It’s a good idea to plan out your social offer well in advance. Many groups set their plan over summer and use it to sell their group to new members over Welcome. By showing you have a vibrant, active social calendar, you will pique interest in your group and gain more members.

Think about the following:

1. What's the type of activity? 

• Will it allow everyone to participate? Ensure the activity is something everyone of all backgrounds can attend. 
• Does it involve any risks? If yes, fill out a risk assessment form.
• Are your committee willing to help organise it? It should not be down to one person to organise the whole event, especially if it's a big scale one. Everyone involved needs to pull their weight. 

2. Budget

• Does this activity require any money? Can you afford it?
• Is it a fund raising social activity? e.g. Games Night, Portsmouth Monopoly Scavenger Hunt.

3. Organisation

• Do you need to book anything in advance - venues etc?
• Make a timeline of when events need to happen, e.g. advertising, setting up times, etc
• Have a backup plan. Sometimes things happen e.g. people drop out, venues mix up bookings, etc - so have a contingency plan B  just in case. Think of everything that could go wrong and find a solution before it happens. 

4. Post-Event

• After the event has happened, take some time aside with the rest of the organisers/committee to review it, was it a success? If not, why not - what could've been done differently to make it more of a success.

It is important that you show a wide variety of social engagement opportunities within the group. You need to make sure, as committee members, you work together to ensure you are providing a range of opportunities to demonstrate inclusivity within your group throughout the academic year.

For example, a social event to a sporting event that is relevant to your group's general activity might not be to everyone's taste. Attendance to a food fest, a scavenger hunt or end of year meal would demonstrate a range of activities that your members could get involved with.

Whilst you group may have socials or events that take place every year, do ensure you are trying out new things too. The more diversity you have in your social calendar, the better.
 

The following information forms part of the Bristol SU Code of Conduct, which lays out the expected behaviour of all affiliated student groups.

In line with the majority of universities and as a result of a number of very serious incidents at other institutions, Bristol SU and UoB do not permit “initiation ceremonies”.

For this purpose, an initiation ceremony is any event at which members of a group are expected to perform an activity as a means of gaining credibility, status or entry into that group. This peer pressure is normally (though not explicitly) exerted on first year students or new members and may involve the consumption of alcohol, eating various food stuffs, nudity and behaviour that may be deemed humiliating.

In the past, students at UoB and elsewhere have caused criminal damage, been seriously injured and, in at least three cases, died as a result of having to take part in an initiation. As well as this, initiation ceremonies are intimidating, humiliating and can amount to bullying. They do not encourage the welcoming and inclusive student groups that Bristol SU wants.

Social activities such as welcome evenings, team meals, social nights, trips away and celebration events that welcome new members and offer a positive first impression of university life are encouraged. The following rules must be followed:

• All activities must be opt-in and have no bearing on the acceptance into the student group or team/squad selection etc
• Peer pressure must not be exerted on individuals
• Activities must not be humiliating, unlawful or degrading
• Activities must not involve the forced consumption of any fluid/substance
• Taking of alcohol to the activity/event must not be made a condition of attendance
• If activities involve alcohol then non-alcoholic drinks must be made available
• Activities must not bring the reputation of Bristol SU, UoB or the student group into question or disrepute

The organiser of the event, individual Club Captains or group Presidents and/or the groups as a whole may be held responsible for an “initiation ceremony” and may have University disciplinary action taken against them (including suspension or expulsion).

We know, from Rate My group Feedback, that members overwhelmingly want more than just socials at the pub. Increasingly, students are drinking less and they wish to see this reflected in club and society social offers, therefore we have designed a tool to help groups find ideas for alcohol-free events.