THE STUDENTS' UNION AT BU LTD

Registered charity 1189548 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

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Latest income
£4.2m
Latest spending
£4.3m
Registered
2020
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity relies on Bournemouth University block grants and commercial services, noting that sales remain below pre-pandemic levels. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £536,993, though the consolidated position shows a deficit of -£133,046 due to a pension scheme liability. The trustees confirm a continuing reliance on university support and commercial income to maintain operations.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: three months of expenditure (held: £537k)
SUBU has identified that the reserves required to meet the working capital requirements of the charity are three months of expenditure (salaries and operating budgets, plus redundancy costs as well as other committed liabilities). — page 9
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: Sabbatical Trustees received remuneration from employment with the Charity. Total remuneration and benefits: £107,433.
During the year, Sabbatical Trustees have been paid remuneration from an employment with the Charity. The Trustees' remuneration and other benefits received was a total of £107,433 — page 36
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Block grant from Bournemouth University
The Union is in receipt of a block grant from Bournemouth University of £1,187,500 (2024: £1,250,000 which is on an unrestricted basis. — page 46
In addition, the Union and the subsidiary occupies the University’s buildings and The Old Firestation on a rent free basis under a formal lease which is dated 04 December 2017 and ends 24 March 2027. — page 46
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Rent-free occupation of University buildings
The Union is in receipt of a block grant from Bournemouth University of £1,187,500 (2024: £1,250,000 which is on an unrestricted basis. — page 46
In addition, the Union and the subsidiary occupies the University’s buildings and The Old Firestation on a rent free basis under a formal lease which is dated 04 December 2017 and ends 24 March 2027. — page 46
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Pension scheme deficit: £670k
Included within reserves is our element of the SUSS multi-employer pension scheme deficit, as set out in Note 25, and the result of this is to decrease our overall reserves by the deficit in this fund of £670,039
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Griffin Chartered Accountants. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

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

Total income
£4.2m
Total spending
£4.3m
Reserves (reported)
£133k
Employees
175

Reported reserves equal ~0.4 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Register events

Trustees

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

Operates in: Dorset

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/07/2025£4.2m£4.3m
31/07/2024£4.4m£4.5m
31/07/2023£4.3m£4.3m
31/07/2022£4.6m£4.0m
31/07/2021£2.5m£2.4m

Common questions

Is THE STUDENTS' UNION AT BU LTD financially healthy?

The accounts state that the charity relies on Bournemouth University block grants and commercial services, noting that sales remain below pre-pandemic levels. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £536,993, though the consolidated position shows a deficit of -£133,046 due to a pension scheme liability. The trustees confirm a continuing reliance on university support and commercial income to maintain operations. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Griffin Chartered Accountants.