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CARDIFF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' UNION

Registered charity 1137163 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as UNDEB MYFYRWYR PRIFYSGOL CAERDYDD; CUSU

Promoting the interests and welfare of students at Cardiff University during their study and representing, supporting and advising students.Being the recognised representative channel between students and Cardiff University and other bodies.Providing social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities and forums for discussions and debate for the personal development of its students.

Causes: Education/training · Amateur Sport · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£14.0m
Latest spending
£13.1m
Registered
2010
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the group reported a net income of £2,302,539 for the year ended 31 July 2025, driven by a £1,585,026 gain from exiting the SUSS pension scheme via a section 75 buyout. The group's free reserves amounted to £1,803,781, which the trustees consider sufficient to maintain a sound financial base. The charity is dependent on financial support from Cardiff University, including an interest-free loan of £3,004,000 used to settle the pension deficit.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £80,001 - £90,000 — below the median for charities its size (£130k)
“In the band £80,001 - £90,000 . : 1” — page 37
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: at least £1.6m (held: £1.8m)
“The Union's reserves policy is to achieve budget surpluses from its consolidated activities to generate unrestricted free reserves of at least £1.6m.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: Remuneration paid to 13 Sabbatical Officers
“During the year, remuneration including employers pension contributions, was paid to 13 (2024 - 11) Sabbatical Officers in respect of these roles as follows:” — page 38
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Cardiff Union Services Limited
“Within the Union's trading subsidiary, Cardiff Union Services Limited, turnover decreased to £5,543,935” — page 8
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by MHA. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

In the news

Recent coverage mentioning this charity by name (automated match; headlines belong to their publishers).

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/07/2025)

Total income
£14.0m
Total spending
£13.1m
Cost of raising funds
£8.6m
Reserves (reported)
£1.8m
Employees
938

Reported reserves equal ~1.7 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Other trading activities (40% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 61.4% of total income — above the 90th percentile for charities its size (median 3.8%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Cardiff

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/07/2025£14.0m£13.1m
31/07/2024£12.9m£12.8m
31/07/2023£12.4m£12.6m
31/07/2022£12.3m£11.1m
31/07/2021£6.0m£6.0m

Common questions

Is CARDIFF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' UNION financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the group reported a net income of £2,302,539 for the year ended 31 July 2025, driven by a £1,585,026 gain from exiting the SUSS pension scheme via a section 75 buyout. The group's free reserves amounted to £1,803,781, which the trustees consider sufficient to maintain a sound financial base. The charity is dependent on financial support from Cardiff University, including an interest-free loan of £3,004,000 used to settle the pension deficit. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by MHA.

What does the highest-paid employee of CARDIFF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' UNION earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £80,001 - £90,000 band.

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
BRITISH UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES SPORT LIMITED2£359
QUINTIN HOGG TRUST1£540k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER STUDENTS' UNION.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' UNION£14.0m£80,001 - £90,000—unclear—no doubt
UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER STUDENTS' UNION FY2025£4.8m£90,001 - £100,000—unclear—no doubt
CARDIFF MET STUDENTS' UNION FY2025£1.7m——below—no doubt
BANGOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' UNION FY2025£1.6m—1above—no doubt
COVENTRY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' UNION LIMITED FY2025£4.4m——unclear—no doubt
GREENWICH STUDENTS UNION LTD FY2025£4.4m£70,001 - £80,0002below—no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.