THE ARTS UNIVERSITY BOURNEMOUTH STUDENTS' UNION

Registered charity 1152400 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as AUBSU

This is a students' union and all activities are therefore directly connected to the student body on campus.

Objects

THE UNIONS OBJECTS ARE THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION OF STUDENTS AT ARTS UNIVERSITY BOURNEMOUTH FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BY:- PROMOTING THE INTERESTS AND WELFARE OF STUDENTS AT ARTS UNIVERSITY BOURNEMOUTH DURING THEIR COURSE OF STUDY AND REPRESENTING, SUPPORTING AND ADVISING STUDENTS;- BEING THE RECOGNISED REPRESENTATIVE CHANNEL BETWEEN STUDENTS AND ARTS UNIVERSITY BOURNEMOUTH AND ANY OTHER EXTERNAL BODIES; AND- PROVIDING SOCIAL, CULTURAL, SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND FORUMS FOR DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATE FOR THE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ITS STUDENTS.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£258k

Latest spending

£300k

Registered

2013

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The charity reported a deficit of £41,943 for the year, resulting in a decrease in unrestricted reserves to £84,879. Free reserves of £79,661 fell below the trustee target of approximately £100,000, a shortfall attributed to one-off consultancy and temporary outsourcing costs. The accounts state that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £80k; policy: approximately £100,000)

“Free reserves on 31 July 2025 were £79,661, below the Trustee target of approximately £100,000.” — page 6

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Block grant from Arts University Bournemouth

“AUSBU is in receipt of a block grant from the Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) of £225,000 (2024: £275,334).” — page 27

“At 31 July 2025 Arts University Bournemouth owed the Union £91,692. The University has confirmed this balance is repayable on demand” — page 6

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Debt owed by Arts University Bournemouth

“AUSBU is in receipt of a block grant from the Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) of £225,000 (2024: £275,334).” — page 27

“At 31 July 2025 Arts University Bournemouth owed the Union £91,692. The University has confirmed this balance is repayable on demand” — page 6

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Governance: Operational challenges and governance response: The year exposed capacity and governance gaps: the absence of a permanent Student Union Manager and a reduced staff team limited the Union’s ability to set and monitor organisational KPIs, and high workloads contributed to officer burnout.

“The year exposed capacity and governance gaps: the absence of a permanent Student Union Manager and a reduced staff team limited the Union’s ability to set and monitor organisational KPIs, and high workloads contributed to officer burnout.” — page 5

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

In its annual return the charity told the Commission it is also regulated by: Financial Conduct Authority; Ofsted (Office For Standards In Education). This is the charity’s own declaration; it is not a rating and has not been verified by the Commission or by this site.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

Connie Taylor
Darren Taylor
Grace Benson-Quarm
Kate Vessey
Keeley Botha
Lily Smith
Marin Smith
Simon Hilberding
Will Strange

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

Operates in: Bournemouth · Dorset · Hampshire · Poole

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/07/2025	£258k	£300k
31/07/2024	£326k	£404k
31/07/2023	£240k	£269k
31/07/2022	£355k	£278k
31/07/2021	£347k	£272k

Common questions

Is THE ARTS UNIVERSITY BOURNEMOUTH STUDENTS' UNION financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The charity reported a deficit of £41,943 for the year, resulting in a decrease in unrestricted reserves to £84,879. Free reserves of £79,661 fell below the trustee target of approximately £100,000, a shortfall attributed to one-off consultancy and temporary outsourcing costs. The accounts state that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
Sport England	15/07/2019	£10k	Give It A Go