student community. Successful groups will have done something new, innovative, or inspirational whilst representing Bristol SU and the wider student community.
2024/25 Winners
Congratulations to March's Group of the Month... The History Society!
History Society organised an LGBTQ+ History month showcase which encompassed undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and lecturers – each of whom gave short 10-minute lectures on a topic of their choosing relating to LGBTQ+ History. Topics included constructing homosexual identities in C20th America, a colonial history of transgender women and lesbians in Morocco, creating asexual histories and more! They also secured funding from the history department to provide snacks and drinks in a breakout space after the mini lecturers. They collaborated with the LGBTQ+ society to advertise the event, and advertised on TVs in the Arts Complex, so that it reached more people outside the history department. As well as organising this event, they gathered some educational material such as reading suggestions and local history guides relating to LGBTQ+ History which they posted on thier social media. They hope this will encourage their members to engage more with LGBTQ+ History.
Want to know what previous winning groups did? Here's a list of our previous winners:
Previous Winners
2024/25 Winners
February 2024 - The Bristol Paws Project!
This Christmas, the Bristol Paws Project filled 50 backpacks to give to the animals of those experiencing homelessness over the Christmas period. The group raised funds for the packs by holding a pub quiz where students donated money which was used to fill backpacks with dog food, poo bags, a variety of biscuits and dental sticks, and toys! The backpacks themselves are useful to the group's homeless clients, providing them with a clean and dry place to store their belongings. The Bristol Paws Project are shining examples of Bristol SU's values of wellbeing and community by supporting the local homeless community and their beloved pets. Well done to the Bristol Paws Project and keep up the great work!
December 2024 - Fashion Forward Society!
Fashion Forward Society produced their annual 'Trashion' show - a fashion show in which all outfits are made from sustainable materials and gave students the opportunity to develop their skills and present their designs. This year's event was sold out, with all ticket proceeds being donated to anti-modern slavery charity Unseen UK, which was chosen to highlight forced labour and slavery that can be involved in the creation of fast fashion. Through ticket sales, the society donated £2200 to this charity. Fashion Forward Society and their amazing Trashion event demonstrates Bristol SU's values of sustainability and community, because shopping is something every student partakes in and Fashion Forward Society have highlighted that fashion and minimising harm can work hand-in-hand.
November also saw loads of other student groups volunteering! Want to read about them? Click this link to read our article!
November 2024 - Pilates Society!
Only affiliated two years ago, Pilates Society has worked hard to develop its dedicated community. Pilates has grown to nearly 300 members, have an Instagram following of 1.5k people, and have tripled their committee from four to twelve members. The group offers nine weekly classes at lower prices than external studios, creating an accessible experience for members. Pilates Society embody Bristol SU's values of Wellbeing, Community, and Fun, and demonstrate that making a new student group can be rewarding with care, committment, and dedication to providing an amazing experience for like-minded students!
October 2024 - Malaysian and Singaporean Students’ Association!
MSSA worked hard to welcome their freshers this summer, even when the committee has been back in their home countries and not in Bristol! The society organised a virtual orientation, as well as two physical orientations in both Singapore and Malaysia. The group successfully eased the freshers' worries regarding going to Bristol and gave them opportunities to make new friends. This is an amazing achievement that shows that the impact of Bristol SU societies can be felt across the globe. Well done to MSSA!
2022/23 Winners
April 2023 - AeroSoc
- A trip to Toulouse
- Winning the Engineering Societies' Strava fundraiser competition, getting over 100 students involved
- Meanwhile, running industry events and a successful AGM & election
- Created and executed a Women in Aerospace Month
- AeroSoc ball
- And they achieved gold in Bristol SU Accreditation!
March 2023 - University of Bristol Lifesaving Club
- Had a great competition in Bristol that highlighted the amazing team spirit this group has
- Recently ran a 'Talk to Us' campaign for member feedback
- Found time to run member socials
- Provide the opportunity to swim and do first aid - equipping their members with loads of skills
February 2023 - Malaysian Cultural Society
- Hosted their amazing Lunar New Year event
- Ran a successful and well engaged Give it A Go! session
- Organised collaborations with other societies
- Dedicated to accessibility and helping others discover culture of Malaysia
January 2023 - A Cappella
- Hosting their hugely successful Best of the South West contest
- Being professional, networking across the UK and collaborating with other student groups
- Organising successful seasonal concerts and socialising opportunities
- Engaging with and building their alumni connections
December 2022 - Engineers Without Borders
- Amazing 'Designathon: Solve the Rainforest' event was a huge success. They:
- Collaborated with other SU Groups
- Planned for and run the large-scale and well attended event series
- Engaged with the important topic of the climate emergency
November 2022 - Archery
- Planned and ran an outstanding welcome program. Over the month they:
- Hosted two sold-out Give it a Go! taster sessions
- Ran re-introduction sessions for intermediate archers
- Registered the highest number of novice members to date
- Ran a three-week preseason program
- Offered resources and advice to transgender and nonbinary archers
2021/22 Winners
March 2022 - Galenicals (Medics)
- Wrote a campaign in support of LGBT+ rights and had nearly 600 members sign a letter to the Medical School.
