Queen Mary University of London
Mile End Road, London E1 4NS
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7882 5061
www.qmul.ac.uk
From the President and Principal
Professor Colin Bailey
FREng, BEng, CEng, PhD, FIStructE, FICE,
MIFireE
Email: xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xx.xx
9 May 2019
Dear Ahmed,
Re: Students’ Union Block Grant
The Students’ Union is at the heart of the student experience, and we greatly value the work that has been
done to raise awareness and champion various issues, and represent the student voice across all parts of the
University.
It is with great pleasure I write to you regarding the block grant, together with an increase in the value of the
block grant, for 2019/20.
Operating budget
1. Cost of Living
We are happy to propose an increase of 2% to the pay budget-
Total amount £72,786
2. Pension Contribution uplift
To cover possible short-term increases in USS pensions –
Total amount £45,129
3. Executive diversity submission - As discussed in our previous meetings you would like to present the
following cases, which we are happy to support.
1. Liberation fund – £4K
2. LGBT+ History - £4K
3. Black History - £4K
4. Asian Heritage – £4K
5. Islamophobia awareness - £4K
Total amount £20K*
*This is a restricted grant. Impact report to be presented at the monthly meeting with the SU and
QMUL’s Executive.
4. Sport Development
Sport Development Apprentice (QMUL four-year CDA degree – with a focus on Community Sport, and
the support of ‘Get Active’. (We understand that QMSU have made an external funding bid to absorb
part of the cost).
Total amount £10K
Patron: Her Majesty the Queen
Incorporated by Royal Charter as
Queen Mary University of London
5. Club sport funding
To be allocated to QMUL student sports clubs.
Total amount £10K
The University will provide a letter of support to the Students’ Union auditors, which is the assurance needed
due to the weak balance sheet, particularly the reserves. This will be provided based on an accepted 5-year
forecast agreed with the University’s Finance Director.
The following summarises the conditions and expectations attached to the Block Grant:
1) The five-year plan is to be reviewed annually to build reserves and strengthen the balance sheet. This will
include six monthly review meetings with the University’s Finance Director as well as presenting to the
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Panel on an annual basis, and to the summer 2019 University’s
Finance and Investment Committee.
2) Existing Restricted Grants are maintained, as per Grant schedule.
3) All Sports Clubs and Societies Grants will be restricted to activities that are
truly accessible to all Queen
Mary students. There should be participation, representation and membership from students across all
faculties, promoting cohesion within the Queen Mary community. Opportunities to access QMSU activities
and facilities must be promoted across all campuses and social media forums.
This approach is aimed to ‘live and breathe’ the Values of the Students’ Union and the University, as
outlined in the new 2030 Strategy.
Our approach also takes aim to satisfy aspects of the recently reviewed Code of Practice in compliance with
the Education Act, point 16. This particular point reads, “QMSU is required to establish bye-laws to
regulate the allocation of resources to groups and clubs. In accordance with Article 58.2.3 of the Articles of
Association, the procedure for allocating resources to groups or clubs shall be fair, set down in writing and
freely accessible to all Students.”
A condition of funding will be to include the above conditions as a standard agenda item at every MOA
Panel meeting. The University’s Director of Student and Academic Services will provide support with the
preparation of the report, making sure that it also includes the following areas:
Use of formal British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) competitive names.
Students’ union infrastructure (including proper use of official website, emails and facilities).
Financial policies and regulations.
Fair and equitable framework for allocating grants based on membership data, statistics and
participation.
The University is committed to the joint Vision of Sport – “
Sport and physical activity will be exemplary, diverse
and inclusive”, and has increased the grant to enable different pathways to sport.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Merger Cup should not be funded through the Block Grant.
Yours sincerely,
Colin Bailey
President and Principal
cc.
Mike Wojcik, Chief Executive Officer, Queen Mary, University of London Students’ Union.
Jo Jones, Director of Finance and Resources
Professor Stephanie Marshall, Vice Principal (Education)
QM SU GRANT SCHEDULE 2019/20
