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Categories for National Societies Awards 2018

Find out more about our awards and what our judges are looking for. You can then nominate your Society for one of our awards here.

Struggling to submit a nomination? You may need to create a guest account for our website. Click on Create Account at the top of our page to do this.

Best Society

This award is given to the Society considered to be the best group in the United Kingdom, from any category of Society.

  • Fully achieved Aims and Objectives
  • Managed finances professionally throughout the academic year
  • Showed unique qualities
  • Activities of the Society have in some way empowered their members to either achieve more as an individual or positively impact on their University community
  • Made excellent use of SU initiatives and resources
  • Shown attention to (and appreciation of) membership
  • Provided evidence of good handover planning to their successors
  • Collaborated with other student groups

Best Academic & Careers Society

This award is given to the Society that has tried to improve the academic or employability experience for their members across the whole academic year. Examples of this would include societies that focus on giving students help with their studies through arranging guest lectures, or improving their employability prospects by inviting potential employers to networking events with students.

  • Fulfilled as many Best Society criteria as possible
  • Gone the extra mile to ensure members feel settled within their course
  • Attracted members across different study types where possible
  • Organised a variety of events
  • Improved employability prospects for their members
  • Good communicational links with their department/school/University

Best Arts & Performance Society

This award is given to the Society that most successfully encourages either participation or performance in the arts, and is for both recreational and competitive groups

  • Fulfilled as many Best Society criteria as possible
  • Organised a variety of creative events
  • Worked hard to encourage participation of members or a high standard of achievement
  • Positive contribution to the arts through showcasing of talents
  • Provided opportunities for members to improve their talents and skills through working with others

Best Campaigning Society

This award is given to the Society that has made the best campaigning contribution in their local area or institution

  • Fulfilled as many Best Society criteria as possible
  • Organised a wide range of successful events
  • Worked hard to ensure increased awareness or engagement with their cause
  • Had a positive influence on local decision-makers

Best Campaign, Project or Initiative

This award is given to the Society who has organised the best campaign, volunteering project or other initiative, making a positive impact at their institution, in their local community or further afield. This award is particularly for the campaign, project or initiative itself, so may recognise a collaboration between groups.

  • Was student-led and run by the Society themselves
  • Had unique qualities
  • Benefits others without payment for the group
  • Went above and beyond the main aims of the Society
  • Had a measurable impact on particular groups of people

Best Cultural & Faith Society

This award is given to the Society that most successfully celebrates a culture or faith across the year. This includes faith groups or any group that defines itself as celebrating a culture.

  • Fulfilled as many Best Society criteria as possible
  • Gone the extra mile to ensure members feel settled at their institution
  • Organised a variety of events
  • Shared or educated about their culture or faith at their institution
  • Supported those from their culture or faith at their institution
  • Positively created an intercultural/interfaith dialogue at their institution

Best FE Society

This award is given to the Society that has made the best positive impact at their College, improving the experiences of students studying at your institution.

  • Fulfilled as many Best Society criteria as possible
  • Organised a variety of events, activities or campaigns
  • Gone the extra mile to ensure members feel included at their institution
  • Had unique qualities

Best Hobby & Interest Society

This award is given to the Society that has best represented their hobby or interest to students at their institution or across the country, and covers both competitive and recreational groups

  • Fulfilled as many Best Society criteria as possible
  • Organised a variety of events
  • Worked hard to encourage participation of members or a high standard of achievement
  • Promoted and celebrated the unique qualities that your Society brings to your institution
  • Ran activities that are appropriate for different levels of interest and skill
  • Celebrated the shared interest that unifies and brings together the members of your Society

Best Media Society

This award is given to the Society that has consistently across the year delivered the best media output

  • Fulfilled as many Best Society criteria as possible
  • High levels of creativity and innovation in the content produced
  • Created content which appeals to and is consumed by a diverse range of students
  • Worked collaboratively on coverage with other media groups at their institution
  • Have helped to promote student life on campus by working with other societies, sports clubs and their Students Union.
  • Demonstrated a long lasting strategy and vision for the future of the group.

Best New Society

This award is for the best new Society considered to have gone the extra mile since affiliation (in the past 12 months)

  • Fully achieved aims
  • Managed finances professionally throughout the academic year
  • Activities of the Society have in some way empowered their members to either achieve more as an individual or positively impact on their University community
  • Made excellent use of SU initiatives and resources
  • Focused efforts on gaining membership
  • Provided evidence of realistic planning for both short term and long term aims
  • Held multiple successful events

Best Society Event

This award is given to the Society who runs the best event which is seen to fulfil the criteria below:

  • Was student-led and run by the Society themselves
  • Was well attended
  • Was well publicised
  • Had good financial planning
  • Fulfilled at least one aim of the Society
  • Was open and accessible to all
  • Had unique qualities
  • Was well executed
  • Took safety implications into account

Best Volunteering & Charity Society

This award is given to the Society that has made the best positive impact through volunteering or charity work in their area

  • Fulfilled as many Best Society criteria as possible
  • Organised a wide range of successful events
  • Worked hard to support their area of focus
  • Made a tangible and measurable contribution through their work
  • Supported the work of either local or national charities or issues

Individual Award for Outstanding Contribution

This award is for a committee member who has gone above and beyond in delivery of their role, and have really driven a significant change or achievement in the Society throughout the year to help ensure smooth running and continued success

Most Improved Society

This award is given to the Society considered to have improved the most this academic year. The Society should have achieved as many of the below factors as possible:

  • Significantly increased the activity of the Society as a whole
  • Improved the opportunities and quality of events run by the Society
  • Noticeably improved the Society to fulfil aims and objectives
  • Improved the management of finances
  • Improved awareness and use of SU resources and initiatives
  • Shown greater attention to membership
  • Show planning for long term development
  • Have a supporting recommendation from Union staff as to how the group has improved and developed

Submit a Nomination