- Campaign raised awareness of the harms of ‘conversion therapy’
- Showed support for the LGBT+ community
- Began conversations with the Medical School on formally signing GLADD’s charter committing to supporting the banning of ‘conversion therapy’.
February 2022 - University of Bristol Church Choir
- Fundraising and community outreach work, including:
- Community carol singing with Oakfield Residents’ Association
- Collaborating with Bedminster BID and St Pauls Church
- Training to lead ‘Singing for the Brain’ sessions by the Alzheimer’s’ Society
- Raising money for the Human Dignity Trust and Aid Box Community
January 2022 - Bristol Islamic Society
- Fundraised £8,600 during Charity Week that included bake sales on campus, sports events, games nights, sponsored runs and cycles and documentary screenings
- Ran multiple islamophobia Awareness Month events
- Took part in an interfaith dinner
- Held a large auction dinner for 120 people, partnering with local businesses and peers from UWEIsoc
November 2021 - Bristol CivSoc
- Had an incredible start to the year and provided an exceptional membership experience to new and returning students.
- Ran a successful graduate and undergraduate recruitment evening with 110 people in attendance
- Expanded their CivSoc Buddies scheme to include all year groups
- Held a busy families ‘World Food Day’ event
- Started running coffee mornings as an informal, alcohol-free option for members
- Ran tours of the Engineering Department for freshers
- Reinstated Engineering Netball teams into Intramural
- Added International and Postgrad networks to their offer
- Changed their family names to better represent their members and be more diverse
- Ran ‘Red Bull Basement’
2020/2021 Winners
Boat Club
- For fundraising and membership experience. The group raised £1500 for an adaptive single scull, to be able to offer disability rowing to students and wider community and recruited a whopping 60 novices on their Learn to Row scheme
Chaos (Physics Society)
- For membership experience. The group worked hard to provide multiple membership experiences this month including hosting a successful and inclusive International Conference, Sourcing high-profile speakers for a debate on dark matter, collaborating with 5 other physics societies in the SW, implementing member feedback including new fleeces!
East African Society
- For membership experience. The East African Society (EASOC) continued to cultivate its connection with the other EASOCs across the UK and America. They took part in organising and hosting a virtual valentine social collaborating with 10 East African Societies.
Bristol Music Society (BUMS)
- For showcasing their members. The group had an amazing run-up to Christmas, showcasing performances from their members every day in their BUMS Advent Calendar.
Engineering Design Society
- For their wellbeing week campaign. Thier Wellbeing Week was well thought-out, timely and of huge benefit to their membership. In a month when engaging with members was tricky for some, they pro-actively reached out, offering opportunities for engagement and wellbeing support.
Salsa Society
- For membership experience. Organising virtual collaborations with Salsa groups across the UK to help combat social isolation during covid and adapting face-to-face classes, so partners can dance whilst socially distanced with the aid of a bamboo cane!
2019/2020 Winners
- Men's Hockey Club: For campaigning for men’s mental health.
- Khaleeji Society: For membership experience
- ACS: For membership experience and fundraising
- American Football: Membership experience, diversity, and inclusion
- Lifesaving Club: Event management and membership experience
- CoppaFeel!: For providing a service to the wider student community
What do winning groups get?
- A certificate stating how fab the group is
- Exclusive commemorative pins badges for committee members
- Promotion on Bristol SU socials
- Digital kitemark for your SU website
Who can nominate?
Nominations can be made by anyone who is proud of the achievements the group has made in the past month. This could be a committee member, group member, a supporter or even a partner the group collaborates with.
What are the nomination criteria?
Nominations must be for an event or activity that:
- Is run by a Bristol SU affiliated Student Group
- Has happened in the month you are nominating for
- Has made a significant impact on members or the wider community
- Aligns with Bristol SU values (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion / Wellbeing / Community / Sustainability / Fun)
Deadlines
Winners are announced on the first Tuesday of each month, and our nomination deadlines are set for one week before the announcements are made, so make sure you submit your nominations on time!
